Ridley-Thomas Urges More Police-Community Effort

Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas on Thursday called on police and residents in South-Central Los Angeles to step up cooperative efforts to implement a community-based policing program.

Ridley-Thomas’ request comes after a skirmish between residents and police last Saturday during a controversial meeting sponsored by a black nationalist group.

Although the conference on the Holocaust and the 1st Amendment failed to materialize, about 100 protesters outside the hall where it was to have been held clashed with police in riot gear, leading to 17 arrests. Ridley-Thomas praised the police for their restraint during what proved to be a tense situation, but he questioned why they did not tell residents about the controversial meeting before Saturday.

The councilman said at a news conference that he hopes the incident will underscore the need for more cooperation between the community and police from the Southeast Division, one of six divisions participating in the new community-based policing program.