How to Get the Police to Rush Away and Hide

Ruth Hull
Activist Post

The police may be fearless when they are shooting an unarmed law-abiding citizen, like Jose de la Trinidad, in the back seven times but their guts disintegrate when you pull out a camera. Notice anything missing from the photographed sheriff’s facility to the right, like officers?

On November 10, 2012, an unarmed, innocent Jose de la Trinidad was shot seven times in the back by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies from the Lynwood substation. Think about it. One-two-three-four-five-six-seven shots in the back, fired by an officer paid to protect citizens and not shoot them.

On April 20, 2013, Southern California residents again took to the streets to protest the violent slaughter of this innocent man. Among those present were Jose’s wife Rosie, his daughter Aurora (pictured below), her daughter Jocelyn (pictured to the left of niece Marina), their attorney Arnoldo Casillas, and other family, friends and supporters. (Commentary: This was a nice family and these were beautiful people. Jose had as much of a right to live as you or I or our loved ones.)

As protesters marched through the streets of Lynwood to the Sheriff’s facility connected to the gun-happy deputy, they were greeted by almost non-stop honks from cars passing by. People came out of their homes to take photographs. Part way through the march, Jose’s brother-in-law Carlos Flores pulled up in his van and provided marchers with water.

Some of the most popular chants were, “No justice; no peace; no killer police,” “Justice for Jose; jail killer cops,” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho; these killer cops have got to go. Hey, hey,ho,ho; these racist cops have got to go.”

Pictured here is Trinidad family attorney Arnoldo Casillas , who has filed an action against the officers involved.

Also present were grieving relatives of other innocent individuals killed by law enforcement. The family and friends of Michael Nida were present. His best friend Damien Ramirez gave an impassioned speech and announced an upcoming rally for “Mikey” on May 4th in Downy. Genevieve Huizar, also pictured, is mother of Manuel Diaz, killed by the Anaheim police.

As the group rallied in front of the Sheriff’s facilities, this writer entered the complex. Nobody was visible inside one of the facilities, which contained metal detectors and checkpoints. In the other facility, an officer seeing the camera left. He returned when the camera was put down. When the cell phone camera came out, he quickly left again, both times going behind a somewhat mirrored glass wall and leaving nobody to assist the members of the public.

Perhaps the best weapon against killer cops is a camera, as noted by Corrie Cline in her sign above. Would Michael Nida or Jose Trinidad be alive if quick-draw camera buffs had aimed and started filming as rogue officers started to pull out their weapons? We’ll never know, But, then again, a camera might save the next potential victim.

Ruth Hull is an activist and writer whose career has included work as a criminal defense attorney, a licensed private investigator, and an educator.