The Death of Kelly Thomas

http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_north/fullerton/article_9c5dd876-5b12-11e3-bf3c-001a4bcf887a.html

Eerily similar to the Rodney King case, homeless and schizophrenic Kelly Thomas was brutally beaten by the Fullerton Police Department. Officer Manuel Ramos led the beating along with five other officers. According to the prosecution and the 33-minute video, Ramos frightened and taunted Thomas into attempting to run away, which resulted in more beatings that eventually led Thomas into falling into a coma and dying five days later. The video shows Thomas being harassed. 

The jury consisting of four males and eight females are selected for the case against the Fullerton police officers. Cases like Rodney King and Kelly Thomas raise many social issues. With Rodney King, racism was the theme that led to Los Angeles riots and 53 deaths when Ventura County' Simi Valley's jury, largely conservative,  decided to acquit the four officers involved in the case. With Kelly Thomas, attitudes towards the homeless and mentally ill are fundamental to the case.

Officer Manuel Ramos was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter, pleaded not guilty. Trials began on December 2, 2013 and concluded on January, 2014 with Ramos and his fellow officers found not guilty on all criminal charges. Many protests picked up after the verdict and many protesters were arrested after ignoring a dispersal order made by the police.

Kelly Thomas died from excessive force and was not brought to justice because of our justice system. This is another instance where our solution can fix the system and bring justice to Kelly Thomas, Rodney King, and others like them.