INSIDER
A decade of racial justice activism transformed politics but landmark reforms remain elusive
Read full article: A decade of racial justice activism transformed politics but landmark reforms remain elusiveMichael Brown’s fatal shooting by police a decade ago set off more than a week of protests by thousands of people in Ferguson, Missouri.
Takeaways from AP's story about a Ferguson protester who became a prominent racial-justice activist
Read full article: Takeaways from AP's story about a Ferguson protester who became a prominent racial-justice activistAfter Michael Brown Jr. was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, several nationally prominent Black religious leaders arrived, thinking they could help lead the protest movement that had surfaced.
Man accused in assault that critically wounded Ferguson officer now faces more charges
Read full article: Man accused in assault that critically wounded Ferguson officer now faces more chargesThe man accused in an assault that left a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer fighting for his life is facing several additional charges after a grand jury indictment.
In New Orleans, nonprofits see new money and new inclusive approach from the NBA Foundation
Read full article: In New Orleans, nonprofits see new money and new inclusive approach from the NBA FoundationThe National Basketball Association formalized its giving over the past four years through a new $300 million grantmaking arm.
How women of color with Christian and progressive values are keeping the faith — outside churches
Read full article: How women of color with Christian and progressive values are keeping the faith — outside churchesFor some Christian progressives, the lack of acknowledgement by their churches or ministries of the racial reckoning in 2020 was the final push to go elsewhere.
With their massive resources, corporations could be champions of racial equity but often waver
Read full article: With their massive resources, corporations could be champions of racial equity but often waverA Missouri nonprofit founded in 2015 to help address the issues that contributed to the police shooting death of Michael Brown Jr. and the riots that followed has faced the same lament many philanthropies face.
Injured Ferguson officer shows 'small but significant' signs of progress in Missouri
Read full article: Injured Ferguson officer shows 'small but significant' signs of progress in MissouriA Ferguson, Missouri, police officer who was critically injured during a protest on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death is showing “small but significant signs of progress” from a severe brain injury.
Ferguson officer critically injured at protest on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown's death
Read full article: Ferguson officer critically injured at protest on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown's deathPolice in Ferguson, Missouri, say an officer was critically injured outside the city's police station during protests on the 10th anniversary of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a pivotal moment in the national Black Lives Matter movement.
Timeline of events in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown
Read full article: Timeline of events in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer fatally shot Michael BrownOn Aug. 9, 2014, Michael Brown and a friend were walking in the middle of Canfield Drive, a two-lane street in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri, when a police officer drove by and told them to use the sidewalk.
Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States, an AP-NORC poll finds
Read full article: Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States, an AP-NORC poll findsA new poll finds that only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans.
Travis Scott’s attorney provides more details on communication timeline
Read full article: Travis Scott’s attorney provides more details on communication timelineThe attorney for Travis Scott shared new details about the flow of communication between Houston police, event security and Scott’s manager the night 10 people were crushed to death at the 2021 Astroworld Festival.
Emmett Till images have multigenerational impact on artists
Read full article: Emmett Till images have multigenerational impact on artistsAs the first-ever feature-length retelling of the lynching of Emmett Till goes into wide release, so does an art campaign meant to honor the power of images like those of his open casket that were printed by the Black press.
House Democrats pass police funding bills despite divisions
Read full article: House Democrats pass police funding bills despite divisionsHouse Democrats have pushed through a long-sought policing and public safety package after overcoming internal differences on legislation they plan to make central to their election-year pitch.
New oversight plan means closer scrutiny of St. Louis police
Read full article: New oversight plan means closer scrutiny of St. Louis policeEight years after Michael Brown’s death pushed the St. Louis region front and center into the national debate over police accountability, the city’s elected officials and its police associations are at odds over a new oversight plan.
Two years after Floyd murder, racial trauma permeates US
Read full article: Two years after Floyd murder, racial trauma permeates USWednesday marked the second anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked a global protest movement and calls for a racial reckoning to address structural racism that has created long-standing inequities impacting generations of Black Americans.
Are police consent decrees an asset? Depends on who you ask
Read full article: Are police consent decrees an asset? Depends on who you askThe Minneapolis Police Department will face the scrutiny of a federal program after a state investigation concluded that its officers stop and arrest Black people more than white people, use force more often on people of color and maintain a culture in which racism is tolerated.
AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter has $42 million in assets
Read full article: AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter has $42 million in assetsA new, 63-page IRS tax filing shared exclusively with The Associated Press shows the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc. ended its last fiscal year with nearly $42 million in net assets.
The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoing
Read full article: The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoingIn an exclusive interview, Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, tells The Associated Press that neither she nor anyone else in leadership has misused millions of dollars in donations.
