community demands violent, incompetent officers be put on desk duty
On Friday, February 16th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. local activist group Pasadenans and Altadenans Against Police Violence (Pasa-Alta) will engage in nonviolent action to demand that Pasadena Police Chief Philip Sanchez and city manager Steve Mermell take action and take officers Lerry Esparza and Zachary Lujan off patrol duty and put them on desk duty. Officers Esparza and Lujan brutally beat unarmed 21-year-old African-American man Chris Ballew during a traffic stop on November 9th, 2017 and broke his leg; officer Esparza also drew his gun on Mr. Ballew with his finger on the trigger.
Pasa-Alta will hold picket signs with pictures of Kendrec McDade, Reginald Thomas, Matthew Hurtado, Chris Ballew, and other victims of the Pasadena Police Department and pass out flyers.
Meet up will be at the corner of W Colorado Blvd and Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena.
