By ADAM SHILS — CHICAGO — On Oct. 20, 2014, Laquan McDonald, 17, was fatally shot by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. McDonald, who had been suspected of stealing car radios, was only armed with a knife. The police car dash-cam video shows McDonald some yards from the police officers and not moving toward them … Continue reading Shooting by Chicago cop stirs protests
Tag: police
Cops dispense racially defined “justice”
By JOE AUCIELLO “In my career, my only training in the Constitution was how to get around it,” (Sue Rahr, former sheriff, executive director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, and member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing). Drivers on their way to work, zipping by one of the predominantly … Continue reading Cops dispense racially defined “justice”
Newark: The Million People’s March
March against police brutality, racial injustice, and economic inequality: Saturday, July 25, 12 noon. The march begins at the Lincoln Monument, Springfield Ave. & W. Market St., Newark, N.J. Below are articles about the march by Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress, and Glen Ford, executive editor of Black Agenda Report: By … Continue reading Newark: The Million People’s March
‘Little has changed in the ghetto’
By BILL ONASCH The following commentary was posted in early May at kclabor.org/wordpress. “Baltimore: We Have Been Here Before”—that is the title of a perceptive piece by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Of course, every such uprising like the one sparked by the death of Freddie Gray while in custody of the Baltimore police has some … Continue reading ‘Little has changed in the ghetto’
Baltimore protests bring victory — for now
By JOE AUCIELLO Following the death of Freddie Gray, who died from a spinal injury sustained while in Baltimore police custody, almost three weeks of daily protests and marches—plus some incidents of arson and looting—finally culminated in a real and unanticipated break from “business as usual.” This does not refer to the first major league … Continue reading Baltimore protests bring victory — for now
Outrage in Baltimore over Gray murder
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Baltimore has become a symbol of rebellion against the rampant police brutality, racism, and poverty that pervades America’s cities. In late April, Maryland’s governor called in the National Guard, and Baltimore’s mayor imposed a “state of emergency” over the city as protesters clashed with police. Outraged citizens, mainly youth, filled the streets … Continue reading Outrage in Baltimore over Gray murder
Madison cop kills Black youth
By CARL SACK MADISON, Wis.—On March 6, police officer Matthew Kenney shot and killed 19-year-old Tony Terrell Robinson. The case has galvanized the Black community here and shaken Madison’s self-image as a socially aware, progressive city. Robinson, a recent high school graduate with plans to attend business school, was identified by police as a Black … Continue reading Madison cop kills Black youth
Who killed Brandon Tate-Brown?
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Why did Philadelphia cops kill Brandon Tate-Brown? Why did police pull over his car, since he had committed no crime? And what were the names of the officers who shot the young Black man? His mother, Tanya Brown-Dickerson, has been searching for answers. “Brandon was a beautiful and spirited young man,” Brown … Continue reading Who killed Brandon Tate-Brown?
Anger spreads as killer cops go free
By MARTY GOODMAN In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to deny freedom to Dred Scott, a slave living in Missouri. The decision stated that Black people have “no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” Today, as yesterday, the racist system of capitalism operates much the same in real life—if no longer … Continue reading Anger spreads as killer cops go free
Militarized police aimed at Black America
By MARTY GOODMAN The military weapons we saw on display in Ferguson, Mo., are part of the militarization of police forces across the U.S. Its roots began with the SWAT teams under Democrat Lyndon Johnson, whose war of extermination against the Black Panther Party was continued under Republican Richard Nixon. As Michelle Alexander explains in … Continue reading Militarized police aimed at Black America
Outrage at racist grand jury decisions
By MARTY GOODMAN — NEW YORK, Dec. 4 — The horror of Ferguson was repeated on Dec. 3 when a 23-person grand jury in Staten Island, N.Y., failed to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner, a 43-year-old Black man. The cause of death was ruled a homicide by chokehold by the … Continue reading Outrage at racist grand jury decisions
Mumia speaks on Ferguson
By MUMIA ABU-JAMAL Like a fever, the news broke. But unlike a fever, it brought no relief. For the news, from the perspective of the national Black community, wasn’t good. The 12-member grand jury in Ferguson, investigating the killing of a Black teenager, Mike Brown, returned with “no true bill,” legalese for no charges, no … Continue reading Mumia speaks on Ferguson
Anti-Mumia gag law protested
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Since Mumia Abu-Jamal was railroaded to death row on false charges of killing a Philadelphia police officer 33 years ago, he has won acclaim for his eight books and thousands of articles and radio commentaries. Known as the “voice of the voiceless,” Mumia has become one of the foremost progressive political essayists … Continue reading Anti-Mumia gag law protested
Michael Brown lives on in the movement!