Police stops of Black people often filled with fear, anxiety
Read full article: Police stops of Black people often filled with fear, anxietyVideo shows Patrick Lyoya disobeyed an officer during an April 4 traffic stop, tried to run, then wrestled with the officer over his Taser before the officer fatally shot him in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
After Trayvon Martin, Crump became civil rights go-to lawyer
Read full article: After Trayvon Martin, Crump became civil rights go-to lawyerBefore Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and other Black people died at the hands of white police officers or self-appointed vigilantes, there was Martin Lee Anderson.
RodeoHouston Friday night: Special event held for kids, adults while the Championship BBQ contest gets underway
Read full article: RodeoHouston Friday night: Special event held for kids, adults while the Championship BBQ contest gets underwayMore than 250 BBQ teams have been waiting for two years to compete in the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que contest. Many of them said they’re excited to be back at NRG Park.
Trayvon Martin, 10 years later: Teen’s death changes nation
Read full article: Trayvon Martin, 10 years later: Teen’s death changes nationThe killing of Trayvon Martin at the hands of a stranger still reverberates 10 years later -- in protest, in partisanship, in racial reckoning and reactionary response, in social justice and social media.
Amir Locke shooting rekindles mistrust of Minneapolis police
Read full article: Amir Locke shooting rekindles mistrust of Minneapolis policeThe killing of a Black man by Minneapolis police left his family and activists angry and questioning the credibility of a department widely criticized for its initial portrayal of George Floyd’s death.
A look at high-profile cases over killings by US police
Read full article: A look at high-profile cases over killings by US policeA suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for a Taser was led away in handcuffs Thursday after a jury found her guilty of manslaughter in the death of Black motorist Daunte Wright.
Florida law school creates Ben Crump social justice center
Read full article: Florida law school creates Ben Crump social justice centerA South Florida law school says it is creating a social justice center named after Ben Crump, the Black civil rights attorney who has gained national prominence representing victims of police brutality and vigilante violence.
Residents seek role in federal probe into Minneapolis police
Read full article: Residents seek role in federal probe into Minneapolis policeMinneapolis activists are collecting accounts of police misconduct from community members for a federal civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis police to ensure they have a say in any potential changes.
EXPLAINER: Rittenhouse plane part of widespread surveillance
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Rittenhouse plane part of widespread surveillanceThe FBI surveillance plane that captured footage of the night Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year was part of a wider government strategy to keep tabs on demonstrations against racial injustice.
Body found riddled with bullets, wrapped in a tarp in Missouri City home may be related to kidnapping case, police say
Read full article: Body found riddled with bullets, wrapped in a tarp in Missouri City home may be related to kidnapping case, police sayHouston police are investigating a homicide case and a kidnapping case that may be related, a detective said
Despite growing chorus, DOJ is limited in police probes
Read full article: Despite growing chorus, DOJ is limited in police probesCalls have grown for federal investigations into police killings across the nation since President Joe Biden took office and said he believes racial disparities in policing must change.
Family asks feds to reopen case on Tamir Rice police killing
Read full article: Family asks feds to reopen case on Tamir Rice police killingThe family of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot by Cleveland police in 2014, is asking the Justice Department to reopen the case into his death after it was closed near the end of the Trump administration.
A look at big settlements in US police killings
Read full article: A look at big settlements in US police killingsSome such lawsuits end up in court where a jury can award massive settlements that are whittled down on appeal. Taylor was shot to death by officers acting on a no-knock warrant. McDonald’s family sued for $16 million — a million for every bullet — but settled for $5 million. AdGray’s family agreed to a $6.4 million settlement with the city in September 2015. Castile’s mother reached a $3 million settlement and his girlfriend was paid $800,000 by the city of St. Anthony and others.
Police groups endorse Biden’s pick for civil rights chief
Read full article: Police groups endorse Biden’s pick for civil rights chiefAssistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division nominee Kristen Clarke speaks during an event with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – Some of the largest law enforcement groups in the U.S. are throwing their support behind President Joe Biden’s nominee to run the Justice Department’s civil rights division. Other supporters also include the National Association of Police Organizations, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and dozens of crime victims. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms.
Study: Killings surge in 2020; pandemic, protests play roles
Read full article: Study: Killings surge in 2020; pandemic, protests play roles– O’Killings rose dramatically across the U.S. last year, and a study released Monday suggests the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice unrest were factors. Larger cities were hit hard, too: Milwaukee’s homicides rose 85%, Seattle saw a 63% increase, Chicago killings jumped 55% and New York City saw a 43% increase. The study found that in June through August, homicides rose 37% compared to 2019. The study noted that despite the spike in killings, homicide rates in the U.S. have dropped sharply over the past quarter of a century. The overall homicide rate for the 34 cities study was 11.4 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020, compared to 19.4 deaths per 100,000 residents in 1995.
