Another day, another video of cops abusing their power. A group of friends, Jeremy Kingg, Lou Glen, Matt Wallace, and Rolando Ramiro were walking home Early Friday morning when they crossed the street in a manner unfit for a police state. Hit the jump to see what happened next.
“We were walking across the street, the sign said ‘do not walk,’ but lights were already turning yellow and streets were blocked off, so we kept walking,” Ramiro says.
“[Police] flashed their flashlights at us, asked us to show them our IDs. Matt and Jeremy said to f— off,” noting that the street was barricaded so the ‘crime’ of Jaywalking was a moot point when cars are unable to drive down the street.
However, the half-dozen officers attempting to a.ssert their authority over group did not approve of Wallace and Kingg’s tone, so they felt a gang beating was in order.
All of the sudden, multiple Austin cops coming running from their bicycles and proceed to start punching, kneeing, and kicking two young men.
When asked what crime they committed, one officer turned up and said, “crossed against the light.”
This insanely violent response from police for crossing the street is the epitome of the divide in America today that continues to grow between the police and the policed. This is not how you treat people.
After the video began to go viral, the APD released the following statement:
The Austin Police Department has been made aware of the incident that occurred Friday, Nov. 6 at 2:30 a.m. in the 600 block of E. Sixth Street. As is standard protocol, the Chain of Command will review the Response to Resistance and the incident to determine what led up to the events captured in the video and whether the officer’s actions were in compliance with APD policy.
Watch the video below to view the incident.
Technology is exposing cops that have been abusing their power for years. Now it is time to put a stop to it.
