Community Corner
Peaceful Protest In La Mesa Draws Hundreds Sunday
A protest against police violence drew hundreds to downtown La Mesa Sunday, calling for accountability for use of force by law enforcement.
LA MESA, CA — A protest against police use of excessive force against people of color began Sunday afternoon in La Mesa, where the same sort of demonstration two weekends ago spun out of control into destruction.
The planned downtown demonstration is intended to be a non-violent call for change in law enforcement and official accountability for several widely condemned police encounters that played out recently in the eastern San Diego County city.
La Mesa protests today pic.twitter.com/kGFK4ydIjE
— Hey What (@HeyWhat20) June 14, 2020
"We are Peaceful!," organizer Tasha Williamson posted on Twitter. "We are Unified! We Want JUSTICE!"
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
An organizer for the ride said they hoped to set an example of unity. The event welcomed riders from all clubs who wanted to participate.
The demonstration is intended to be a non-violent call for change in law enforcement and official accountability for several widely condemned police encounters that played out recently in the eastern San Diego County city.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"We are Peaceful!," organizer Tasha Williamson posted on Twitter. "We are Unified! We Want JUSTICE!"
At 1:40 p.m., after the motorcyclists began arriving at police headquarters, La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez and other officers hugged and shook hands with some of the protesters.
About 200 protesters gathered in a circle around multiple speakers in the parking lot in front of police headquarters. Some in the audience carried signs such as "Defund the Police" and Black Lives Matter flags. Some of the bikers stayed seated on their motorcycles. Many in attendance wore face coverings. The group applauded and cheered as a microphone was passed between speakers.
At 2:30 p.m., the La Mesa Police Department tweeted that the peaceful event remained in progress and estimated a crowd of about 200 protesters. Many of the motorcyclists began to leave the area by then.
Among the demands expected to be voiced by participants during the rally, according to planners, will be the firing of two LMPD officers -- one involved in the allegedly abusive May 27 arrest of a young man near Grossmont Transit Center, the other in the serious injuring by a police projectile of a 59-year-old woman taking part in the raucous protest three days later.
That demonstration began in an orderly fashion but devolved into burglary, looting and arson fires that destroyed several commercial buildings, including two banks.
—City News Service
