Increasing Outrage Over Beating of Woman on LA Freeway By Hazel Trice Edney

July 14, 2014

Increasing Outrage Over Beating of Woman on LA Freeway
Group Asking for Justice Department Investigation
By Hazel Trice Edney

chpnanrally

Caree Harper, lawyer for Marlene Pinnock, speaks to rally on Saturday as
Rev. K. W. Tullos of the National Action Network looks on. Tullos was organizer
of the rally. PHOTO: Omarosa Manigault

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Outrage continues to grow over the beating of a Black woman by an officer of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). A group of protestors met for a rally July 12 to demand that the officer be fired.

“The point of the rally is we want to put pressure on CHP to do the right thing and fire the officer," said Rev. K. W. Tulloss, western regional director of the National Action Network, and nationally led by the Rev. Al Sharpton.  “We also want to continue to let the family of the victim know that we’re here and we’re supporting and we’re here to give her voice because she’s voiceless.”

The beating of the woman, identified as Marlene Pinnock, has spotlighted a historic distrust between police and African-Americans. Some view the Pinnock case as the worse videotaped beating since the Rodney King beating by Los Angeles police in 1991.

“The reality is this is probably one of the worst beatings seen throughout this nation and it happened to a lady,” Tulloss said.

CHP Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow has said he is “deeply concerned” and promised a fair and thorough investigation. But circulation of the video of the July 1 incident has continued to fuel ire across the nation. It shows the woman pinned down by the officer at the side of the Los Angeles freeway as he repeatedly punches her about the head and face as she attempts to defend herself.

Tulloss said NAN is also pressing for the U. S. Department of Justice to investigate to give additional oversight to the CHP.

“We look at it as a vicious crime,” Tulloss said. “We’ve been through this before and we just don’t have confidence in police conduct. They’re protected by their Police Bill of Rights and we don’t have confidence in them policing themselves and doing their own investigation.”

Pinnock, 51, had apparently been walking on Interstate 10 west of downtown Los Angeles. At a news conference CHP Assistant Chief Chris O'Quinn said the officer was trying to restrain the woman after seeing her veering into the highway when an altercation occurred.

A passing motorist, David Diaz, recorded the incident and sent it to media outlets. The video went viral on the Internet, social media and TV.

Diaz told the Associated Press that the officer "agitated the situation more than helped it.” He said the woman was actually walking off of the freeway when the officer said something to her that started the incident.

Reports say that Pinnock, a great grandmother, is now hospitalized while undergoing psychiatric evaluation. The officer, placed on administrative duty, has also not been identified.

Pinnock’s lawyer, Caree Harper, told CNN that her physical injuries are severe. "Her family went to visit her," Harper told CNN. "She has multiple lumps in her head, lumps on her shoulder like the size of a plum, bruises and lumps all over her upper body."

Tulloss has had several conversations with the lawyer, who also participated in the rally. He said NAN is also pushing for the CHP to so right by Pinnock in civil court. Pinnock’s family has reportedly said they will file a lawsuit.

“We see that CHP has an officer who is not fit for the job. He should not wear the CHP uniform ever, ever again,” said Tulloss. “That’s what we’re pressing for and we’re pressing for the Department of Justice do an independent review of this case.”