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Weekend Shooting in Pasadena Spawns Angry Protests
News Aug 19, 2020
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Police releasevideo of the taser incident
Fueled bythe national outrage, another series of demonstrations to defund the policeemerged after a Black man was killed by a white police officer Saturday inPasadena.
After aweekend of confrontations with police — including one man who was tasered andsome people who were struck with pepper spray, including an 11-year-old boy — activistsjoined forces via social media to get the word out that Black lives matter.Contrary to social media reports, rubber bullets were not used by Pasadena policeon protesters.
On Monday at5 p.m., scores of residents blocked Raymond Avenue, near Washington, to start amarch into the city to demand justice for Black residents, blasting music and carryingsigns to defund the police, “Say his name, Anthony McClain” and “ Cops killedAnthony McClain,” to name a few.
Spearhead bylocal Black Lives Matter activist Jasmine “Abdulla” Richards, the passionateand peaceful group was visibly shaken by the weekend shooting of 32-year-oldAnthony McClain who was killed by police following a traffic stop at the cornerof North Raymond Avenue and Grandview Street, near La Pintoresca Park.
Mayor ProTem Tyron Hampton was present Monday on Raymond where several confrontationstook place. Hampton helped quell the rhetoric and discussed the situationprivately with a few individuals away from the main crowd. At leave, 150 peoplegathered near the park and were making handwritten signs to get their messageacross.
PasadenaPolice Chief John Perez on Monday released body-worn camera footage of a tensesituation which occurred in La Pintoresca Park following Saturday’sfatal officer-involved shooting. The body worn camera footagereleased by the police department tells a vivid story of how angry people werein the wake of the shooting.
DuringMonday’s protest, a huge memorial was set up where McClain lost his life withhundreds of candles and notes as well as pictures of him and the children heleaves behind.
Chief Perezsaid that more community involvement is the key to getting people to trustofficers and get to know them. “We need community support and want to dispelfear … conversation and de-escalation techniques we use can help,” he said.
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