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Darren Wilson Came From Police Force Disbanded For Racism

August 24, 2014 Carol D. Leonnig, Kimberly Kindy and Joel Achenbach, www.washingtonpost.com , , ,
The small city of Jennings, Mo., had a police department so troubled, and with so much tension between white officers and black residents, that the city council finally decided to disband it. Everyone in the Jennings police department was fired. New officers were brought in to create a credible department from scratch. That was three years ago. One of the officers who worked in that department, and lost his job along with everyone else, was a young man named Darren Wilson. Some of the Jennings officers reapplied for their jobs, but Wilson got a job in the police department in the nearby city of Ferguson. On Aug. 9, Wilson, who is white, killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown after Brown and a friend had been walking down the middle of a street.

Mentally Ill Woman Killed By Police Brought To City Hall

August 24, 2014 Matthew Hendley, www.phoenixnewtimes.com , ,
The body of a mentally ill black woman who was shot and killed by police was brought to Phoenix City Hall today by community activists and the slain woman's family, who demanded an external investigation into her death. Michelle Cusseaux, 50, was fatally shot by Phoenix Police Officer Percy Dupra on August 14, after police say she threatened officers with a hammer when they went to serve a court order to deliver Cusseaux to a mental-health facility. Community members have joined Cusseaux's mother in calling for an independent agency to investigate the killing, in addition to the Phoenix Police Department's own investigation, although Phoenix police haven't agreed to seeking an external investigation. "We've had to take drastic measures," Cusseaux's mother Frances Garrett said, standing beside her daughter's casket outside City Hall.

Rally at the Justice Department: Against Police Brutality & Militarization

August 24, 2014 Staff, www.PopularResistance.org , , , ,
Petition To Eric Holder Against Racist, Militarized Policing To Be Delivered, Sign here now. When: Wednesday, August 27th at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Where: In front of the Department of Justice, Constitution Ave between 9th & 10th St NW, Washington DC Washington, DC – On Wednesday, August 27 at 4pm, activists will rally outside the Justice Department to call on the Attorney General to help secure justice for Michael Brown and the people of Ferguson, Missouri, as well as an overhaul of US law enforcement tactics in order to stop police brutality and the militarization of our police forces. “Michael's murder is symptomatic of a systemic, racist culture that condones the murder and incarceration of black boys and men at rates highly disproportionate to the general population. U.S. police or vigilantes kill a black man every 28 hours,” says Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo of No FEAR Coalition and Black Agenda Report. “We need the full support of the Attorney General’s office to make sure that Michael Brown is not simply another name added to the anonymous statistics and meaningless deaths of African-Americans at the mercy of a merciless system.”

D.C. Residents Call For Transparency In Ferguson

August 24, 2014 Robert Brune, www.dcmediagroup.us , , , ,
More than 1,000 people marched through Washington, DC on August 23rd calling for justice, transparency and an end to police brutality. After several weeks of protests in response to the brutal murder of Michael Brown, individuals continue to question the system of policing and media reporting in the United States. Many have said that there is a “lack of justice” throughout the nation and have expressed outrage in how the media depicts victims of police brutality.

Thousands March In Staten Island Against Police Brutality

August 24, 2014 Matthew Weinstein, www.bicyclist.smugmug.com , , , , ,
Thousands marched in Staten Island On August 23rd. They were protesting police brutality and abuse. They were demanding justice for the victims of that abuse. Eric Garner was placed in an illegal choke hold by a NYPD office several weeks ago. His crime? Selling illegal cigarettes. Despite his protestations and his repeated plea of "I can't breathe," despite the fact that he was already subdued, despite the fact that he was surround by cops, the officer continued to choke Mr. Garner. The result? Eric Garner died on the sidewalk, a victim, like so many others, of out-of-control police brutality. These police crimes are then followed by a disturbing lack of transparency and a failure of the justice system to indict, try and convict. Victims are invariably people of color. The time has come for civilian control of the police forces and an end to the militarization of police departments around the country.

