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UPDATE #4
UPDATE #3
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UPDATE
ORIGINAL POST The trial into the officer that murdered Laquan McDonald and the justification that his lawyer put forth in court was semi shocking. I can't be completely shocked because this is how people who are apart of the problem really think. Daniel Herbert, lawyer for Officer Jason Van Dyke, said this during his argument to justify the officer's action, "Yes, it was an ugly shooting, ugly from the standpoint it showed a graphic image, not unlike most shootings were a policy officer shoots at an individual. The point is it was business as usual." He didn't stop there! He continued with, "If a firefighter arrives on the scene of a fire and climbs up on the roof and takes the ax out and cuts the roof open to ventilate the roof...are we going to charge that firefighter with criminal damage to property? Of course not. It's preposterous. You cannot be charged criminally for duties you are required by law to do." Brief thoughts: Sir, shut the entire hell up. You're comparing 2 entirely different things. 1 doesn't involve taking a person's life and the other involves an officer shooting a teenager 16 times. It's business as usual for an officer to shot another person 16 times? Sure, since the young man was hold a knife, I can semi understand firing once in a location of the body that wouldn't kill him in order to incapacitate him, but emptying his gun 14 seconds or less is beyond excessive. I'm sure if the firefighter had to cut open the roof and there was video of it, there wouldn't be any hesitation to release the video of him doing so, there was blatant refusal to release the video of this incident. To call this young man's death business as usual is disturbing to me and to say that police shooting other people is business as usual is also disturbing. Where does it say that police can go around shooting people and it be business as usual? I thought business as usual was protecting and defending the citizens they're supposed to be trained to protect. I thought business as usual was diffusing situations in appropriate manners and not using excessive force. So, pretty much what I've gathered from his words is that if an officer shoots another person instead of finding another way to handle the situation it's just business as usual. So, remember ladies and gentlemen, the next time an unfortunate incident like this should happen, we're not to be alarmed or outraged because it's just business as usual. #blacklivesmatter #sayhisname
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UPDATE #3
UPDATE #2
UPDATE
ORIGINAL POST 3 officers involved in the murder of Freddie Gray are now facing termination after an internal investigation determined administrative violations had been committed in their handling of his death. Sergeant Alicia White, Lieutenant Brian Rice, the supervising officer on duty, and Officer Caesar Goodson have all been suspended, and are facing the possibility of being fired. Officers Edward Nero and Garrett Miller, who were also involved in Freddie's arrest that ultimately led to his murder, face suspension without pay for a couple of days. No internal charges have been filed against Officer Willam Porter, who received the only manslaughter charge for Freddie's death. White, Rice, and Goodson have the option to contest the findings of the investigation by requesting a disciplinary trial board. For those that don't remember or haven't been paying attention:
Brief thought: This may be viewed as a potential victory to some, but to me, I just don't view this as a victory. This young man lost his life in a very violent manner and the only thing that's going to happen to these officers is them being fired? Somebody else out there in this world will hire them because they won't care about what they did to contribute to the death of this young man. Or they'll receive some sort of compensation, benefits, or pension from the police department. Nothing short of being locked away forever will be good enough punishment for contributing to this man's death. #blacklivesmatter #sayhisname I don't know why, I just felt compelled to make this a completely separate post. I didn't want to mix this event in with the other update posts I have about what happened to him and I also didn't want to mention the "other person's" name because I wanted this post all about Richard and what was supposed to have been his special day.
I also think I felt compelled to make this a separate post because it really made me emotional seeing the above picture. I think seeing a picture like this makes it more real then just seeing a picture of the person. During yesterday's commencement ceremony @ Bowie State, Richard was honored with a cap and gown draped over a chair that he should've been physically sitting in. A moment of silence was also done in his honor @ the beginning of the ceremony. Bowie State President Mickey Burnim also awarded Richard a posthumous bachelor's degree that was accepted by his family and his fellow ROTC cadets. #blacklivesmatter #sayhisname UPDATE
ORIGINAL POST Couple of updates in the murder of Richard Collins III:
#blacklivesmatter #sayhisname The FBI is now involved in the investigation of the stabbing death of Richard Collins III (23), who was black. Collins who attended Bowie State University, was stabbed by Sean Urbanski (22), who is a student @ the University of Maryland and is also white.
