CAIR (Los Angeles) Has Its Version of the Shooting Incident in LA July 13

As previously reported here, on July 13, approximately 2,500-3,000 pro-Israel supporters held a rally outside the Federal Building in Westwood. During that rally, a pick-up truck with four Arab males carrying Palestinian flags became involved in an altercation with the pro-Israel supporters and security guards. At the end of the altercation, the four young men returned to their pickup truck and drove away from the scene. At this time, a Federal Protective Services official involved in the confrontation  fired a shot at the vehicle as it left. The vehicle and its occupants were stopped by LAPD a block away and placed into custody.

As said before, I heard the shot but did not witness the incident. There are grainy videos and photos of the incident.

Since this is now a matter for the courts and I don't have the exact details, that is how I choose to report it-cautiously.

Not so cautious is the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and their Southern California chapter. They are now asking for a federal investigation of the shooting incident and that charges be dropped against the 4 individuals who were arrested. Even more irresponsibly, they are reporting their version of the facts of the incident, which are yet to be exactly determined by an investigation.

stay in touch with us GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA CAIR-LA Calls for Investigation into Federal Officer Firing Shots at Pro-Palestinian Supporters   (ANAHEIM, CA, 7/25/2014) – Today, the Greater Los Angeles area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) sent letters to the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the Central District of California's US Attorney's Office calling on them to investigate shots fired at four pro-Palestinian supporter by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer during a rally on July 13. CAIR-LA also sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office requesting dismissal of the assault with a deadly weapon charges against the men. Mohammed Elkhatib, Fadi Obeidallah, Hassan Kriedeh, and Mostafa Hafez were in their truck on Wilshire Boulevard en route to a Pro-Palestinian demonstration when pro-Israeli protesters approached their truck in the middle of the road and stole their Palestinian flag. The pro-Israeli protesters threw the flag to the street and proceeded to stomp on it. When the men attempted to retrieve their flag, they were physically attacked. They took necessary action to protect themselves and immediately after retrieving the flag, the men returned to their vehicle. An officer with the Federal Protective Service, an agency under DHS, shot at the men after they had recovered their property and returned to their vehicle. The men were detained by Los Angeles Police moments later. They were detained for almost five hours in LAPD custody and arrested later that evening by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who took over jurisdiction. “These men were the victims of a federal officer who opened fire on them so it is ludicrous that the victims of the incident are the ones being charged with a crime,” said Fatima Dadabhoy, CAIR-LA Senior Civil Rights Attorney. “Prosecution of this case will send the message that pro-Palestinian supporters are not protected in the exercise of their First Amendment activities.” The civil rights group is also concerned about the nature of the government’s investigation into the officer shooting. It is calling on the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice and the US Attorneys' Office of the Central District of California to investigate the shooting. "It's important that the government conduct a transparent investigation into the shooting and we call on the agencies to ensure that the first amendment rights of all parties to this incident be protected," said Dadabhoy. In addition to the investigation of the shooting, CAIR-LA is requesting that the Los Angeles County District Attorney drop the felony criminal charges against the pro-Palestinian supporters. It is concerned that prosecution of this case will send the message that criminalizing pro-Palestinian supporters is acceptable and have a chilling effect on the exercise of free speech and assembly on the pro-Palestinian movement. CAIR-LA is a chapter of CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.  -- END – CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Ojaala Ahmad, 714.776.1847, E-Mail:oahmad@cair.com.

		OFFICE LOCATION 2180 W. Crescent Ave, Suite F Anaheim, CA 92801 Tel (714) 776-1847 | Fax (714) 776-8340

What exactly happened will be determined by eyewitness testimony, photographic evidence and testimony of those involved including the security officers. In addition, I can tell you as a retired DEA agent who was involved in shooting incidents that the details of the firing of the weapon by the FPS officer will be fully investigated by his agency (as is the policy) and surely the Justice Department as well. I am confident the truth will come out.

Contrary to CAIR's letter, the justification for the arrests of the four men and the justification for the discharge of the officer's firearm are two separate issues. What needs to be determined is whether any of the four men assaulted anyone else and whether the discharge of the gun by the FPS officer was justified under the situation.