Ferguson: 210 Arrests, Father Visits Memorial, Two Officers Suspended

August 23, 2014 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org , , , ,
Michael Brown's father, visited the street memorial people have created for his son at the site of his 18 year old son's death. Th St. Louis Post Dispatch reports: "Michael Brown Sr. hugged well-wishers who recognized him and came to share words of encouragement or brief prayers. Anthony Shahid, an activist who was accompanying Brown Sr., said he didn't want to speak to the media. He was exhausted, Shahid said, and just wanted to see the memorial to his son." The visit marked Brown Sr.'s first visit to the site since a candlelight vigil not long after the shooting.

Brown Family Should Seek Justice, Not Wait For More Injustice

August 22, 2014 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org , , ,
The family of Michael Brown should not rely on the grand jury system or Attorney General Holder The grand jury process in the United States is rigged for the prosecutor. There is an old saying among lawyers “A prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich.” Of course, the reverse is also true; the prosecutor can also prevent an indictment. The prosecutor controls the grand jury process which is conducted in secret without even a judge present. The prosecutor decides what witnesses to call and there is no opportunity for a defense lawyer or attorney for the family to participate. Attorney General Holder's record on dealing with police violence against citizens is mixed. The family should not wait until the grand jury decision or rely completely on the US Department of Justice. The family of Michael Brown should take their own steps to ensure justice for their son as quickly as possible. The avenue the family can pursue is to file a civil suit in federal court. Such litigation will allow the family to seek all relevant documents, including the unreleased police report, as well as videotapes related to the killing of Michael Brown. It will also allow them to question witnesses under oath, including police officers who arrived at the scene. The court hearings in a civil suit will be public so everyone can see all the evidence.

Aug. 23: DC March And Rally To Demand Justice For Michael Brown

August 21, 2014 National Black United Front, www.PopularResistance.org , , ,
On Saturday, August 23 beginning at 7:00 p.m. demonstrators will gather in Mt. Vernon Square for a brief rally before marching to Chinatown to demand "Justice for Mike Brown" and stand in solidarity with the people of Ferguson, Missouri. As daily protests continue in Ferguson, people around the country are likewise continuing to show their solidarity, and join the call for justice and in opposition to police brutality that is rampant nationwide. The District is no exception. Rallies and marches have been taking place across D.C. over the past 10 days, from Howard University's campus to Malcolm X Park to the White House. Saturday's rally in Mt. Vernon Square and march to Chinatown will build on all of these events, bringing together many organizations and individuals: "Residents of the District of Columbia, just like millions around the country recognize that at the root of Ferguson are the social, racial and economic injustices that exist nationwide. They know that Ferguson could really be anywhere and Michael Brown could be any young Black male."

12 Things White People Can Do After Ferguson

August 20, 2014 Janee Woods, www.janeewoods.com , ,
Let’s talk about an active role for white people in the fight against racism because racism burdens all of us and is destroying our communities. And, quite frankly, because white people have a role in undoing racism because white people created and, for the most part, currently maintain (whether they want to or not) the racist system that benefits white people to the detriment of people of color. My white friends who’ve spoken out harshly against the murder of Michael Brown end with a similar refrain: What can I do that will matter in the fight against racism? White people who are sick and tired of racism should work hard to become white allies. In the aftermath of the murder of Michael Brown, may he rest in power, here are some ways for white people to become white allies who are engaged thoughtfully and critically in examining the situation in Ferguson and standing on the side of justice and equity.

Ferguson: 47 Arrests, No Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets; Holder Steps In

August 20, 2014 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org , , ,
Less violent than the previous nights in Ferguson. The police did not use tear gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades or smoke bombs and the crowd only had minor incidents of people throwing bottles at the police. There were still confrontations between police and the people but at a much lower decibel than previous nights. At times 'peacekeepers' stood in line between police and protesters to minimize conflict. Reporters were corralled in a specific area and some were threatened with arrest. In total there were 47 arrests reported (these numbers may not be accurate, the police reported 31 arrests then night before when there were over 70).

