Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Top 100 Songs
Song #50
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Julian Porte
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"The Ballad of Kelly Thomas" was written by Julian Porte in 2011. The song tells a story about Kelly Thomas, a 36 year old mentally ill and homeless man that was beaten to death by police officers in Fullerton, CA on July 5, 2011. A very compelling surveillance video captured six Fullerton police officers beating Kelly with fists and batons while he laid helplessly on the ground crying out for his father. The beating continued until Thomas lost consciousness and he was taken to a hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced dead.
Three police officers were indicted for second degree murder or involuntary manslaughter, each of them entered pleas of not guilty. After a lengthy trial two officers were found not guilty and the other was later released and all charges were dropped.
The Kelly Thomas' incident sparked many protests over the next several years after his death. "The Ballad of Kelly Thomas" was an anthem of those protests and Julian Porte would play that anthem at numerous events to a spirited corps of protesters that went as far as campaigning for the recall of three members of the Fullerton City Council.
Three police officers were indicted for second degree murder or involuntary manslaughter, each of them entered pleas of not guilty. After a lengthy trial two officers were found not guilty and the other was later released and all charges were dropped.
The Kelly Thomas' incident sparked many protests over the next several years after his death. "The Ballad of Kelly Thomas" was an anthem of those protests and Julian Porte would play that anthem at numerous events to a spirited corps of protesters that went as far as campaigning for the recall of three members of the Fullerton City Council.
"The Ballad of Kelly Thomas"
Lyrics
Well a man named Kelly Thomas was sitting on a bench
When he was approached by two law men,
resisting arrest, they beat him down to the floor,
he cried out for help, so they beat him down some more
He yelled out for his father, he yelled for them to stop
but it was a slow night at the precinct, so they dispatched four more cops,
their clubs and their fists were wailin’ in the air,
when Kelly’s eyes turned over, they just didn’t seem to care
There was evil in their eye’s and blood on their hands,
so the people standin’ round were too afraid to help this man,
when they finally took a break from beating in his head,
they sent him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead
Well No one knows why they murdered Kelly Thomas,
Cus the evidence that night is sitting up in the DA’s office,
the mayors telling lies and the chief just won’t be honest,
Ooh my God, do these men even have a conscience?!
Well the mayor even tried to hush his fathers grievin’
said “here’s nine-hundred thousand, lets just call it even”
when I heard the news, you know I couldn’t believe it,
they snuffed a mans life for no Goddamn reason
Well some things are forgotten when wicked men prevail,
but this time the publics voice is not for sale,
So I hope those men are listenin’, hope their faces turnin’ pale,
cus we aint stoppin til we put em’ all in jail!
Well who killed Kelly Thomas?
Who killed Kelly Thomas?
I said who killed Kelly Thomas?
Is it the mayor who’s just not being honest?
Is them down at the DA’s office?
Or was it the six men who beat him down unconscious?!
WHO KILLED KELLY THOMAS?!!!
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