Race double standard clear in rioters’ Capitol insurrection
Read full article: Race double standard clear in rioters’ Capitol insurrection(AP Photos)NEW YORK – Black Lives Matter protests, 2020: Overwhelming force from law enforcement in dozens of cities. “Confederate flags, ‘don’t tread on me,’ ‘blue lives matter’ flags, the Trump flags — all of it symbolizes the same thing. On Wednesday, images emerged showing custodial staffers of color in the Capitol sweeping up the shards of glass and trash left behind by the rioters. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the people who violated the Capitol on Wednesday should not be seen as patriotic. “This is not protesting or activism; this is an insurrection, an assault on our democracy, and a coup incited by President Trump,” Johnson said.
Feds decline charges against officers in Tamir Rice case
Read full article: Feds decline charges against officers in Tamir Rice caseTo bring federal civil rights charges in cases like these, the Justice Department must prove that an officer’s actions willfully broke the law and are not simply the result of a mistake, negligence or bad judgment. But the video reviewed by federal prosecutors makes the sequence of events less clear. Neither of two witnesses who either saw part of the encounter or reported hearing gunshots said they saw exactly what Rice was doing just before the shooting, according to the Justice Department. In a statement at the scene to three other law enforcement officers, Loehmann “repeatedly and consistently stated” that Tamir was reaching for a gun before he shot him, prosecutors said. Both Loehmann and Garmback also said in statements after the shooting that Loehmann had given Tamir “multiple commands to show his hands before shooting” and both officers saw him reaching for the weapon.
Feds decline charges against officers in Tamir Rice case
Read full article: Feds decline charges against officers in Tamir Rice caseTo bring federal civil rights charges in cases like these, the Justice Department must prove that an officer’s actions willfully broke the law and are not simply the result of a mistake, negligence or bad judgment. But the video reviewed by federal prosecutors makes the sequence of events less clear. Neither of two witnesses who either saw part of the encounter or reported hearing gunshots said they saw exactly what Rice was doing just before the shooting, according to the Justice Department. In a statement at the scene to three other law enforcement officers, Loehmann “repeatedly and consistently stated” that Tamir was reaching for a gun before he shot him, prosecutors said. Both Loehmann and Garmback also said in statements after the shooting that Loehmann had given Tamir “multiple commands to show his hands before shooting” and both officers saw him reaching for the weapon.
AP All-Big 12: Iowa State players and coach win top awards
Read full article: AP All-Big 12: Iowa State players and coach win top awardsCampbell, in his fifth season at Iowa State, got all 20 votes as coach of the year. Iowa State had four first-team selections for the AP All-Big 12 team, matching Oklahoma and Texas Tech for the most in league. RB — u-Breece Hall, Iowa State, 6-1, 215, So., Wichita, Kansas. G — Derek Schweiger, Iowa State, 6-3, 311, Jr., Plymouth, Wisconsin. WR — Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State, 6-3, 207, Jr., Jacksonville, Florida.
In Georgia, Warnock brings faith and activism to the arena
Read full article: In Georgia, Warnock brings faith and activism to the arenaNow Warnock is the politician running for office and the one under attack for his sometimes impassioned words from the pulpit. His opponent, Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, has blasted his rhetoric and proposals as “radical,” socialist and out of step with Georgia residents. At the Georgia Capitol in 2014, he was arrested while protesting the refusal of state Republicans to expand Medicaid. Warnock said he was trying to make sure young people had lawyers or family present when questioned by authorities. Warnock is right to keep focusing on his platform of a living wage, expanded health care options and voting rights, said the Rev.
Beyond the no-knock: Push in states to reform police tactics
Read full article: Beyond the no-knock: Push in states to reform police tacticsBut with no-knock warrants, officers don't have to say anything and don't have to wait. “There has been an historic issuance of no-knock warrants for inappropriate purposes, basically for fishing expeditions for drug evidence,” said Kraska, who helped Campaign Zero write its recommendations. The group is now working with 37 cities and states to introduce legislation on no-knock warrants. In Charlotte, North Carolina, when police Chief Johnny Jennings took over his post in July he dug into the issue of no-knock warrants and ended their use for the department's 1,800 officers. “We found that if there is something that is so dangerous that it requires a no-knock search warrant, that we did not need to take that risk.
Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election
Read full article: Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election“Black Lives Matter saved us, because we had nobody,” said Jones. Now, BLM’s influence faces a test, as voters in Tuesday’s election consider candidates who endorsed or denounced the BLM movement amid a national reckoning on race. Enter Black Lives Matter. Across social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement boasts a following of millions. “Black Lives Matter,” as a slogan, elicited “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” responses from foes.
Breonna Taylor case: Dispute arises over grand jury secrecy
Read full article: Breonna Taylor case: Dispute arises over grand jury secrecyIf you need help with the Public File, call (713) 778-4745. Copyright © 2020 Click2Houston.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.
Breonna Taylor case: Dispute arises over grand jury secrecy
Read full article: Breonna Taylor case: Dispute arises over grand jury secrecyThe dispute over grand jury secrecy arose Wednesday, the same day police files were released showing contacts between Taylor and a man she dated previously who was suspected of drug dealing. None of the white officers was directly charged with Taylor's death by the grand jury last month, triggering renewed street protests. He said in a statement that grand jury proceedings are kept confidential by legal precedent to protect the safety and anonymity of all involved — grand jurors, witnesses and others. Cameron determined before the grand jury proceedings that the officers had acted in self-defense. He has acknowledged that he did not recommend murder charges to the grand jury.
AP-NORC poll: Support for racial injustice protests declines
Read full article: AP-NORC poll: Support for racial injustice protests declinesThe poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 44% of Americans disapprove of protests in response to police violence against Black Americans, while 39% approve. Just 35% of white Americans approve of the protests now, while 50% disapprove. Among Latinos, 31% approve, compared with 44% in June; 63% of Black Americans support the protests, down from 81%, with more now saying they neither approve nor disapprove. While 74% of Black Americans say the criminal justice system is too lenient when officers cause injury or death, 47% of white Americans and 50% of Latinos say the same. Among Republicans, 75% say they disapprove of the protests, up from 56% in June.
Absent details, police shooting narratives seek to distract
Read full article: Absent details, police shooting narratives seek to distractAuthorities have been reluctant to release even the most basic information about the incident or details about the white officer who shot Blake seven times in the back. They shot my son seven times seven times, like he didnt matter, Blakes father, Jacob Blake Sr., said. In 2014, for example, a union spokesman rushed to the scene where a white Chicago officer fatally shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. As for the shooting itself, authorities, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation, have raised far more questions than they've answered. Instead, he said a knife was found after the shooting on the drivers side floorboard of the SUV.
Kenosha delayed body cameras for years before Blake shooting
Read full article: Kenosha delayed body cameras for years before Blake shootingPolice in riot gear stand outside the Kenosha County Court House Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Protests broke out late Sunday night after a police shooting. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Kenosha delayed body cameras for years before Blake shooting
Read full article: Kenosha delayed body cameras for years before Blake shootingIt doesnt show what happened before or after the shooting like body camera footage would. Kenosha officers do have cameras in their squad cars, but it's unclear whether any captured the shooting. By then, Kenosha had already fallen behind most other midsized police departments nationwide that were moving forward with body camera programs. Body cameras are a necessity. Yet the flip side is that people are demanding body cameras," he said.
'Do something:' Harris' rapid rise driven by call to action
Read full article: 'Do something:' Harris' rapid rise driven by call to actionShe faced questions familiar to women in politics, particularly women of color, about her ambition. Harris faced both the scrutiny of her personal life and the resistance to her rise as she raced past rivals from more well-connected families. Years later, when she ran for California attorney general and needed support beyond her liberal home base, Harris tempered her stance on capital punishment. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women," Harris wrote of her mother. At Howard, Harris joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nations oldest sorority for Black women.
'Do something:' Harris' rapid rise driven by call to action
Read full article: 'Do something:' Harris' rapid rise driven by call to actionShe faced questions familiar to women in politics, particularly women of color, about her ambition. Harris faced both the scrutiny of her personal life and the resistance to her rise as she raced past rivals from more well-connected families. Years later, when she ran for California attorney general and needed support beyond her liberal home base, Harris tempered her stance on capital punishment. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women," Harris wrote of her mother. At Howard, Harris joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nations oldest sorority for Black women.
AP Interview: Clyburn warns US lacks plan to stop virus
Read full article: AP Interview: Clyburn warns US lacks plan to stop virusOur entire economy is at stake, Clyburn told The Associated Press in a Newsmakers interview. The third-ranking House Democrat said he's hopeful that negotiators on Capitol Hill can reach an agreement soon on a new virus aid package. Weve got a health care crisis wrapped into an economic crisis, and they are so interwoven, Clyburn said. And so that we can have a fair, unfettered election, said Clyburn, who is the House Democratic whip. You know, when I was a child, I spoke as a child and understood as a child.