Tense Tallies In Ferguson Include Fires, Shootings And 31 Arrests

August 19, 2014 Kevin McDermott, www.stltoday.com , , ,
With armed Missouri National Guard troops posted to area streets for the first time in modern history, violence erupted anew Monday night as protesters hurled bottles at police and fired shots, and officers responded with sound cannons. “Back off now!” one officer ordered protesters as the conflict escalated shortly before 10 p.m. Later, police fired tear gas at protesters who defied orders to disperse. Police fired at least three tear gas volleys near the QuikTrip as emergency vehicles sped to the scene. Police also used tear gas to break up protesters near West Florissant Avenue and Northwoods Estates. “They’re gassing our kids,” one protester shouted. In front of McDonald’s, a tactical unit removed a driver from his car at gunpoint. Some protesters tipped over portable toilets and dragged them into the streets. An armored vehicle moved down the street trying to clear the crowd, and some pastors stood with their arms locked trying to restore peace. They helped to move protesters away from the police line. The confrontation followed a day of dizzying new developments in the Aug. 9 police shooting death of unarmed Michael Brown, 18, and the week of protests, looting and violence that has followed . . . .

Should Police Have Liability Insurance?

August 18, 2014 Michael T. Hertz, www.PopularResistance.org , ,
Suppose police departments were required to have liability insurance policies on their police officers, so if they were sued by injured civilians there would be money available from a source other than taxpayers? One would think that political conservatives would welcome that result because it would lower the tax burden. But who should be paying for the insurance policy? The idea being advanced here is that such policies should be required, and individual policemen should have a deduction from their salaries to pay for the policies. This would provide financial protection for the policemen (they would all be insured) in the event they did something foolish, but it would also protect the taxpayers and provide an independent fund for the victims. For instance, the policies could provide for up to several million dollars towards the death or injury of a civilian victim. It might be recalled that local governments (e.g., Detroit) can go bankrupt, so the policies would provides assurance of compensation where needed.

Cops Shamed In Confrontation: March For Ezell Ford In Los Angeles

August 17, 2014 Staff, www.revolution-news.com , ,
Los Angeles activists took to the streets Friday with family members of Ezell Ford, a mentally disabled black man who was murdered while unarmed on Monday, August 11th by LAPD. Their march began at 65th and Broadway, and made its way to the Newton Police Station in South Central L.A. Ezell was the subject of an “investigative stop,” conducted by the LAPD. Multiple witnesses say that at the time of the shooting, Ezell was lying on the ground and complying with officers. The two officers involved in the shooting claim that Ezell tried to tackle one of them, and reached for their weapon. Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the officers who on August 11th, shot Ezell Ford, did not have a dash cam installed on their car, and were not wearing lapel cameras.

Ferguson Shows Need For Black Power Movement

August 15, 2014 Massoud Hayoun, www.america.aljazeera.com , ,
In areas such as St. Louis County, where community members say African-Americans are sometimes stopped multiple times in a trip across the micro-cities, many black Americans say the police profiling and brutality discourages them from travel and therefore the spread of information on community tragedies and movements in response to them. Communication is an issue even in traditional bastions of the black empowerment movements. Hodari B. Davis of Young, Gifted and Black, a black youth organization based in Oakland, California — which recently started performing a song called “Don’t Shoot” — believes that a lack of communication is preventing a nationwide response to the killings in recent years. Davis cited the counterintelligence program Cointelpro, which the FBI carried out from the 1950s through the ’70s to covertly disrupt black power and other ethnic-based movements.

Solidarity Actions: Saturday 1PM CST When Mike Brown Was Killed

August 15, 2014 Staff, www.actionnetwork.org ,
THIS SATURDAY, St. Louis Calls for Solidarity Actions for Justice for Mike Brown, for Trayvon Martin, for Eric Garner, for Renisha McBride, for Amadou Diallo and so many others Groups on the ground in St. Louis are calling for nationwide solidarity actions in support of Justice for Mike Brown and the end of police and extrajudicial killings everywhere. On Saturday at 1pm CST -- one week after the murder of Mike Brown by a Ferguson police officer--we in St. Louis will gather at the location that Mike was shot in the Canfield Apartment buildings. We ask that you gather at the places in your community on Saturday where police and extrajudicial killings have occurred to memorialize lives that have been lost and demand justice by ending systemic violence upon communities of color. We know that the murder of Mike Brown in St. Louis is just one of hundreds of murders per year by extrajudicial means throughout this country. There are too many names to list
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