The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners removed attendees from its meeting Tuesday after one speaker refused to leave the podium, sparking protest from others.
Following an hour of public comment, Hamid Khan, co-founder of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, stepped up to the podium to address the commission. After Khan spoke for a minute, Commission President Teresa Sanchez-Gordon said his time was up and asked him to step away.
Khan refused and continued speaking.
Sanchez-Gordon reiterated that Khan had given his one-minute comment, and said if he continued he would be removed from the meeting.
Attendees at city meetings are given two minutes to speak on items on the agenda and one minute to address any issues they may have.
Khan continued speaking, prompting Sanchez-Gordon to request officers in the room to remove him from the meeting.
Other speakers began yelling and calling on her to stop Khan’s removal.
“This creates an actual disruption. If you do not stop immediately, I will order the room cleared pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957. Have a seat everyone, so we will continue,” Sanchez-Gordon said.
“Because the disruption has not stopped and the board is unable to conduct an early meeting, I am ordering the room clear. The room must be cleared,” Sanchez-Gordon continued.
Prior to Khan’s removal, attendees spoke on various issues. Some criticized the Los Angeles Police Department for its handling of recent protests by Los Angeles Unified School District students, while some criticized the department’s policies on traffic stops and vehicle pursuits, as well as its relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.