Bush latest Ferguson protester with political success
Read full article: Bush latest Ferguson protester with political success2019, file photo, Rep. William Lacy Clay, right, D-Mo., speaks with St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson after a news conference in St. Louis. Come January, shell almost certainly be representing the St. Louis suburb in Congress, making her the most prominent of many Ferguson protesters who have turned to politics. The district that covers St. Louis and north St. Louis County is overwhelmingly Democratic, and Bush is heavily favored in November against her little-known Republican challenger, Anthony Rogers. He was replaced by another Ferguson activist, Rasheen Aldridge, who is just 26. Zaki Baruti, another leading Ferguson activist, said he recognized Bush's potential during the protests and helped convince her to run for U.S. Senate in 2016.
Progressives say primary wins latest sign of momentum shift
Read full article: Progressives say primary wins latest sign of momentum shiftFILE - In this March 6, 2020 file photo, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks at a campaign rally in Detroit. Her opponent in the primary was Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones. Y'all, we about to change the world.Beyond signaling momentum, the victories are giving progressives confidence about two upcoming tests. Next week, squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota will face a challenge from a well-funded opponent, Antone Melton-Meaux. In March, Marie Newman knocked off Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, an abortion opponent who compared progressive Democrats to a tea party of the left."
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodayThis photo shows a general view of the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city's port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. LEBANESE CONFRONT DEVASTATION Beiruts streets were littered with debris and damaged vehicles, building facades blown out and scores missing as the death toll from a massive explosion at the port rises to at least 100. ONETIME HOMELESS WOMAN WINS IN MISSOURI Cori Bush, who led protests after the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014, ousted longtime Rep. William Lacy Clay in the states Democratic primary.
Change laws that shield police, Missouri prosecutor says
Read full article: Change laws that shield police, Missouri prosecutor saysAfter a third review failed to uncover enough evidence to charge the officer who fatally shot Black 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, some prosecutors and civil rights leaders agree its time to focus on changing the laws that shield police. Wilson and Brown became involved in a heated confrontation on Aug. 9, 2014. Wilson said that Brown came at him menacingly and that he killed him in self-defense. In Missouri, no new laws are on the horizon. His predecessor typically didn't record those sessions but made an exception in the investigation of Brown's death, Bell said.
Prosecutor: No charges for officer in Michael Browns death
Read full article: Prosecutor: No charges for officer in Michael Browns deathA St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Wilson in November 2014, and the U.S. Department of Justice also declined to charge him in March 2015. Civil rights leaders and Browns parents had hoped that Bell, the countys first Black prosecutor who took office in January 2019, would see things differently. The question for this office was a simple one: Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law? Darryl Gray, a leading St. Louis activist, agreed that the system is at fault, not Bell's investigation. One term! Tory Russell, 36, of St. Louis, screamed at the prosecuting attorney.
Ex-Justice Department lawyer will lead Elijah McClain probe
Read full article: Ex-Justice Department lawyer will lead Elijah McClain probeJonathan Smith, the executive director of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, will lead the three-person panel reviewing policing policies at issue in the death of Elijah McClain, Sentinel Colorado reported Tuesday. Three officers stopped McClain as he walked down an Aurora street on Aug, 23, 2019 after a 911 caller reported him as suspicious. The Justice Department division is responsible for investigations of civil rights violations by law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health and disability agencies. Last year, the local district attorney said he could not file charges against the officers because a pathologist could not determine whether the officers' actions caused McClain's death. Federal authorities recently revealed they have been researching since last year into whether they should launch a civil rights investigation into McClains death.
Thousands to walk off job to protest racial inequality
Read full article: Thousands to walk off job to protest racial inequalityChurch parishioners sit apart at a prayer vigil for racial justice at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Sunday, July 19, 2020, in Seattle. The vigil follows ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)NEW YORK Organizers of a national workers strike say tens of thousands are set to walk off the job Monday in more than two dozen U.S. cities to protest systemic racism and economic inequality that has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. Dubbed the Strike for Black Lives, labor unions, along with social and racial justice organizations from New York City to Los Angeles, will participate in a range of planned actions. We are ... building a country where Black lives matter in every aspect of society including in the workplace, said Ash-Lee Henderson, an organizer with the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of over 150 organizations that make up the Black Lives Matter movement.
