Covering Alesia Thomas

Mary O'Callaghan, an 18-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, is scheduled to go on trial in February of this year for the death of 35-year old Alesia Thomas.  Thomas died on July 22, 2012, after being stomped in the genitals seven (7) times by O'Callaghan who said she was trying to shove Thomas in the back of a police car. O'Callaghan has been charged with Assault Under Color of Authority in the death of Thomas. I am seeking support so that I can cover this trial as an independent journalist.

Thomas, who had a diagnosed mental illness, left her two small chidren in front of the 77th Street Police Station. Once the police ascertained Thomas' name and her address, they went to her apartment to question her. Thomas stated that she left the children at the police station because she could no longer care for them. The police, having decided to place Thomas under arrest for child abandonment / endangerment, struggled with her in the apartment and getting her into the car, where O'Callaghan was overheard by fellow officers to state that she would, paraphrasing, "kick Thomas in the groin."

As a freelance journalist I have covered the trial of Johannes Mehserle for the murder of Oscar Grant (Los Angeles, 2010) and Theodore Wafer for the murder of Renisha McBride (Detroit, 2014).  Independent analysis and reporting on these types of trials is necessary to tease out the nuance(s) of white supremacy and falsehood that exist during the few times that whites actualy stand trial for the murders of Black victims.

Thank you for your support.