Community protector Bo Frierson tipped from wheelchair for protesting SFPD’s assault on his cousin [View all]

[KamaAina]

http://sfbayview.com/2015/01/community-protector-bo-frierson-tipped-from-wheelchair-for-protesting-sfpds-assault-on-his-cousin/

Devaughn Frierson Jr., better known as Bo, endeavors every day to protect his community and, like the Black Panthers, he doesn’t turn his back to abuse by police. As a community journalist who is a Black disabled man like Bo, I wanted to get to know what drives this activist, who is a hero to his neighbors but was treated abominably by San Francisco police.

On Sunday, Jan. 18, during Martin Luther King weekend, Bo’s cousin, Eduardo Delacruz, uploaded a video clip that quickly went viral. It shows shocking abuse of Bo and another cousin, Tyrell Blaylock. Their friend, Willie Ward, emerged with a black eye....

Those officers know that Bo is paralyzed and makes it his business to watch out for the community. So they shouldn’t have been surprised that he wheeled across the street when he saw them brutally handcuffing his cousin.

What shocked everyone when that video and another began to circle the world in an Associated Press story was an effort by one of the officers to “dump” Bo out of his chair. Fortunately, his seat belt caught him. But no one should be surprised that the attacking officer blamed the victim, claiming Bo ran over his foot.