AP Exclusive: 'Strike for Black Lives' to highlight racism
Read full article: AP Exclusive: 'Strike for Black Lives' to highlight racismThe national strike will also include a handful of worker-led marches through participating cities, organizers said Wednesday. Our members have been on a journey to understanding why we cannot win economic justice without racial justice. This strike for Black lives is a way to take our members understanding about that into the streets, Henry told the AP. Strike for Black Lives" organizers say they want to disrupt a multi-generational cycle of poverty perpetuated by anti-union and other policies that make it difficult to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions. An estimated 54% of Black workers and 63% of Hispanic workers fall into that category, compared to 37% of white workers and 40% of Asian American workers, the group said.
St. Louis mayor blasted for revealing identity of protesters
Read full article: St. Louis mayor blasted for revealing identity of protestersFILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson sits during an NCAA college basketball game between Saint Louis and Seton Hall in St. Louis. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson knows the trauma of violence she and her children were present when her first husband was shot to death 25 ago during an attempted carjacking. St. Louis was violent then, as it is now. Floyds death reignited tensions in St. Louis. Just as in St. Louis, demonstrators and some City Council members have sought a drastic reduction in the law enforcement budget.
Black Lives Matter network debunks Trump Twitter post
Read full article: Black Lives Matter network debunks Trump Twitter postBlack Lives Matter leader states, If U.S. doesnt give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. Hawk Newsome has no relation to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, Scales said. Reached by phone Thursday night, Newsome said Black Lives Matter Greater New York is now under the leadership of Black women. He also said Black Lives Matter is not a movement over which anyone can claim ownership. In Washington, D.C., the mayor ordered the words Black Lives Matter painted across a street near the White House, which also has been renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Once reluctant, GOP's only Black senator now leads on race
Read full article: Once reluctant, GOP's only Black senator now leads on raceInitially reluctant to speak on race, Scott is now among the Republican Partys most prominent voices teaching his colleagues what its like to be a Black man in America. Even after he became a U.S. senator, the Capitol quickly became just another place where he would be stopped by the police. Initially reluctant to focus on race, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is now a leading Republican voice, teaching his party what its like to be a Black man in America when the police lights are flashing in the rearview mirror. He found his political legs and political wings at a unique time in this country, said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist in South Carolina. I think its a blessing from God._____Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
New video offers closer view of police SUV hitting black man
Read full article: New video offers closer view of police SUV hitting black manA suburban St. Louis police detective has been suspended after a video appears to show him hitting a man with a police SUV and then hitting the suspect at least twice while arresting him. The new video, which was provided by attorneys for the man who was struck, offers a closer view and a different angle that shows the moment of impact. It also includes audio of the man screaming in pain after the SUV appears to drive across a front lawn and strike him. A day earlier, four St. Louis police officers were shot and a retired St. Louis police captain was fatally shot during a violent night in the city. An officer gets out of the SUV and appears to kick and hit the man on the ground as the man yells out, OK!
Black Lives Matter network establishes $12M grant fund
Read full article: Black Lives Matter network establishes $12M grant fundBlack Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the group behind the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, has established a more than $12 million fund to aid organizations fighting institutional racism in the wake of the George Floyd protests. On Wednesday, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation said it was setting aside $6 million from money it received in donations to support black-led grassroots organizing groups. Although there are many groups that use Black Lives Matter or BLM in their names, only 16 are considered affiliates of the global network. The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2013 amid anger over the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the Florida man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012. Im really proud of the work weve been able to do in the last seven years, Patrisse Cullors, co-founder and chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, said in a statement.
Trump signs order on police reform, doesn't mention racism
Read full article: Trump signs order on police reform, doesn't mention racismLaw enforcement officials applaud after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on police reform, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Washington. But he made no mention of the roiling national debate over racism spawned by police killings of black men and women. Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals," he said before signing the order Tuesday, flanked by police officials. Trumps executive order would establish a database that tracks police officers with excessive use-of-force complaints in their records. The White House has said that is a step too far.
Governor has role in Davis statue's removal from Capitol
Read full article: Governor has role in Davis statue's removal from CapitolWorkers prepare to remove the Jefferson Davis statue from the Kentucky state Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., on Saturday, June 13, 2020. A Kentucky commission voted to take down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the state Capitol. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)FRANKFORT, Ky. Having led the push to take down a statue of Jefferson Davis from the Kentucky Capitol, the state's governor had a ceremonial role Saturday in its removal from the place it stood for decades. The panels vote came two days after another Davis statue was toppled by protesters in Virginia. The commission called for the statue to be moved to the Jefferson Davis Historic Site, where Davis was born.
