When the LA Youth Justice Coalition planned a community action project that involved cleaning an abandoned former Hyde Park Library, as well as hold workshops and distribute food within the community, they probably weren't prepared for the LAPD to threaten them with arrest while helicopters hovered above.
Via:
What should have been a warm 'n' fuzzy cleanup of the abandoned Hyde Park Library in South L.A. this morning went awry when responding LAPD officers reportedly mistook the Youth Justice Coalition for a faction of Occupy L.A.
Given the post-raid tension between cops and occupiers, the case of mistaken identity didn't bode well for the Inglewood youth group. "Despite the fact that this library has been abandoned since 2004, LAPD is here telling young people they have no right to access..."
... Tweeted blogger Maegan Ortiz. And she soon added: "Commander Green LAPD is giving young people at abandonded library 30 minutes to leave or be arrested with 5k bail."
Sound familiar? LAPD Officer Sara Faden told KPCC radio that cops believed the coalition planned to "occupy the building for demonstration purposes."
After problems arose with the police, negotiations were attempted but ended up with all of the coalition members giving up and leaving.
Hopefully the LAPD hasn't completely soured the children on community service actions altogether. We need more people who don''t solve all problems with weapons.
