By Damion Boycott
On Tuesday July 1st a passerby captured a video of a California Highway Patrolman beating an unarmed black woman on a Los Angeles freeway. The cell phone video shows the patrolman crossing Freeway 10 West and grabbing the women from behind, pulling her to the ground and punching her in the face 11 times.
The victim, who some say may have psychological challenges, was taken to a nearby hospital for a physical and mental evaluation once she was in police custody. She was allegedly walking in traffic endangering herself and others. The California Highway Police said there is an investigation of the incident in progress. In a statement they said "Since there is an on going investigation, it would be premature to comment on this specific video segment without reviewing the entire incident."
It is unlikely that police procedure dictates that it is alright to harm and brutalize unarmed civilians. According journalist, author, sociologist, and media critic, Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson there have been cases of unwarranted police violence against black women in recent memory. This is yet another incident in a string of similar assaults on black females. Hutchinson said this type of extreme brutality is unlawful.
Hutchinson is slated to meet with California Highway Police to determine what police procedure should be- in light of this freeway beating incident. Hutchinson says The California Highway Police lacks diversity which adds to the adverse treatment received by African Americans in the state of California.