Experts: Police 'woefully undertrained' in use of force
Read full article: Experts: Police 'woefully undertrained' in use of force(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)BURIEN, Wash. Seattle officers hold down a protester, and one repeatedly punches him in the face. Better training cant fix all the issues facing the nations police departments, but experts believe it would have a big impact. A recent Associated Press investigation found that a lack of firearms training has resulted in unintentional shootings by law enforcement. Police officers across the country are woefully undertrained, said Sean Hendrickson, an instructor at Washington states police academy in suburban Seattle. In Washington state, cadets must complete 720 hours of training, but those skills start to degrade immediately, Hendrickson said.
Dave Chappelle speaks on George Floyd in new Netflix special
Read full article: Dave Chappelle speaks on George Floyd in new Netflix specialNEW YORK An angry and emotional Dave Chappelle spoke on the killing of George Floyd in a surprise Netflix special, saying America was being punished for its mistreatment of black men. The special was released Thursday and is streaming free on Netflixs comedy YouTube channel. It was taken from a show at an outdoor pavilion in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with about 100 attendees on June 6. Chappelle called his special 8:46 in part after the length of time the officer was on top of the handcuffed Floyd. When I watched that tape, I understood this man knew he was going to die, said the comedian.
Long seen as radical, Black Lives Matter goes mainstream
Read full article: Long seen as radical, Black Lives Matter goes mainstreamBlack Lives Matter has gone mainstream and black activists are carefully assessing how they should respond. Its very name enraged its foes, who countered with the slogans Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter." Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream and black activists are carefully assessing how they should respond. When we started Black Lives Matter, it was really to have a larger conversation around this country about its relationship to black people, said Patrisse Cullors, one of three black women who founded the Black Lives Matter Global Network, with chapters throughout the U.S. and in Britain and Canada. Last week, longtime Sacramento Kings TV broadcaster Grant Napear resigned after tweeting ALL LIVES MATTER when asked his opinion on the Black Lives Matter movement.
A look at Democrats' sweeping proposals to overhaul policing
Read full article: A look at Democrats' sweeping proposals to overhaul policingThe law would allow an officer to be charged for acting with reckless disregard for someones life, causing that person's death. The bill would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. The proposal would give specific subpoena power to federal civil rights prosecutors to conduct those investigations and would aid state attorneys general with conducting similar investigations. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms.
George Floyd, whose death energized a movement, to be buried
Read full article: George Floyd, whose death energized a movement, to be buriedMourners pass by the casket of George Floyd during a public visitation for Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church Monday, June 8, 2020, in Houston. George Floyd, who was 46 when he was killed, will be laid to rest next to his mother. Floyd's death sparked international protests and drew new attention to the treatment of African Americans in the U.S. by police and the criminal justice system. Four Minneapolis officers were charged in connection with Floyd's death, which was captured on video by bystanders, who begged police to stop hurting him. A Minnesota judge on Monday kept bail at $1.25 million for Derek Chauvin, the police officer charged with second-degree murder in Floyds death.
Police back off as peaceful protests push deep reforms
Read full article: Police back off as peaceful protests push deep reforms(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Calls for deep police reforms gained momentum as leaders in the city where George Floyd died at the hands of an officer pushed to dismantle the entire department. Cities imposed curfews as several protests last week were marred by spasms of arson, assaults and smash-and-grab raids on businesses. More than 10,000 people have been arrested around the country since protests began, according to reports tracked by The Associated Press. But U.S. protests in recent days have been overwhelmingly peaceful and over the weekend, several police departments appeared to retreat from aggressive tactics. Things werent as peaceful in Seattle, where the mayor and police chief had said they were trying to deescalate tensions.
Urgent meeting of UN rights body sought after Floyd killing
Read full article: Urgent meeting of UN rights body sought after Floyd killingA spokesman for the Human Rights Council in Geneva confirmed that it had received a letter Monday from the groups outlining their call, as Black Lives Matter protests continue to gain traction well beyond the United States notably in Europe. I want to appeal to the United Nations to help him. Help black men and women in America, he added. Its time the United States face the same scrutiny and judgment it is quick to pass on to other countries, said Jamil Dakwar, who heads the ACLUs human rights program. The Trump administration pulled the United States out of the council two years ago amid accusations that it was biased against Israel and counted some repressive or autocratic regimes that abuse human rights as members.
Minneapolis council majority backs disbanding police force
Read full article: Minneapolis council majority backs disbanding police force(Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS A majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council said Sunday they support disbanding the city's police department, an aggressive stance that comes just as the state has launched a civil rights investigation after George Floyd's death. Council member Jeremiah Ellison promised that the council would dismantle the department. It is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe, Lisa Bender, the council president, said. Community activists have criticized the Minneapolis department for years for what they say is a racist and brutal culture that resists change. The move to defund or abolish the Minneapolis department is far from assured, with the civil rights investigation likely to unfold over the next several months.
