Cops Vs. Cameras: The Killing of Kelly Thomas & The Power of New Media

Cops Vs. Cameras: The Killing of Kelly Thomas & The Power of New Media

 

The autopsy results from the death of Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic drifter who was allegedy beaten to death by Fullerton, California police will be announced today by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

 

Rackauckas will also announce whether he will file charges against the officers involved in Thomas’ death, following the office’s investigation. The confrontation with police took place at a municipal bus station on July 5, with Thomas dying in the hospital five days later. This press conference comes weeks after the Fullerton police refused to answer questions about the case.

Regardless of today’s announcements, Thomas’ death is a case study of how ubiquitous phones with cameras and the Internet are transferring power from the government, police, and the media to the masses. Images and word of the beating spread not because of official communications but by viral cell phone video of the incident and a horrific hospital photo taken by his father of Thomas in a coma.

 

After the photo and video were released, the Fullerton community reacted in outrage at city council meetings and at protests outside the Fullerton police department. Whatever charges are filed (or not) today, the death of Kelly Thomas will remain an example of how new media is changing the old guard.

 

Written and produced by Paul Detrick, who also narrates. Camera by Detrick, Alex Manning, and Zach Weissmueller. Special thanks to Ron Thomas.

 

NOTE: Because of violent images, viewer discretion is advised.

 

About 8 minutes.

Go to http://reason.tv/video/show/2145

for a longer discussion, documentation, and related videos.

 

related:

Police Beating of Kelly Thomas in Fullerton, CA

 

Police Insider Offers New Graphic Description of Fullerton Police B...

 

Kelly Thomas Memorial and Protest - July 30, 2011

 

 

.

Views: 262

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

When citizens are convicted of  a crime, everyone involved is prosecuted, the entire Fullerton police department should be found guilty and convicted the same way. BUT this is only one case in Fullerton, this tragedy goes on all over our nation with SWAT mentality against citizens. It is time for Americans to rise up and defend our nation, and Restore not Change America. DonCordellforPresident.com

“There’s a pack of 12 cops waiting to smash your f***ing faces in----- 

A Fullerton resident who was arrested after protesting the acquittal of officers involved in the death of Kelly Thomas said police laughed and joked about having a license to kill while asserting, “There’s a pack of 12 cops waiting to smash your fucking faces in.”

Image: Fullerton Police (YouTube).

30-year-old Adam Walder was thrown into a paddy wagon after riot cops ordered demonstrators to disperse during a protest against the ‘not guilty’ verdict which saw Officer Manuel Ramos and Officer Jay Cicinelli acquitted on all charges of manslaughter and murder.

Kelly Thomas, a mentally disabled homeless man, was beaten, tasered, suffocated and pistol whipped as he lay on a street corner being sat on by no less than six police officers during an incident in July 2011. During the disturbing video of the beating, Thomas can be heard pleading for his father, moaning, “Daddy, daddy, they are killing me,” as officers prolong the assault.

Before the assault, Ramos told Thomas, “Do you see my fists?” They’re getting ready to fuck you up.”

According to the jury in the case, Thomas just coincidentally chose to die of an undiagnosed heart condition in hospital five days after the savage beating having never regained consciousness.

Describing the incident that occurred during the subsequent protest, Walder said he was grabbed by cops after refusing to obey the dispersal order quickly enough and thrown into a police van with several other demonstrators.

While being transported to jail, Walder said the police were laughing and grinning. During the journey, one of the cops leaned over to the protesters and with “malice in his voice” said, “There’s a pack of 12 cops waiting to smash your fucking faces in.”

Another officer then immediately remarked, “And I’ve got two words for all of you, ‘NOT GUILTY,’” prompting laughter amongst all the other cops.

This was clearly a reference to the acquittal of the two officers involved in the Thomas beating. The cops were literally laughing and chuckling about the fact that they can get away with the murder of innocent people.

As Filming Cops highlights, the exchange brings to mind previous incidents where cops have laughed and joked about deliberately hurting peaceful protesters, like the example below where Miami police shot a woman in the head with a rubber bullet and then callously celebrated the fact in front of news cameras.

H/T: DC Clothesline/Filming Cops

RSS

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Less Prone favorited MAC's discussion GAIN OF FUNCTION CRIMINALS ARE SQUIRMING
1 hour ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

What Emotion Do all Election and Other Causes Depend Upon? Hatred

 All propagandists, election campaign strategists, PR specialists, social engineers, and even…See More
8 hours ago
Doc Vega's 4 blog posts were featured
11 hours ago
cheeki kea's 2 blog posts were featured
11 hours ago
tjdavis's blog post was featured
11 hours ago
Larry Harmen's blog post was featured

WW3 is days away!!! Project Blue beam is about to happen = NASA project = 3 rockets April 8th into the Eclipse.

U.S. Prepares for a Massive attack on Iran and many Nations today in the News.…See More
11 hours ago
Boris's blog post was featured

! FBI's McCabe intentionally held off investigation of newly discovered Clinton emails found on Wiener's computer until after the election

Modal Trigger Justice Department investigating McCabe’s handling of Clinton email probe Chris Wray…See More
11 hours ago
J. Patriot's blog post was featured

Letter from a small Company that was declined disaster relief due to the COVID-19 from the Small Business Administration

To Whom it may concern,I have been running a business in the red with Insurance cost, driving…See More
11 hours ago
Burbia's blog post was featured

Major Players Behind the SS LIBERTY

What now? These things are not even being hidden anymore.MOSSAD Eyes and Ears, Mathilde Krim, LBJ…See More
11 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
"mewe.com is easier than this"
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
17 hours ago
alux junes posted a status
"how many people still come here?"
17 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

Prince - Cinnamon Girl (Official Music Video)

"Cinnamon Girl" from 'Musicology' (2004)☔️ Listen to more Prince here https://lnk.to/PrinceStream📺 Watch all the official Prince videos here http://bit.ly/P...
yesterday
MAC posted photos
yesterday
FREEDOMROX posted a blog post
yesterday
MAC posted a discussion
yesterday

© 2024   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted