Help Anni End Gender Bias at LAPD
My name is Anni Ma. I am an activist for gender equality, and I participate in protests and demonstrations to raise public awareness of the gender bias common in our society. I focus my attention on the fact that in many places, men are allowed to be top-free without suffering any legal consequences, while women are subject to criminal charges due to this double standard if they are top-free. On March 23, 2016, I was wrongfully arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department because I was top-free during a political rally in support of Bernie Sanders’ campaign for President. I was taken into custody and detained in jail overnight until I posted $10,000 in bail. One month later at my arraignment hearing, I found out that the City Attorney has declined to file any charges against me and I will not be prosecuted. Instead of letting go of this awful experience, I decided take this injustice to court. I found my attorneys, Allen Baylis and John Cogorno from Orange County California, to represent me. On August 5, Allen, John, and I filed a Civil Rights lawsuit in Federal Court against the Los Angeles Police Department and the City of Los Angeles for gender discrimination, false arrest, assault, battery, violation of my first amendment rights etc. The arresting officers claimed that I was allegedly violating California Penal Code section 314.1, Indecent Exposure. However, the California Indecent Exposure law only applies to lewd exposure of one’s genitals, and does not apply to breasts. Additionally, the Los Angeles Public Nudity ordinance only applies at city beaches and parks. Therefore, it was legal for me to be dressed as I was, and I had not committed any violation of law.
This fund is established to cover the costs of litigating the lawsuit arising from the police officer's unlawful arrest of me during a political rally on March 23, 2016. Proceeding with such lawsuits is very expensive, and requires that I pay for costs of litigation, such as filing fees, costs of investigation, discovery and depositions. All funds received will be deposited in an attorney client trust account that can only be used to cover the costs and expenses of litigation as mentioned above. None of the funds can or will be used to cover attorney’s fees or for any other purpose. As expenses are incurred, they will be paid from the attorney’s trust account. Any funds in excess of those necessary to cover expenses will be donated to a non-profit organization that supports women’s rights to be treated equally to men as it relates to top-freedom.
Please support me in my efforts to achieve equality of the sexes.
Video of the arrest can be seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38m-8KVfY6k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89pjxEL8rMk
Here’s a link to the KABC News story about the lawsuit.
http://abc7.com/news/woman-who-went-topless-at-bernie-sanders-rally-sues-lapd-city/1459683/
Follow my activism on social media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/annima1016
Instagram: www.instagram.com/annima.1016
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annima1016
Thank you,
Anni Ma
