L.A. youths demand defunding police, other reforms
A youth-led group of hundreds of protesters rallied Friday afternoon outside Los Angeles City Hall as demonstrations continue amid a widening national debate about police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
The demonstration, sponsored by the Youth Justice Coalition, was billed as a march, rally and open mic for families and youth “impacted by state violence,” according to a flier.
In a social media post advertising the event, the coalition called for taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the budgets of city and county law enforcement and prosecutorial and probation agencies and redirecting them to fund youth centers, jobs and the establishment of comprehensive youth development departments.
As the event got underway, posters with faces of Black victims lined the metal blockades in front of City Hall. Black Lives Matters graffiti and messages of “Defund the police” were peppered across the building’s concrete exterior.
Peaceful protesters spilled onto Spring Street, leaving one lane open for traffic as Aztec dancers performed in solidarity.
Veatrice Johnson, a 34-year-old Long Beach resident, brought masks to sell for $5 each. They were emblazoned with “Black Lives Matter” and “I can’t breathe.”
“Even if they don’t have the money, we’re still giving them out,” she said. “We want people to be safe out here,” she said.
Johnson recently lost her job due to COVID-19 and created masks to support the movement and help her family financially.
Jennifer Alvarez, a 28-year-old volunteer with the Youth Justice Coalition, said she helped publicize the message from the youth organizers and ensure their list of demands was made public.
