Read on Twitter
THIS IS A CALL TO ALL LOS ANGELES officials, leaders, organizers and Angelenos to make their voice heard: let the @MayorOfLA, @LAPDHQ and @LASD know that until they bring these rabid, racist police to heel, we Angelenos shall defiantly defend ourselves using any means necessary. https://twitter.com/lapdchiefmoore/status/1311498044563628032
The @MayorOfLA, @LAPDChiefMoore and @LACoSheriff all continue to turn a blind eye as their police and deputies sworn “To Protect & Serve” devolve into a gang of executioners intent “To Prey & Pillage” on houseless Angelenos and violate the civil liberties of county constituents.
The recent surge of violent attacks in Los Angeles County, particularly against law enforcement personnel, come as no surprise to the @BPDisciples and other Los Angeles activists who feel these grave constitutional injustices by police cannot and will not be allowed to stand.
While we regret that relations between this amazing city, county and elected officials have deteriorated to such degree that citizens feel they must resort to violence, the Disciples nevertheless feel that in matters of life and death those who have opted to do so are justified.
Let it be known to all that during this time of civil unrest, political turmoil and economic uncertainty, rather than rally behind those who are suffering and hear our plight, @LAPDHQ and @LASDHQ have very clearly demonstrated themselves to be enemies of freedom and the People.
To this day, my fellow Angelenos and I continue protesting the cold-blooded killings of Black Americans, such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as that of our very own Dijon Kizzee, who was shot 19 times on the ground by LA County deputies. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/dijon-kizzee-fatally-shot-by-deputies-while-lying-on-ground-attorneys-say/2432486/
Furthermore, Mayor Garcetti, Chief Moore, Sheriff Villanueva and the @LACityCouncil wage a coordinated effort against a free press—against the First Amendment—as the LA press attempts to expose the cruelty and corruption of the city and the county. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/la-shooting-police-lies/
One testament to the cruelty of Los Angeles politicians and its law enforcement, as well as their attempts to silence the press, can be witnessed reading the story of the LA reporter, @josie_huang ( @NPR , @KPCC, @LAist), who was aggressively arrested recently by @LASDHQ deputies. https://twitter.com/josie_huang/status/1305261859155505153
This isn’t the first time @LASDHQ has been reported on for its cruelty. In fact, the brutality of Sheriff Villanueva’s deputies is well-documented. Feel free to read about it in this article by @theappeal. These thugs do not serve Los Angeles County. https://theappeal.org/the-pervasive-violence-of-the-la-county-sheriffs-department/
Someone tell me what kind of sick joke it is for these pathetic politicians and police to keep demanding peaceful protests. For over 20 years, Angelenos have protested peacefully and been met with nothing but more violence and killing in our communities. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-22/lapd-promised-to-curb-violence-on-protesters-for-two-decades-but-has-yet-to-deliver
I suppose history tells us such should be expected. Let us never forget were it not for the combined efforts of the United States federal government and the @LAPDHQ, the Black Panther Party would still be present in Black communities all across America. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-12-08/50-years-swat-black-panthers-militarized-policinglos-angeles
Were it not for the efforts of the US government and the @LAPDHQ, my personal hero—the great Malcolm X—might still be alive. And yet, here we all are in 2020 continuing to let these police run roughshod over our rights and slowly sever us from our history of radical resistance.
Enough is enough. Have we no shame? Have we let all our heroes die in vain? What happened to the resolve of a city that once struck fear into presidents nearly an entire continent away? The resolve of a city that, after seeing the video of Rodney King, rioted the very next day?
Our resolve today is lacking, America. Where the fuck are you? Wake up and show up. Realize that not only do we depend on us, but the entire world depends on us. We cannot let this country continue under the likes of Donald Trump and these racist-ass Republicans and Democrats.
To my fellow BIPOC: know that you are not alone. The Disciples and I believe it is morally justifiable for BIPOC communities to respond in defense and in kind with deadly force when necessary, if that is what it would take to stop the murdering of our friends and families.
Understand we are neither encouraging nor condoning violence in saying this. What we are doing is publicly stating our religious and moral belief in the constitutional fact that we are justified in defending ourselves from the state in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
In closing, I have no more words, but instead leave you all with a brief video clip from the Oxford Union Debate of 1964. The clip is of none other than Malcolm X himself as he delivers his famous closing remarks after an historic performance.
Y’all don’t hear me, though...
Y’all don’t hear me, though...
