"Activist James Morris Lawson Jr. and Reverend Milton Merriweather call to reopen the investigation into the police shooting of Eula Love"

On January 3, 1979, Eula Love, an African American woman, was fatally shot by LAPD officers in front of her home. Reportedly holding a boning knife during a confrontation with officers, Love was shot twelve times. The high-profile case generated extensive controversy regarding the actions of the officers and their use of deadly force. In this footage, activist James Morris Lawson Jr. and Reverend Milton Merriweather give a press conference in which they call on the Los Angeles Police Department to reopen their own investigation into the shooting of Eula Love to determine if a stronger position should be taken by the department considering the facts in the case. Lawson states the review by the Police Commission indicates the need for a civilian review board rather than an internal board. Merriweather talks about how officers escalated the confrontation that led to Love’s death and how this case follows a pattern of police cover-ups, abuse, and misconduct in relation to instances of the use of excessive force against members of the Black community. Includes silent footage of the press conference and reporters.

Note: The KTLA newsfilm collection at UCLA consists of cut and unedited stories, outtakes and fill footage, originally shot on 16mm reversal film stock with magnetic soundtrack. Some footage, particularly material not used for broadcast, may be without sound.

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