One cell phone makes a difference

http://www.youtube.com/v/lIgdY1GL148?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=8w2Wt8RYYc38Mc5AJf5ydQ&showinfo=1

The video of the protesters in Spain, reminded me of an incident wherein a cell phone played a large part in spreading the news of an injustice which occurred in Fullerton, CA.  A witness and bystander, with a cell phone, captured the beating of an unarmed homeless man named Kelly Thomas by the Fullerton police in 2011.

Kelly Thomas was a young homeless man, who was schizophrenic, and had been sitting at a bench at the Fullerton metro depot.  Fullerton police had been called to the area with suspicion of someone trying to open car doors in the area.  When the officers approached Kelly, they were impatient with him, and quickly turned to violence when Mr. Thomas was slow in responding to their questions, or when he seemed confused as to what the officers were asking him.    

The video that was taped from the witness doesn't really show much of anything, but a man and his friend narrate and offer their opinion throughout the video.  Faintly, you can hear the young man in the background, crying out for his father.  “Dad, Dad.” It is heart wrenching.     

Photos of his injuries also quickly circulated the net within a day or so of the incident, illustrating the extent of Kelly’s injuries. He didn't even look human. 

I remember being at my law firm, being called in by my attorney, and watching the video online, as a group in her office.  The video the witness posted on YouTube had gone viral, and within a few days, there were protests and riots, calling for justice for Thomas, who ended up succumbing to his injuries a few days later.   It was all anyone could really talk about in our office for weeks to come.

Charges were brought against three of the officers, after a thorough investigation of the incident.  The cases are still open and ongoing.  One thing is certain, and that is that the witness who put the video up on YouTube helped greatly establishing a city wide dialogue on issues concerning the use of force by officers within the police department.   

It is amazing to me that one cellphone video could create a movement so powerful in support of the mentally ill and homeless population in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. It called for a long investigation into the Orange County Police Department’s policy, and found that there were several issues that needed to be addressed.