Many have been left shocked and outraged by a video showing Los Angeles Police officers violently hurling Full House actor Jodie Sweetin to the ground during a peaceful protest over the weekend in response to the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade.
The video shows a group of heavily armed officers encircling Sweetin, grabbing her and violently pulling and shoving her into the concrete of Los Angeles' 101 freeway where the protest was taking place.
Sweetin's fellow protestors could be heard gasping and shouting in shock at the police's use of force against Sweetin as she gathered herself off the pavement and rejoined the protest.
See the video below.
WARNING: NSFW language
The downtown Los Angeles protest was just one of many that erupted across the country in recent days over the Supreme Court's ruling, which overturns nearly 50-years of precedent for federal protection of people's right to reproductive healthcare.
Michael Ade, a photographer who first shared footage of the incident between Sweetin and the LAPD to social media, said the actor was "trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway" at the time the LAPD attacked her.
Aerial helicopter footage obtained by local media, seen below, gave a deeper glimpse into just how forcefully Sweetin was shoved by the LAPD officers.
Sweetin's publicist has confirmed she was not seriously injured in the incident.
LAPD issued a statement on the matter to People magazine, saying:
"The LAPD is aware of a video clip of a woman being pushed to the ground by officers not allowing the group to enter on foot and overtake the 101 freeway."
"The force used will be evaluated against the LAPD’s policy and procedure."
Sweetin also issued a statement, expressing defiance in the face of aggression from police for exercising her right to protest.
"I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court."
"Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free."
On Twitter, the video sparked outraged calls for police accountability, along with applause and support for Sweetin' refusal to be deterred from peacefully standing up for what she believes in.
The Los Angeles Police Department has a long history of often deadly brutality and violent responses to protests, including incidents of driving into crowds of protestors during the 2020 demonstrations against George Floyd's murder and attacking and injuring news media.
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