CopWatch activist arrested, charged in LA

by Actual News Geezer | November 20, 2006 at 08:16 am

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Cop Watch is an interesting organization based in California. It's motto: "Tired of being harrassed by the police? Then patrol the police!"

To do this all you have to do is keep your camera phone handy.

It's goals are clearly stated: to "end police terrorism through collecting information on and observing police activity, offer support for those caught in the criminal (in)justice system, fight for change without a reformist consciousness, and ultimately work side-by-side with oppressed communities(*) to create Revolutionary alternatives to policing, prisons, and all systems of domination, oppression and exploitation."

Regardless of what you think about its politics or its social analysis, the idea of people keeping an eye on all aspects of government authority through the use of technology is very interesting.

Have a look at this story just posted today:

Michael Tzintzun, known to his friends as Mikey, is a 16 year old organizer with Cop Watch Los Angeles, who stood up and defended the farm when it mattered, when it was being destroyed. The system tried to make an example out of him by blaming him for the destruction of a bull dozer, and charged him with, felony Vandalism, Battery on "Officers of the Peace" and Resisting Arrest.

During Michaelâs arrest he was brutalized by the police, when a security guard spotted him and pulled him off of the bulldozer and slammed his face into the concrete. Michael then stood up to get himself off of the ground when Officer Reed kicked him on the knee. They slammed their knee into Michaelâs chest; the cop continued to slam his knee into him, all over his chest area, stomach and throat. He then hit Michael with his baton and shoved it into his upper abdomen area. At this time he tried to continue to hit Michael with his baton, so Michael rolled away intending to get away from this police beating.