Collins was visiting the University of Maryland to visit friends and encountered Urbanski while he was waiting for an Uber with his friends around 3am. Urbanski approached him, screaming @ him, Urbanski then told Collins to "step left if you know what's best for you," Collins said "no," Urbanksi then stabbed him once in the chest. Authorities believe the stabbing was "totally unprovoked" and random. Authorities also believe that the stabbing is racially motivated because it's been discovered that Urbanski belongs to a racist Facebook group called Alt-Reich. Urbanski has been charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault and is being held without bond. He is expected to be back in court next month. Collins was scheduled to graduate on Tuesday and was recently commissioned in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. A vigil is scheduled for Collins Monday evening @ Bowie State University. Brief thoughts: Once again, I don't understand why people do the things that they do. I know it's not for me to understand because that's when I become part of the problem, but I still jut don't understand. What did Urbanski gain from stabbing this young man? Does he feel better about himself for doing it? I just want to know what gives another person the right to take another human beings life. Also, I keep telling people you have to be careful about the things that you do and say online. Somebody is always watching and the things that you do and say can always be found. Lastly, why isn't he being charged with murder? Why is it just assault? Charge in no way fits the crime. #blacklivesmatter #sayhisname Couple of updates that I wanted to bring to yalls attention:
Brief thought: If the bill doesn't honor her death or take steps to prevent how she died from happening to somebody else, I don't think her name should be attached to it, that's just my personal opinon, and I think how those who were outraged by the events that led up to her death feel as well. #blacklivesmatter #sayhername Big news was just released and before I do another post, I must do this post!
In a surprise to unfortunately nobody, Betty Shelby, the Tulsa police officer who murdered Terence Crutcher, who just like the rest was unarmed, was found not guilty of 1st degree manslaughter by a jury late Wednesday. The jury deliberated for 9 hours before coming up with their decision. The verdict was read by Juror #22, and this person apparently cried while reading their decision. Brief thoughts: Excuse all the profanity that's about to happen, but I'm sooo pissed and just...I don't even have the word to describe how I feel, and if there are any typos, my apologies, I'm a little misty eyed. I thought I didn't have anything to say, hence the spiel above, but I do, and this is what I want to say/ask. THE FUCK ARE YOU CRYING FOR? Are you crying because you're happy that you allowed this murderer to roam free, are you happy that she doesn't have to face the consequences of the murder that she committed? Or are you sad because you know you made the wrong decision? Please don't cry, keep those tears, they're not needed, and they're not wanted! Your tears will never erase the decision that you and your peers have made. You will have to go to bed every night knowing that this man's family will NEVER have the justice that they deserve, you will have to go to bed every night knowing that you allowed a murderer to walk away scott free, you will have to live with that decision for the rest of your life, and that's all on you and your peers, so cut the crying out, we're not here for it, and we don't give shit about your tears! Lastly, I've come to expect these outcomes when it comes to these situations because the lives of those in uniforms are more important than the lives of minorities. Always has been and doesn't seem like it will ever change. The only thing that gives me comfort as a black woman in this country is knowing that people will always remember her face because people like me who have these platforms will NEVER allow you to forget what she looks like, and people will also remember what she did because I won't allow those that read this blog to forget. It gives me comfort knowing that even though she won't have to answer for what she's done in this life, when she moves on to her next life, there's a higher authority that she'll have to answer to, and I have a feeling she'll be heading south to live for all eternity. #sayhisname #blacklivesmatter UPDATE
UPDATE
ORIGINAL POST **Per usual below, I included the video of her arrest and I also included another video that's kinda conspiracy theory. I'm in no way shape, form, or fashion deeming what they said in the 2nd video as correct, but it's definitely something that'll make you take a step back and think.** A bill that was supposed to honor Sandra Bland's memory and resolve the issues surrounding the reason why she was had an encounter with police has been disappointingly scaled down. Before we dig into the meat and potatoes of this post, a little background info on what happened to Sandra Bland for those that don't know:
