Many have been left shocked and outraged by a video showing Los Angeles Police officers violently hurlingFull 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
\u201c\u2018Full House\u2019 star Jodie Sweetin was thrown to the ground by an LAPD officer at a Pro-Choice protest.\u201d— Pop Crave (@Pop Crave) 1656295009
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.
\u201cApparently, it takes half a dozen armed men to deal with a threat like Stephanie from FULL HOUSE.\u201d— Jenelle Riley (@Jenelle Riley) 1656271217
\u201cWe continue to see reports of police force used against peaceful pro-choice protesters. It's important to document & circulate these incidents. Law enforcement has to be held accountable, fed'l law enforcement needs to step in to investigate/prosecute. https://t.co/6KeonkTTrE\u201d— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1656327856
\u201cJodie Sweetin went through A LOT & came out the other side a pretty upstanding person. LA Mayor & LAPD probably didn\u2019t plan on being featured on TMZ & the Monday morning shows for tossing Stephanie Tanner around like a rag doll. I mean, the \u201cHow Rude!\u201d headline\u2019s right there.\u201d— Serenity Now! (@Serenity Now!) 1656280259
\u201cANYBODY FUCK WITH FULL HOUSE THE JODIE SWEETIN I BREAK YOUR FUCKING NECK\u201d— The Iron Sheik (@The Iron Sheik) 1656296298
\u201cSo grateful that the cops were able to take care of Jodie Sweetin because really nothing shows your manly copness more than shoving Stephanie Tanner from Full House. Really, LAPD? What were you afraid of? That she\u2019d throw Mr. Bear at you & tell you you\u2019re being rude?Cut. It. Out.\u201d— Meredith Lee (@Meredith Lee) 1656303345
\u201cLAPD shove a woman down a hill who just happens to be America's Sweetheart: Jodie Sweetin!\n#ProChoice Protests are legal!\u201d— GeeGee (@GeeGee) 1656328229
\u201cJodie Sweetin forced Fuller House to let her character be bisexual by ad-libbing lines on set and now she's fighting fucking cops in Roe v. Wade protests, just an absolute fucking badass\u201d— DareBear (@DareBear) 1656357008
\u201cIt pained me to see @JodieSweetin thrown to the ground by members of the LAPD as she was trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway\u2026SMH @LAPDHQ what are y\u2019all doing?\u201d— Mike Ade (@Mike Ade) 1656203021
\u201cusing millions of dollars in tactical gear to slam the actress from full house into to the ground\u201d— oatmeal influencer (@oatmeal influencer) 1656268771
\u201cLook at this. Police officers assaulting actress Jodie Sweetin. Throwing her body against concrete. Why won\u2019t Fox News cover this? Why won\u2019t any Republicans condemn this? Police feel emboldened to assault women now that the Republicans have declared them second-class citizens.\u201d— Dash Dobrofsky (@Dash Dobrofsky) 1656284763
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.
