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The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable calls for an immediate and complete ban on the use of non-lethal bullets by the Los Angeles Police Department, citing escalating concerns over serious injuries and public safety.
President Earl Ofari Hutchinson issued a phone call Wednesday after watching a video of a bystander being hit and injured by a non-lethal projectile.
Hutchinson says the video reinforces what he and other supporters are warning.
“LAPD fired hundreds of these so-called non-lethal bullets during an overwhelmingly peaceful protest,” Hutchinson said in a press statement. “The only way to prevent massive injuries and long-term damage from these potentially deadly bullets is a complete ban.”
Hutchinson has raised further concerns about what he describes as an overuse of force during the recent protest, calling for a meeting with LAPD chief Jim McDonnell and calling for the ban. He cited the astounding injuries statistics, referring to more than 2,000 injuries and over 300 obstacles related to the use of non-lethal ammunition in protests around the country.
“Is this something that looks like a non-lethal weapon? It’s fiction,” Hutchinson said. “You’re a trained killer – the Marines, the National Guard – you’re on the ground in LA now.
Hutchinson also criticized the deployment of federal forces in Los Angeles, calling it a dangerous precedent that could lead to further violence and civil rights violations at future demonstrations.
With more protests expected in the coming weeks, the Urban Policy Roundtable warns that injuries to both protesters and bystanders are likely to continue unless meaningful reforms are implemented, starting with the ban on athletic shock projectiles.
The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable is an activist and donor organization that discusses public policy weekly and advocates local leaders and policymakers for change.
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