Submitted by Sydney Barakat via TheAntiMedia.org [2],
Manuel Ramos, 41, the former Fullerton police officer who was ultimately acquitted after being tried for the beating and killing of Kelly Thomas, has been arrested once more—this time for domestic violence.
[3]
Thomas—an unarmed, mentally-ill homeless man—was brutally beaten to death [4] by Ramos and two fellow officers in the summer of 2011. Two of the officers—Ramos, as well as Jay Cicinelli—were tried and acquitted of the murder. From the beginning, the case received nationwide coverage. A slew of peaceful protests resulted from the several injustices that were committed in this gut-wrenching case of excessive violence and abuse of power.
Now, Ramos has been arrested again. As ABC7 news reported [5],
“Police respond[ed] to a report of a family disturbance [and] arrested Manuel Ramos on July 16 after he allegedly assaulted a woman in the 3600 block of W. Oak Avenue.”
Ramos was then booked on the charge of misdemeanor domestic violence, but soon after posted bail and was released. According to the report, the case still remains under investigation.
This goes to show that when violent criminals are granted impunity, when they are let off the hook without even a slap on the wrist, they will continue their horrendous cycle of abuse of power and violence. When these murderers are exonerated without consequence, they are assisted in committing further assaults—in this case, domestic violence.
[6]Mugshots of former officer Manuel Ramos.
Does Ramos lack so much compassion that he must beat the defenseless? First a mentally-ill man who was small in stature, then a woman.
What is more ridiculous is that journalists and live-streamers who covered the Kelly Thomas case are being dragged through a long and tedious court ordeal. They are facing charges, trials, and time in prison for simply filming and documenting the protests that occurred as result of the officers’ acquittals. Our own Patti Beers—also known as “P.M.” on her social media accounts—is facing such absurd charges for filming the acquittal protests. Patti’s trial has been covered by the Anti-Media [7], The Fifth Column [8], OC Weekly [9], AnonHQ [10], and more.
This case of police brutality and major injustices committed by law enforcement force us to ask:
when will this horrendous cycle of violence end? When will the law be lawful? When will the justice system deliver justice?
The issues extend far beyond Manuel Ramos, but if we let this cowardly badged thug go without consequence again, we are allowing for more of his kind to continue coming out of the woodworks. Additionally, if we allow journalists— real journalists like Patti Beers—to be tried for performing her civic duty—well, that’s just pouring salt in an already gaping wound.
