Federal judge weakens oversight of LAPD

Thirty African-American community activists crowded into a small room in Nickerson Gardens, the Watts housing project where street gangs long have fought and forged peace treaties, to meet the attorney general of the United States on Thursday night. Attorney General Eric Holder strode into the packed room along with police chief William Bratton, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and council member Janice Hahn. Unknown to the audience, the officials were privately pleased by the end of a federal court's monitoring of LAPD reforms, which would be announced the following day. The people of Watts were not so sure. The first speaker was Noreen McClendon, a longtime community leader who spoke passionately about the importance of employing OG's (former gang members) in bringing peace to Watts. She segued into a defense of the imprisoned Alex Sanchez, a founder of Homies Unidos, who was indicted the previous week by Holder's own Justice Department. It was important, McClendon said, for the federal government to stop the Bush administration tactics of "infiltrating the community and disrupting positive programs." She then presented the attorney general with a folder of information on Alex Sanchez "which he graciously accepted," according to a witness. "This made Bratton, Hahn and the Mayor very nervous," the source added. Hundreds of residents, clergy, and civil rights leaders--including the former head of the FBI Los Angeles office--are demanding bail for Sanchez, who they believe is the target of over-zealous prosecutors and police.