Civil Rights Leader Meets with Alesia Thomas Grandmother and Mother

Family Members Members Dispute Depiction of Thomas as Unfit Mother

Demand Punishment for the Officers Involved in Alesia’s Death

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson on Monday, September 3 met with Ada Moses, Alesia Thomas's Grandmother, and talked with Sandra Thomas, Alesia’s mother. Thomas died in the custody of the LAPD after an alleged violent confrontation. Both family members vehemently dispute the depiction of Alesia as a drug addicted, unfit mother. They revealed many new facts about Alesia’s background, education, work experience, and her relations with her children. They also demanded punishment for the officers involved in Alesia’s death.

Hutchinson and other civil rights have called for an emergency meeting with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to thoroughly review LAPD policy and procedures on arrests in child abuse cases. The call for a review and change in policy was prompted by the death of Thomas after her arrest and during alleged confrontation with LAPD officers.

“The talks with Alesia’s mother and grandmother raised even more troubling questions about the arrest and use of force officers used on Thomas,” says Hutchinson, “They painted a totally different picture of Alesia as a caring concerned mother that is at odds with the depiction of her as unfit. The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable will work with family members to insure justice and vigorously monitor the LAPD investigation into Alesia’s death.”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, President Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable

Dwayne Wyatt, L.A Black Employees for Fairness

Lita Herron, President Youth Advocacy Coalition

Robert Taylor, Black Ministerial Alliance

Reverend KW Tuloss National Action Network (Al Sharpton) West Coast Representative

Pedro Baez, Compton NAACP

Debbie Washington, National Council of Negro Women

Tags: ada, alesia, angeles, case, child, death, lapd, los, moses, policy, More…roundtable, sandra, thomas, urban