LaToya Ratlieff, a Florida girl who had been captured in the face with a police officer rubber bullet through a Dark Lives Issue demonstration, said her”heart fell” when she discovered the officer was exonerated but stated she was not surprised.
“It was anticipated,” Ratlieff stated in a news conference Friday. “We have seen this happen a lot of times… when it comes to Black life”
“If nothing else, it is invigorating as it reaffirms why we’re in the streets marching… and this does not end now,” she added.
Video revealed Ratlieff walking around 30 ft by a group of officers that were wearing riot gear and shooting tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. The footage revealed Ratlieff yelling and blood flow from her wound. The harm almost cost Ratlieff her attention.
The officer”targeted and identified a person who uttered a projectile in our officers using a goal to cause them injury” and it wasn’t the officer of the”intent” to strike Ratlieff,” Lynn said in a press conference.
The division’s office of internal affairs conducted an”extensive” inspection and an outside inspection was conducted also, Lynn stated.
“The department has made every attempt to learn from that episode,” Lynn stated.
“On behalf of the women and men of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, I wish to express my sincerest apology,” Lynn stated to Ratlieff.
Ratlieff on Friday known as Lynn’s apology”disingenuous… as when I had a bad dinner in a restaurant”
Ratlieff on Friday also urged against laws supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which she stated would suppress Black Floridians and allies against protesting for civil rights.
DeSantis is”working to criminalize the very first amendment rights of Black folks and people who stand together ” she explained.
“HB1 could criminalize the actions of law-abiding taxpayers because strangers attending the very same demonstrations could break the law,” Ratlieff explained. “In the event HB1 had become the legislation on May 31, the organizers of the event might have been criminally responsible, as well as myself as a sufferer could have been criminally accountable”
“My message to the governor is that: you need to take off your knees of the necks. We’re tired,” Ratlieff explained.
