Aida Guzman gets direct apology from Mayor Nutter
Aida Guzman, who was hit in the back of the head by a Philadelphia police officer, received an in-person apology from Mayor Nutter Friday.
Aida Guzman gets direct apology from Mayor Nutter
Miriam Hill and Aubrey Whelan
Aida Guzman, her lower lip still blackened by a blow from a Philadelphia police officer, received a face-to-face apology from Mayor Nutter Friday at City Hall.
Guzman held the hand of her lawyer Enrique Latoison as they left City Hall, where a group of protesters had gathered to speak out against the incident.
The Mayor "said he was sorry about everything," Latoison said, adding that his client was satisfied with the apology.
The 10 to 15 protesters on the east side of City Hall, some of them carrying signs that read, "We are all Aida," asked Guzman to speak, but she declined.
"She's been through a lot," Latoison said.
Berta Joubert said the problem with police brutality extended well beyond Philadelphia Police Lt. Jonathan Josey, who was captured on video hitting Guzman in the back of the head.
"I think we live in a city where police brutality has been part and parcel," Joubert said. "This is the city that bombed itself."
Guzman's attorney said Nutter embraced Guzman during a meeting in his office and apologized for the incident.
"It was a heartfelt, sincere apology," Latoison said. "[Guzman] was very emotional about it. She really appreciates it from the bottom of her heart."
Latoison said his client was still in pain from Sunday's incident but said she hasn't decided whether she'll sue the city.
"She is hurt, she does have injuries," he said. "I don't know if I would have to file suit to get her medical bills paid."
Latoison said he didn't discuss the possibility of a lawsuit with the mayor, and added Nutter said he was "horrified" by the video, posted online Monday, that showed the 39-year-old Guzman taking a sucker-punch to the face from Philadelphia police officer Jonathan Josey.
Police officials said Thursday that Josey, 39, a decorated 19-year veteran of the force, would be fired. Charges against Guzman - which alleged that she had thrown water at Josey during celebrations at Sunday's Puerto Rican Parade - were dropped Wednesday.
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This comment has been deleted.— JJJenn- I Think that I may have seen Aida Guzman shopping in Brooks Brothers. She was there in the city to buy a brand new law suit because all of her friends to her she should have a lawsuit in Philadelphia.
- Awww, whatsa matter, JJJenn and Penny? All out of sorts because Ms. Guzman might rightfully be compensated for the abuse she suffered at the hands of some thug cop while your cop husbands or boyfriends get to smack you around with impunity? — wb2nd
- You have to watch the entire video. She was definitely jumping up and down behind officers early on. But a guy in shorts and black top shot liquid from a water bottle, not her. Nonetheless, he could have taken her down without the punch. — Bob1
- JJJenn, excuse me. But at what point was she jumping around? When she also got hit with the same liquid that LT Josey and other officers got hit with, or you talking about her at a Parade to celebrate her heritage. Have you seen a Mummers parade in your life time?— JTW218
- "She is hurt, she does have injuries,". This woman wasn't beaten down like Rodney King. You know the attorney will absolutely sue.— Commentdant_Klink
- JJJen, She was not jumping around or harrassing officers. If you actually looked at the video, when the liquid got tossed she actually was walking away from the incident. She in no way proved the officer. Why is she a loser or an embarrassment? You need help JJJen.— SHARONANDTONE
In the video I saw, it started with the woman walking away, but not showing what happened before. So I don't if she did anything. But the cop had no right to sucker-punch her like that. If she did anything, grab her arm and handcuff her.— verve- The question that begs to be asked is, "what if there wasn't a camera and Ms. Guzman tried to press charges of police brutality?" Would Ramsey or Nutter acknowledge this woman at all? I don't think so. IMHO, Josey has beat down many a civilian during his time with PPD...and..... has hit the abused up with false charges and never thought twice about it. But that's just my opinion.— PhillyMan
- Mine, too. No, they wouldn't acknowledge her. They'd defend this fraternity of thugs to the hilt, just like they do every single time whenever there's no recorded evidence. Because, hey, everybody knows that the only cops who act dishonorably and criminally are the ones who are caught on tape, right? And you just know that this is the not the first time this aimal has done this kind of thing. This is why, everytime a cop gets killed, before I rend my clothes and fall on my knees in sorrow, my first question is "What kind of cop was he?" — wb2nd
- everything has been done to satisfy all those involved.— james bond
- @JJJenn I hope someone sucker punches you and see how you it feels. I hope she sues the heck of the city and the officer....she deserves every penny she can get...Hope this officer (oh wait He is a... f ..in....punk.... He gives other officers a bad name.— lvazques
- Why is this story linked to the article about the girl who was heckled by a teacher for wearing a Romney t-shirt? I gasped in disbelief at the headline, which suggested Nutter had "apologized" face-to-face to the girl. Yes, Nutter will never apologize when about the actions of his henchmen teacher unionist campaigning in the classroom for Obama and ridiculing supporters of Romney among their students.— Seaner
- The headline for this piece on the home page is so offensive: "Girl gets direct Nutter apology." The woman is 39 years old; she is not a child, not a girl. You would never write of a 39 year old "Boy" getting an apology from the mayor.— ShaJones
- Sean you are absolutely right, the student did nothing wrong except dfisagree with another protected racist in the Philadelphia Schools. The parents should file a Stae Himan Relations Commission complaint fro bullying against the teacher and teacher's aid who attemted to huliliate this student. It can be racism if a black uses his or her power against a white, which in Philadelphia is a minority.— monster69
