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CNN Saturday Morning News

Residents of Inglewood Look for Way to Prevent Police Brutality Incidents

Aired July 13, 2002 - 09:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Residents and leaders of Inglewood, California, set to meet today about the videotaped arrest that has shocked many people in this nation. They are looking for a way to prevent future incidents like the violent arrest of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson.

CNN's Ann McDermott reports residents are also concerned about the city's image.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANN MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They race horses here. They used to win championships here. And here is Inglewood, California, also known as the final resting place of Betty Grable, and the incomparable Ella. Or maybe you know Inglewood as home to this landmark, seen in movies like "The Wood."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE WOOD")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What's the Wood? It's not what you think it is. No, it's Inglewood, California. It's where I grew up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: But today, the Wood is worried. The quiet Los Angeles suburb of blacks and Hispanics and neat homes and trim lawns wonders if it'll be known now only for this.

FREDA MOOORE, STUDENT: He just kind of picked him up and just kind of slammed him down. That's horrible.

MCDERMOTT: They talk about it in the cafes.

(on camera): Have you ever had any problems or good experiences with the police?

THELIDRIA CALHOUN, SOCIAL WORKER: Oh, yes, I have. Things like this happen all the time. The people like you just don't know it.

MCDERMOTT (voice-over): People like me who are white.

They don't like what they saw on the video, and neither do these women. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the officers themselves should be discharged. Right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They really should be punished.

MCDERMOTT: But plenty of people here say most of the cops are OK.

GERMAINE CHASE, STUDENT: I don't want to make too big of a judgment right now, because I still haven't gathered up all the facts.

MCDERMOTT: The motto here, stay cool. Because this is what some Inglewood folks fear, riots, like the riots that erupted in the wake of Rodney King's beating.

But most people here say that won't happen here. It's not their way in the Wood.

Ann McDermott, CNN, Inglewood, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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