Hundreds inhabited the Downtown Fullerton Plaza to make a unified voice against the way the homeless are treated. Spattered through out the crowd were yellow t-shirts that read "Justice 4 Kelly Thomas." The Fullerton event was a Benefit Concert and Food Drive in memory of the fallen Kelly Thomas, who died after an altercation with the Fullerton Police.
In the middle of the crowd stood one, single, solitary, police officer.
As the large crowd enjoyed several rock groups with social justice messages, the Fullerton Police officer stood there among a group of homeless, media reporters, and protestors. The event, which was charged with political activism and messages against the Fullerton Police and city government, naturally should have had several officers to maintain security.
Nevertheless, there stood the solitary officer, talking to a few citizens that wanted to give him an ear full.
In some ways, the one officer encapsulated the large outpouring of outrage from the community versus the sounds of silence that have caused public criticism of the Fullerton Police Department.
The same crowd that took part in supporting the homeless at the rally would be elated only a few days later when the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced that at least one of the officers would be charged with murder.
Today, several with bright “Justice 4 Kelly Thomas” shirts, and several around the world are awaiting the beginning of the court trials. At the same time hoping to make a vibrant voice for the homeless and needy that live in Fullerton.
