Speak Out Against Philly Police Brutality
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey
A woman who expected to spend the day celebrating the Philadelphia Puerto Rican Pride parade instead ended up in handcuffs and with a bloody face.
Video documentation showed a man throwing water or silly string toward police officers. Once hit, a policeman whipped around and clobbered the nearest person--who happened to be a woman walking the opposite direction.
The punch's force knocked her bodily to the ground.
Ignoring the blood streaming from her mouth, the same policeman then cuffed her and dragged her away.
Regardless of the woman's role, the officer used excessive force. The woman was noticeably unarmed and shocked by the officer's punch.
Thanks to public pressure, that officer has since been suspended. But what would have happened if his brutality hadn't been caught on video?
Tell the Philadelphia Police Department to ensure this never happens again by reforming officer training and management to protect the safety of their citizens.
Dear Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey,
At a recent Puerto Rican Pride parade, a Philadelphia police officer was caught on camera punching and cuffing a woman who seemingly did nothing to incite such a violent reaction. I find blatant display of police brutality deeply disturbing.
[Your comments]Other accounts of excessive brutality by Philadelphia police officers have ended in death. The Philadelphia Police Department need to address this issue immediately and find a way to precent future occurrences-- whether that takes form as adjusted training, sterner penalties for excessive force, etc...
Sincerely,
[Your name]
