Society - Anaheim: A Tale of Two Cities

In July 2012, the home of Disneyland (Anaheim, California) became a war zone. Manuel Diaz, 25 years old Latino man, was shot in the back of the head as he was running from the police. Dozens of residents in the community not only witnessed the entire scene but also filmed the whole aftermath on their cell phones. The police said that Diaz was reaching for a weapon in his waistband, but no gun or weapon was ever found. Witnesses say that the police did little to help Diaz as he he laid dying. More residents started to gather at the scene outraged by the police action. The police, now with extra reinforcements, responded to what they say was becoming unruly crowd. Only one local news channel caught the scene on camera. The footage would have a major impact on what would follow. Diazs mother was shot three times with bean bag rounds as she run to help her son. Several other people were also injured including a teenage boy. The local news footage went viral. The video that would spark national attention and anger towards police brutality in Anaheim. But that was not all. Just 24 hours latter another young Latino man was shot and killed by the Anaheim Police. It was the 7th police shooting death in Anaheim in less than a year.