Last Saturday evening, a coalition of community organizations, local faith leaders, political leaders and social justice groups held a protest outside of the Lakeland Police Department headquarters.
The rally, which took place at around 6 p.m. and had roughly 100 people in attendance, came just one week after the “Justice for Antwan Glover” protest and was in response to a shocking video showing yet another act of police violence against African American residents of Lakeland.
On Memorial Day, Jahmal Hudson Jr., 16, was arrested, shot with a Taser, punched and had his hair pulled by LPD, as seen in a viral video recorded by a witness and shared by attorney Benjamin Crump.
Activists from TAARPR (Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression) have issued a formal call to action for city manager Shawn Sherrouse to “Fire and charge every police officer involved in addition to the Police Chief Sammy L. Taylor Jr.” and “Hold them responsible for the racist culture of brazen brutality embedded in his force.”
“I’m here today because my nephew and other boys and girls have been beaten by these ‘Blue Suit Criminals,’” claimed Hudson’s uncle, Bishop Johnny Davis, 75, of Miami, as he addressed the group.
“They beat him beside his head, they were trying to beat the life out of him and when that did not work they decided to tase him and make him hit the ground so he could put his bony little knee on his neck and choke the life out of him,” Davis said.
District 63 State Rep. Dianne Hart also spoke at the rally and gave assurances that justice will be served, adding that even though Lakeland was outside her district, her phone lines are always open to everybody who needed to ensure accountability for law enforcement.
“This demon had the nerve to put his knee on this boy’s neck. Haven’t we just fought about that? Isn’t this the thing that we just fought about and it’s going on in Lakeland? That’s a problem,” said Pastor Clayton Cowart of the Poor and Minority Justice Association.
Hudson was attending a pool party at the Caroline Apartments in Lakeland with a group of friends — one of whom lived in the complex — when a disagreement broke out with an anonymous Caucasian female resident due to the alleged use of profanity by the minors at the pool.
Most of the encounter was captured and recorded on video that was taken by one of Hudson’s friends. In the clip, witnesses can also be heard yelling at officers to let them know that Hudson is a minor.
“Upon hearing and seeing the video it is evident that these officers again committed a criminal act. They viciously and bodily beat this child … and they beat him senseless without any regard to this child’s safety or any regard to the obligation they had to protect and to serve,” stated Pastor Carl M. Soto, co-founder and vice president of Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc., as he answered questions from the press following the protest.
Hudson is now facing charges in the juvenile court system of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and trespassing.
Currently no body-cam footage has been released, but officers claim Hudson struck first in their arrest report.
As of now, there is no video available to substantiate the claims of LPD in this case. This seems to be a common theme in regard to past requests for body-cam footage in cases involving claims of excessive use of force.
Lakeland Police Chief Taylor claims to have requested an administrative review by the Office of Professional Standards.
There have been at least seven other claims of police brutality made by Lakeland residents, but so far no body-cam footage has been released.
An additional call to action from Pastor Soto was issued to begin a monthly tradition on the first Saturday of every month to hold church services at LPD HQ until all the officers involved with these cases of reported brutality are fired and disciplined.
Hudson’s mother, Ja’Tae Lewis, Hudson’s grandmother, and other family members were also present to show solidarity and support, but declined to comment any further on the case.
This story first appeared in our sister publication Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
