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While Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been focusing diligently on curing the homelessness crisis within the city of Los Angeles, other matters stemming from more than a century of systemic and institutionalized racism are now starting to make its way back into the forefront of issues plaguing the city. Nearly a month after her inauguration, it would only be a matter of time before police terrorism proves that there are a plethora of problems that should be added to her agenda-perhaps another State of Emergency as calls to “ABOLISH THE POLICE” resume. The honeymoon in celebration of Los Angeles’ first female mayor is suddenly over and it is now time to see how her office- which already represents so much change-will handle these same, old and played out acts of terrorism that disproportionally execute Black LA natives whose lives continue to be lost at the hands of local law enforcement. The policy seems to remain unchanged as the perception of these race soldiers demonstrate an ill-trained process that reacts extrajudicially in dealing with the most petty of offenses. What’s even more problematic is that it takes social media to raise awareness to these heinous acts which strategically go viral with each release; almost as if to tame, control and discipline the Black community at large which is still healing from previous unjust executions and/or finding joy through incremental progress on a sociopolitical scale.
“I have grave concerns about the deeply disturbing tapes that were released today,” says Mayor Bass. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones who are mourning the loss of Takar Smith, Keenan Anderson and Oscar Sanchez.” It has been noted by Democracy Now that Keenan Anderson is the cousin of local LA resident, Patrisse Cullors who is also the Founder of Black Lives Matter.
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During her campaign as a candidate, she vowed to keep Los Angeles safe as waves of serious crimes hit the city during the pandemic, but her solution for public safety by adding more police officers to the force are in stark contrast to local residents who continue to call for defunding the police.
The mayor has stated that full investigations are underway and that she pledges the City’s investigations into these deaths will be transparent and will reflect the values of Los Angeles. “I will ensure that the City’s investigations will drive only toward truth and accountability,” she says. While she has recommended that the officers involved be placed on immediate leave, this is her first true act in determining how she will deal with the Los Angeles Police Department in the future. It was only recently that she was expected to meet with LAPD police chief, Michel Moore in his request for re-appointment and while any progress of that meeting and/or decision has yet to be revealed, Mayor Bass has show appreciation for Chief Moore’s decision to release the footage. “Policy allows for up to 45 days before footage of use of force incidents is released, but I believe the Los Angeles Police Department must be as transparent as possible, as expeditiously as possible.” If it wasn’t for social media we may not have known about these incidences at all since it allegedly took LAPD three days to even acknowledge the deaths of these victims while being detained.
Here statement goes on to say:
“No matter what these investigations determine, however, the need for urgent change is clear. We must reduce the use of force overall, and I have absolutely no tolerance for excessive force. We must also lead our city forward – finally – on the mental health crisis that has been allowed to grow, fester and cause so much harm to individual Angelenos, their families and our communities.
“Especially as a former health care professional, I am deeply troubled that mental health experts were not called in, even when there was a documented history of past mental health crisis. When there is no immediate risk to others, law enforcement must not be the first responder when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. I believe officers and Angelenos agree on this.
“Tragically, this is a national crisis, and in reviewing a sample of incidents in which people died during encounters with police as part of my legislative work in Congress, my office found that a third or more of the people involved were experiencing a mental health crisis.
“It is time that proven reforms are universally implemented and accelerated within LAPD. Los Angeles must lead nationally on mental health and use of force reform.
“Once again, my heart breaks for the families and loved ones who are experiencing such a tragic loss.”