By CLAY WADENA The United States is moving closer and closer to a period of reckoning in regard to centuries of racist exploitation, oppression, and murder. The young Michael Brown, whose life was taken on Aug. 9 by Ferguson police, haunts the dreams of those who wish to beautify, hide, and deny the brutal treatment … Continue reading Michael Brown lives on in the movement!
NYPD guns down another Black youth
By MARTY GOODMAN The African American community is reeling from the cop murder of Kimani “Kiki” Gray. The killing has sparked outrage resulting in street protests from New York City to San Francisco. Kimani was shot dead on March 9 in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, when two NYPD cops fired 11 shots at the 16 year … Continue reading NYPD guns down another Black youth
Systematic use of rape against Black women
On Oct. 30, Women’s ENews ran an excerpt from author Jaclyn Friedman, who explains that in this society, racialized women are expected to be always sexually available. The image of the virgin is always an ethereal white girl. Black girls are stereotyped as “wild and animalistic.” The system of slavery, which allowed white men to … Continue reading Systematic use of rape against Black women
SlutWalks blame system that fosters anti-women violence
On Oct. 1 nearly 3000 women marched and rallied at Union Square in New York City to protest rape culture, violence against women, and sexual shaming. It was a well-built, well-organized, and militant demonstration, inspired by the SlutWalks that have occurred in scores of cities around the country and the globe.The marchers were youthful, multinational, … Continue reading SlutWalks blame system that fosters anti-women violence
SlutWalks: confronting the attacks on women’s rights
Feminists across the globe were angered as they learned last month that the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and French presidential hopeful, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, would likely be exculpated from the charges of attempted rape of a Guinean immigrant working as a maid due to questions about her credibility. Regrettably, Strauss-Kahn’s defense and … Continue reading SlutWalks: confronting the attacks on women’s rights
Activists discuss SlutWalk perspectives
On July 23, about 30 dedicated activists assembled for an politically and socially incisive panel discussion about building SlutWalks, the international movement of women fighting against blaming rape victims and the oppression of woman more generally.The tone for the open discussion was set by brief presentations from two Bay Area SlutWalk activists, Mer Stevens, a … Continue reading Activists discuss SlutWalk perspectives
Slutwalks spread to Mexico
The first “slutwalk” began in Toronto early this year by women who were angered by members of the criminal justice system continually blaming the victims of sexual attacks. Since then, these colorful protests have spread across the world.While the slutwalks occurring in cities across Europe and the U.S. have faced critique by communities of color … Continue reading Slutwalks spread to Mexico
Slutwalks – Grassroots Uprising Against Sexism
by Ona TzingerOn Jan. 24, Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti stood before a group of students at York University and volunteered his misguided assessment of the route to rape prevention, stating: “to prevent victimization … women should avoid dressing like sluts.”Sanguinetti couldn’t have anticipated the backlash that followed this unbridled display of sexism in remarks … Continue reading Slutwalks – Grassroots Uprising Against Sexism
MOVE Bombing 25 Years Later
by John Leslie25 years ago this week, the City of Philadelphia dropped a bomb on a house occupied by members of the MOVE organization. It’s the crime that city officials and the capitalist media want you to forget.What happened: Cops surrounded the house at 6221 Osage Avenue in West Philly on May 12, following alleged … Continue reading MOVE Bombing 25 Years Later