A group of demonstrators from the Black Lives Matters movement set up camp in front of the official mayoral residence the Getty House this weekend, and plan to stay on the sidewalk until late Tuesday. They are asking Mayor Eric Garcetti to fire LAPD Chief Charlie Beck over the death of a 25-year old African American man, Ezell Ford, Â in South LA last summer.
On Friday LAPD’s independent investigator looking into the incident found that the LAPD officers were justified in shooting Ford, who had fought for control of one of the officer’s guns. Ford was known to be mentally ill, and had had earlier confrontations with the police. The findings will be reviewed by the Police Commission, which makes the final decision on the use of force within the LAPD, on Tuesday.
“Last night I called Ms. Tritobia Ford,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a comment released to the Larchmont Buzz this morning. Â “I didn’t reach her but left a message, telling her my heart goes out to her and her grieving family, as it has since the news first broke last August. I look forward to meeting with her in the coming days. Trust and transparency are the foundation of the relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department and people it serves. I have confidence that the Police Commission will conduct an impartial and fair-minded review of the investigations conducted by both the LAPD and the independent Inspector General.”
Before 8 am this morning, there were almost as many local news vans parked on Irving Blvd as there were protestors, who numbered a dozen.
“They chant, but have been pretty respectful of the neighborhood,” a resident who lives nearby told the Buzz. “They’re not nearly as noisy as some groups who have protested in the past. The librarians who protested a few years ago were much louder!” she noted with a laugh.
The protestors are expected to stay remain encamped until late Tuesday when the Police Commission meets.
