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Post by Admin on Apr 9, 2015 21:35:19 GMT
The shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer in South Carolina on April 4 might have ended up in the history books as yet one more tragedy about racial injustice and inequality in America. It might have resulted in street riots and community bitterness. Yet somehow the people of North Charleston, where Walter Scott was shot in the back while fleeing Patrolman Michael Slager, have decided to write a different story, not just in words but in deeds. Their response stands in contrast to other cities, such as Ferguson, Mo., that have recently seen civil unrest after incidents of police violence on unarmed black men or boys. Their response has been marked by a string of actions that substituted good for evil in ways that have kept the city calm and focused on finding justice for Mr. Scott and solutions for better police-community relations, such as the purchase of body cameras for cops to use in traffic stops. Perhaps the first and most critical action came from a bystander, Feidin Santana, who captured the incident on a cellphone video. At first he was afraid to hand over the video to authorities. Yet, as he said in an MSNBC interview, “I just put myself in the position of the family.” Out of his empathy came clarity about the incident. A second crucial response was a call by Scott’s family for calm and understanding. His mother expressed faith in the justice system and the rest of the police force. “There are faithful and truthful people, and God has a way to make them do the right thing,” said Judy Scott. Third, both Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers responded quickly with transparency, compassion, and contrition. They did not flood the streets of North Charleston with police or with armored vehicles, as happened in Ferguson. They showed genuine remorse for the killing and did not defend the officer. “I have been praying for peace for the family and peace for the community,” said Chief Driggers. They sent the video to state officials to start an investigation, even though the law did not require the city to do that. That resulted in a quick charge of murder against the police officer, which helped ensure calm. They also met with the Scott family and have been as transparent as possible with them. “From the beginning ... all we wanted was the truth,” said Anthony Scott, older brother of Walter. “Through this process, we’ve received the truth.” These actions were supported by an array of pastors, elected officials, and others who reached across the city’s racial divide with hope and prayers. One result of this community coming together will play out this Saturday, one week after the tragedy, during a memorial for Walter Scott. His family took up the chief’s offer of a police escort during the funeral procession. That image alone will be a fine substitute for the tragic video of his killing, and should be a lesson for other communities in how to respond to such tragedies.
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Post by Admin on May 2, 2015 21:03:25 GMT
Thousands of protesters rallied at City Hall on Saturday amid heavily armed police and National Guard troops, but the mood was more celebratory than tense following the state prosecutor's decision to charge six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray. Marching through the streets, demonstrators held signs that read, "Racism is a disease," "It is right to rebel," and "Stop racist police terror." Many shouted "We have voices" and "12 jurors for Freddie." Gray, a black male, died of spinal injuries suffered while in police custody April 12. His death led to 10 days of protests, which turned violent Monday after his funeral. Clashes between police and protesters prompted the arrests of more than 200 people and injuries to at least 20 police officers. The officers and the charges: officer Caesar Goodson Jr. (second-degree murder), officer William Porter (manslaughter), Lt. Brian Rice (manslaughter), officer Edward Nero (assault), officer Garrett Miller (assault) and Sgt. Alicia White (manslaughter). Gray family representatives said Friday they hoped the case served as motivation to reform the way police do their jobs in communities across the country and urged members of the public to express themselves peacefully. "We are satisfied with today's charges," said Richard Shipley, Gray's stepfather. "These charges are an important step in getting justice for Freddie and we ask that whoever comes to our city — a city that we love, a city that we live in — come in peace, and if you are not coming in peace, please don't come at all, because this city needs to get back to work." The Baltimore police officers union, however, says the six officers charged in the case aren't responsible for Gray's death.
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Post by Admin on Sept 13, 2015 20:26:34 GMT
The former international tennis star thrown to the ground and roughly handcuffed by a New York City cop outside a midtown Manhattan hotel said Saturday the officer should be fired. James Blake’s call for Officer James Frascatore to lose his job came a day after the NYPD released a security video that shows Blake being charged at and grabbed as he waited for a ride to the U.S. Open, and then being thrown to the ground after the cop mistook him for a credit card fraudster. “I don’t think he deserves to have a badge,” Blake told the New York Post in an interview at the Waldorf Astoria. “I hope he can never do that to anyone else and get away with it. I hope he can never do that again under the shield of the New York Police Department.” Blake told The Associated Press Saturday that Frascatore's history of excessive-force complaints means he shouldn't "ever have a badge or a gun again." The Post said Frascatore has faced four civilian complaints and has at least four excessive-force lawsuits filed against him.
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Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2015 20:11:23 GMT
The suspect has been identified as Hunter M. Park, a 20-year-old who is not a University of Missouri student. Park was arrested in Rolla, Missouri. According to the University of Missouri Police Department, "Park was contacted in Rolla, Mo. by the University of Missouri Police and transported to the University of Missouri Police Department in Columbia where he was arrested and processed. Additional information cannot be released due to the investigative nature of the report." Campus police at University of Missouri have taken someone into custody following a threat on a widely used campus social network, YIk Yak, last night. Yik Yak allows people near any given campus to post anonymously — the postings can then be viewed by anyone tapping into that campus' network. They don't have to be a student to post, or to read the messages, but they do have to be geographically close. The suspect was taken into custody off campus, according to police. Police have not given specifics of threat, but a widely shared screengrab on Twitter last night contained this chilling statement: "Some of you are alright. Don't go to campus tomorrow." At 7:44 p.m. last night, the university announced it had increased security after "social media threats." A few hours later, at 10 p.m., the statement was updated to say it was actively investigating: "MUPD is investigating reports of threats made in social media. Please call 911 immediately if you need help." On Monday, the systems president at the university stepped down following student protests, and the chancellor agreed to take on a new role. Tension has been high. Some students had used Yik Yak to push back anonymously against the developments, as MSNBC reported.
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Post by Admin on Dec 2, 2015 19:57:12 GMT
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been under intense pressure from protesters and fellow elected officials in Chicago — and from activists and pundits across the country — to clean up his Police Department and fire his top cop, Garry McCarthy, following the release of a video that showed a white officer repeatedly shooting a black teenager in the street, killing him. On Tuesday, Emanuel will seek to quell some of the growing chorus of criticism by announcing a task force his administration says "will review the system of accountability, oversight and training that is currently in place for Chicago's police officers," according to a brief news release issued late Monday. The five-member task force will include city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson and Hiram Grau, former director of the Illinois State Police, according to a news release from Emanuel's office. Also on the panel will be former federal prosecutor Sergio Acosta, Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot and University of Chicago Law School professor Randolph Stone, who is director of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Project Clinic and a former Cook County public defender. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will serve as a "senior adviser" to the group, the release states.
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