Obama steps out as nation confronts confluence of crises
Read full article: Obama steps out as nation confronts confluence of crises(My Brother's Keeper Alliance and The Obama Foundation via AP)WASHINGTON Former President Barack Obama is taking on an increasingly public role as the nation confronts a confluence of historic crises that has exposed deep racial and socioeconomic inequalities in America and reshaped the November election. In doing so, Obama is signaling a willingness to sharply critique his successor, President Donald Trump, and fill what many Democrats see as a national leadership void. President Obama is not going to shy away from that dialogue simply because hes not in office anymore." Floyds death, however, has drawn a more visceral and personal reaction from the nations first black president. It cant be normal," Obama wrote.
8:46: A number becomes a potent symbol of police brutality
Read full article: 8:46: A number becomes a potent symbol of police brutalityEven as prosecutors have said little about how they arrived at the precise number, it has fast grown into a potent symbol of the suffering Floyd and many other black men have experienced at the hands of police. In Boston and Tacoma, Washington, demonstrators this week lay down on streets staging die-ins" for precisely 8 minutes, 46 seconds. ViacomCBS, owner of MTV and Nickelodeon, stopped its programming earlier this week to air a silent, somber video honoring Floyd for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Pausing for a full 8 minutes, 46 seconds helps turn the abstract into a reality, said Monica Cannon-Grant, the founder of Violence in Boston Inc., which organized a Tuesday protest that included the minutes of silence. Using those, Chauvin had his knee on Floyd for 7 minutes and 46 seconds, including 1 minute and 53 seconds after Floyd appeared to stop breathing.
US Legislatures slow to pass laws limiting use of force
Read full article: US Legislatures slow to pass laws limiting use of forceFILE - In this March 5, 2019 file photo Ohio House minority leader Emilia Sykes delivers the Democrat's response to the Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Ohio State of the State address at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. As of August 2018, at least 16 states had passed use-of-force laws, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures. Other laws created task forces to set new standards, boosted training or improved tracking of officers' use of guns and deadly force. Police unions have often resisted attempts to restrict officers' use of deadly force and are politically potent in most states. In 2015, the board adopted statewide standards limiting use of deadly force by police officers to defending themselves or others from serious injury or death.
Obama steps out as nation confronts confluence of crises
Read full article: Obama steps out as nation confronts confluence of crisesWASHINGTON Former President Barack Obama is taking on an increasingly public role as the nation confronts a confluence of historic crises that has exposed deep racial and socioeconomic inequalities in America and reshaped the November election. Floyds death, however, has drawn a more visceral and personal reaction from the nations first black president. It cant be normal," Obama wrote. Obama grappled with police brutality against minorities as president, including in Ferguson, Missouri, where clashes broke out after the death of Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old. After Browns death, Obamas Justice Department moved to enact broad policing reforms, though most were halted under the Trump administration.
Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwide
Read full article: Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwideThe president demanded an end to the heated protests in remarks from the White House Rose Garden and vowed to use more force to achieve that aim. Were going to keep it safe.A military deployment by Trump to U.S. states would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history. Yet the message Trump appeared to be sending with the brazen pushback of protesters outside the White House was that he sees few limits to what he is willing to do. Some around the president likened the moment to 1968, when Richard Nixon ran as the law-and-order candidate in the aftermath of a summer of riots, capturing the White House. The scene in and around the White House on Monday night appeared to be carefully orchestrated.
'I can't breathe' a rally cry anew for police protests in US
Read full article: 'I can't breathe' a rally cry anew for police protests in USProtests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody Monday, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)WASHINGTON I cant breathe.Eric Garner uttered those words six years ago, locked in a police chokehold. It became a rallying cry after his death for demonstrators across the country who protested the killings of African Americans by police. Floyd's death came after Ahmaud Arbery was shot to death in Georgia by a former district attorney investigator and his son, who were not arrested until after video emerged months later. Davis has gone to some protests, but came this morning with his two adolescent children to show them what was happening.
Coronavirus forces small businesses to rethink strategies
Read full article: Coronavirus forces small businesses to rethink strategies“But what if it becomes a pandemic where you can’t leave your house?”As the coronavirus spreads, many small business owners are rethinking their strategies and adjusting the way they work. They're aware that would-be investors are reluctant to commit money to small companies amid unknowns like how widespread the virus will be and what damage it will cause to the economy. At some businesses, the spread of the coronavirus is forcing owners to change the fundamental ways they work. But nearly two-thirds of the firm's clients have asked for phone meetings since the virus outbreak began, and while co-founder Danielle Fracchia has reservations, she's saying yes. But small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to changes in spending by consumers and other companies.