Andrew McLemore
Raw Story
Saturday, Dec 20, 2008
A girl’s family has filed a lawsuit against Galveston police for their assault on their 12-year-old daughter after mistaking her for a prostitute.
As the girl, Dymond Milburn, walked in her front yard, three men jumped out of a van and beat her about the face and throat, one of them telling her, “You’re a prostitute. You’re coming with me.”
Police attacked Milburn despite the fact that she didn’t fit the racial description of their suspects: three white prostitutes and a black drug dealer.
Three weeks after Milburn was hospitalized for her injuries, police went to her school and arrested her for assaulting an officer during the incident.
The incident occurred two years ago, and since then, Milburn has suffered behavioral problems, nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The lawsuit against the officers also alleges that the men thought Dymond, an African-American, was a hooker because of the “tight shorts” she was wearing. Police have not yet apologized for the incident.
The case has gone to trial, but the judge declared a mistrial the first day and a new trial is set for February.
“I think we’ll be okay,” said Anthony Griffin, Milburn’s attorney. “I don’t think a jury will find a 12-year-old girl guilty who’s just sitting outside her house. Any 12-year-old attacked by three men and told that she’s a prostitute is going to scream and yell for Daddy and hit back and do whatever she can. She’s scared to death.”
The officers’ lawyer, William Helfand, said Milburn’s father had also been arrested for attacking the officers after his daughter called for him when the police attacked her. Helfand said both would face consequences for their actions.
“It’s unfortunate that sometimes police officers have to use force against people who are using force against them. And the evidence will show that both these folks violated the law and forcefully resisted arrest,” Helfand said.
One blogger defended the story from accusations that it was a hoax because it has not been picked up by the national media and many of the facts come from the Milburn’s attorney.
But the blogger points out that neither the Galveston police department nor the Galveston district attorney’s office have responded to inquiries about the case.
As for the mainstream press, he asks. “Why don’t 90 percent of the abuses of power we look at on this site get covered by the national media?”
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2 comments:
Wow, the police have no limit that they will exceed when it comes to us Black folks. Let me just give you a few examples:
1. Capitol Hill police breaks the leg of a black clergyman (Rev. Yearwood) who was there to attend a hearing about the Iraq war.
2. New York police gun down Sean Bell on the day of his wedding day with a 50 shot barrage. The cops were acquitted of all charges at trial.
3. Houston police beat the shit out of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver.
4. New York police gun down Amadou Diallo with 41 shots because he dare show the cops his wallet "gun". The cops got a change of venue to Albany, NY and of course the cops were acquitted.
5. Police in Florida Taser a six year old child.
6. Atlanta police storm the home of a 92-year old Black woman, killing her. Afterwards, the criminal cops altered the warrant and then planted marijuanna on her property.
7. How can we ever forget the case of Abner Louima, when New York Police shoved a plunger up his rectum and down his throat? After serving only 4 years of their 30 year sentences, the convictions of these criminal cops was overterned. That's real American justice.
8. In addition, how can we ever forget about Rodney King? Four cops beat the hell out of him while other cops stood around watching. Eventually, the cops were acquitted at trial.
9. Remember Donovan Jackson? The L.A. pig punched him in his face and slammed his head on the car while he was handcuffed. Did I mention that he was only 16 years old.
10. We were treated to a festive moment when Philadephia police snatched three young Black men out of the car and began beating them. That horde, that gang of mouth foaming barbarians, about 15 in all just began beating the men unprovoked.
What next? The cops will be gunning down our 7 - 10 year olds. What's there to stop them from shooting our babies in their strollers. I can just see the excuses they use to justify their savagery: "The officers had no choice but to discharge 75 rounds at the little toddler in his stroller because of the shiny gun-like object he was holding."
The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I have many more examples, but who cares? This police terrorism will never come to an end until we get it in our minds to retaliate. We have no other choice. The police have failed to investigate themselves and the courts have failed to give the victims of these monstrous savages equal justice. If we can't get justice, then it's up to us to go out there and take justice.
I forgot to mention the police in Florida dumping a paraplegic man out of his wheelchair onto the floor. There is no line that they won't cross. The cops in America are out of control.
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