Anaheim unrest ‘inevitable’ says council member (video)
Tensions are rising between Anaheim police and Latino residents. 24 people were arrested for looting on Wednesday.
More than 600 protesters demonstrated outside an Anaheim city council meeting following an already tense weekend in which two separate officer-involved shootings left two Latinos dead. Police arrested 24 people when some protesters smashed storefronts and began to loot local businesses.
“I believe it’s been brewing for a long time,” said Anaheim City Councilmember Lorri Galloway on a local public radio program. “I’m not surprised by this at all. It has been inevitable.”
City council was holding a regular evening meeting following a weekend that heightened tensions between police and the Latino community. Many protesters and community members remained outside once the council meeting had reached capacity.
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait stood behind the police saying their actions were “swift and appropriate.”
“We like to have dialogue but violence, arson and vandalism are not acceptable,” Tait said.
It was the second major clash between police and demonstrators since police fatally shot a suspected gang member who was unarmed. Initial reports said Manuel Diaz was shot from behind as he was fleeing officers on foot.
A second deadly shooting occurred Sunday night after police saw another suspected gang member in a stolen vehicle, pursued him and exchanged fire with the armed suspect.
