Marking the two-year anniversary of the high-profile arrest and beating of Jordan Miles at the hands of three undercover police officers, more than a dozen Occupiers and police-accountability activists returned to the office of District Attorney Stephen Zappala this afternoon to demand that charges be filed against the officers.
Their demonstration, however, lasted only a few minutes before a large group of police officers nearly matching the number of protesters forced the peaceful demonstrators outside the Allegheny County Courthouse.
The protesters, led by Brandi Fisher, of the Alliance for Police Accountability, marched to the DA’s third-floor office in hopes of meeting with Zappala to reiterate their call for the officers involved in the Miles arrest — Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak — to be prosecuted for beating the Homewood teen. But when they approached the office, they were met by a handful of police officers blocking the doorway.
“Why can’t we go into the doors?” activist Paradise Gray asked the officers, who responded that it was a “private office.”
“Is DA Zappala here?” Fisher added.
After a couple of minutes, Mike Manko, the DA’s spokesperson, came out to address the protesters.
“Zappala is not available,” he said. “We’re extremely appreciative of the issues important to you and the community.” But, he added, there is nothing new to report on the DA’s ongoing investigation into Miles’ Jan. 12, 2010, arrest.
Before Manko could continue, protesters interrupted the spokesperson with an Occupy-inspired “mic check.”
“We are supporters of Jordan Miles, an 18-year-old who was brutally beaten by three racist police officers two years ago today,” they yelled, prompting a disgruntled Manko to turn around and return to the DA’s office.
As the protesters continued their mic check, officers began forcing them to leave the building.
“It’s a peaceful protest!” one demonstrator screamed, as officers ordered everyone down the stairs and out of the courthouse.
“The whole world is watching!” protesters screamed on their way out. “Justice for Jordan!”
Outside the courthouse, Fisher addressed the media.
“We were not welcome,” she said. “They didn’t even give a reason asking us to leave.
“It is very disheartening … that we as a community can’t even see the DA,” Fisher added, noting that Zappala has not returned their phone calls or emails about the investigation. Zappala has shown “blatant disrespect for the law … and for Jordan Miles and his family.
“At this point,” she concluded, “our DA needs to step down.”
As Fisher spoke with the media, officers started locking the nearest entrance to the courthouse, pulling the metal gate shut.
“That is not what democracy looks like!” Gray shouted at the officers. Then, indicating the actions of the protesters, he added, “This is what democracy looks like!”
This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2012.
At some point, we just have to start pulling triggers until we get their attention, and then maybe a peaceful approach can be possible.
But until then, the door will be slammed in our face and we will receive no respect.
They rule us through fear and its getting to be that time that we battle back with their medicine.
Until they fear us, they WILL ignore us.
This is so laughable, in fact I had to chuckle at this protest. Not that I don’t agree there are incidents where some police officers go too far, just as some protesters go too far, when dealing with humans you are always going to have this problem. I had to laugh that the Alliance for Police Accountability is so arrogant that they feel they were in the right to protest inside of a secured building and get away with it. Then expect that people with common sense are going to jump on the band wagon and agree with them when they do such stunts. The more desperate these protest groups get for attention the more they remind me of children plotting against their parents to get even with them for being parents and not their best friend.
Mr Zappella has always refused to prosecute his city, county,port authority and or other county employees Political contributions buy a mans passivity. it also buy collusions within the county judges
Obama needs to step in. A federal takeover of the pitt police is the only solution.