In March, the original version of the "Sandra Bland Act" was introduced and was supposed to enforce police accountability and anti racial profiling measures, however this version received a ton of backlash from Republicans and law enforcement groups. The original bill would've also required a higher degree of proof for stopping and searching vehicles, counseling and training for officers who racially profile drivers. It also would have banned arrests over offenses that are punishable by fine. Now, the revised version of the bill focuses on better mental healthcare access, better jail trailing, increased supervision of inmates, mental health training for jailers, and more deescalation training for officers. "What the bill does in its current state renders Sandy invisible. It's frustrating and gut wrenching. The legislation as it now stands isolates the very person it seeks to honor and makes compromises at the expense of the family. It painfully misses the mark for us."--Sharon Cooper, Sandra Bland's older sister, speaking on behalf of their family in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday Cooper wouldn't outright say that Sandra's name should be removed from the bill, but being that Sandra's friends, family, and activists have always expressed skepticism that Sandra committed suicide, they've taken issue with her name being attached to what's now a mental health bill. Brief thoughts: I agree if they bill isn't going to address the reason why she was pulled over, then her name doesn't need to be attached to it. I'm still purplexed, after all this time as to why a simple traffic stop caused Sandra to be forcibly removed from her vehicle? That's the question I have when all of these incidents arise, how did it get to the point and what were the officers thinking to make them feel like killing another human being was justifiable? The bill in its current state, just makes it seem like this is a bill about somebody who have mental illness issues, and that may be true, who knows, but it the other actions hadn't occurred, it wouldn't have gotten to the point it did in that jail cell, and who really knows what happened in that cell. #blacklivesmatter #sayhername Couple updates I wanted to pass along:
#blacklivesmatter #sayhisname And so another one begins... **CAUTION: Video of the shooting is below The manslaughter trial for Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby, began today after she shot and killed Terence Crutcher on September 16, 2016. Shelby has been on unpaid leave since the shooting...and rightfully so. Terence and Shelby came into contact with one another after she was on her way to respond to a domestic situation call, but saw him on the side of the road after his vehicle broke down. According to the Tulsa County District Attorney's office, Shelby "reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr. Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted." Attorneys for Shelby said before the video started she has repeatedly commanded Terence to stop walking and get on the ground. Per usual, Shelby "feared for her life" because she thought Terence was reaching into his car for a gun. **I just bet she commanded that since we conveniently can't see it.** The 1st witness for the prosecution was Tyler Turnbough, who's also a Tulsa police officer. Turnbough said he saw Shelby draw her gun, so he drew his taser to prevent a lethal situation. He claims he told Shelby that he had drawn his taser, but he wasn't sure if she heard him. Also claims he saw Terence reach his left hand into the window of his Lincoln Navigator, which caused him to fire his taser and Shelby to shot Terence. Per usual, Shelby has plead not guilty, and if convicted of 1st degree manslaughter, she faces 4 years to life in prison. A civil rights investigation into Terence's death was also started by the Justice Department. Fun fact: The jury consists of two black women, seven white women and three white men. The alternates are one black man and one white woman. Brief thoughts: I'll continuously always be baffled as to why officers are sooooo trigger happy?? Why is it that this 1 officer has the common sense to draw his taser if he feels some type of way and this other officer immediately went for her gun? In my honest opinion, I don't think he was reaching for anything, clearly he wasn't trying to cause any problems if he was walking away with his hands. I believe that he was walking back, and turned to simply place his hands on his vehicle. Another thing I wanted to mention, in the video, which will be provided below and caution is encouraged before you view, even though we all know how it ends. The video is courtesy of The Young Turks cause I'm a fan of some of their videos, but another thing I wanted to say is in the video, you can hear somebody say, "that looks like a bad dude too, could be on something." I believe the person that said this was a person in a helicopter flying over where the incident was taking place, so clearly you're not up close to look @ Terence and see him, so how in the hell does he look like a bad dude? I know how, he has dark colored skin and nothing else. And in case you didn't know, all black people do drugs. This person also said, "they need to taser that thing." 1st and foremost and above all, he's not a thing, he's a man, and a human being that died for no reason. Another thing that disgusts me, is that after Terence was shot, the person talking in the helicopter is more concerned about shutting down that stretch of road than the person who was sprawled out on the street because he had just gotten shot. And then everybody just stands around, watching, and letting him die. I'm just continuously baffled on how people of color go about their lives, doing everyday tasks and activities, yet they wind up dead. His car broke down on the side of the highway, yet he ended up dead even though he did nothing wrong. Hell, if I'm broke down on the side of the highway, don't come help me, just leave me be, and I'll wait until either highway assistance or a friend gets here if I have the possibility of ending up dead just for breaking down. I'm going to remain hopeful and optimistic that she'll be convicted, but regardless she'll have a higher authority to answer for when this life is over and we all know where she's going. #blacklivesmatter #sayhisname |
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