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Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton on Saturday called for the NBA to close its investigation into the Phoenix Suns and remove majority owner Robert Sarver -- or soon provide a clear timetable for a resolution. If not, Sharpton said, he might take demonstrations to Phoenix.

"The owner of the Suns was revealed in the ESPN story last November -- how Sarver, the principal owner of the Phoenix Suns, made all these racist and misogynist statements. And [the NBA] said they were going to investigate it," Sharpton said at the New York City headquarters for the National Action Network, a civil rights organization that he founded in 1991. "Well, how long does it take for an investigation when you have videos and people that come forward?

"I put the call in [Friday] to the NBA that we want them to close the investigation and remove [Sarver] or tell us the timetable by the convention."

The National Action Network is slated to hold its annual convention April 6-9 in New York City.

"We are not going to allow people to affect the culture of the NFL or the NBA and insult us and act like that's acceptable behavior," Sharpton said. "They think, because it was November, everybody forgets about it, and that's why we wanted to put that pressure on. So we are, on the Phoenix Suns."

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass told ESPN on Saturday the investigation, which is being handled by the Wachtell Lipton law firm, is "ongoing and will take the time necessary to complete a thorough and comprehensive review of the matter."

Bass said any potential action by the NBA wouldn't happen until after the investigation is completed.

The NBA began its investigation into the Suns and Sarver in early November 2021, hours after ESPN published its story -- based on interviews with more than 70 current and former employees -- that included allegations of racism and misogyny in a sometimes hostile and toxic workplace in Phoenix during Sarver's 17-year tenure.

Sarver has denied most of the allegations detailed in ESPN's story.

Since then, lawyers for New York-based Wachtell Lipton, which previously led ownership-centered investigations into the LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks, have interviewed more than 300 individuals, largely current and former employees, sources close to the investigation previously told ESPN. The lawyers have also had access to extensive documents, namely internal emails and human resources records, those sources said.

Employees have confirmed a range of published allegations while introducing others, sources previously told ESPN, and have provided the investigators with documents, specifically emails.

Sharpton's proclamation Saturday comes after members of a new coalition of civil rights activists, which includes four members of Sharpton's National Action Network, sent a letter on March 11 to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as the NBA board of governors, that called for Sarver's removal.

"We are profoundly disturbed by the reports of racism, misogyny and abusive behavior allegedly committed by Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver," the letter from the 10-person group, which announced itself as the American Sports Accountability Project, said. "There is zero tolerance for such behavior in today's society, and we expect the NBA and its leadership to hold Mr. Sarver accountable for these despicable actions, as was done in the case of Donald Sterling."

Sharpton was part of a delegation that met with Silver in 2014 and pushed for a quick resolution regarding the investigation into Donald Sterling, the former Clippers owner who was banned from the league for racist comments that emerged from a recorded conversation.

The American Sports Accountability Project, or ASAP, also launched a website and a social media hashtag in its campaign: #SackSarver.

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The Rev. Al Sharpton calls for NBA to end Phoenix Suns investigation, remove owner Robert Sarver - ESPN

A former Arkansas deputy was convicted Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for fatally shooting an unarmed white teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national civil rights leaders

ByThe Associated Press

March 18, 2022, 8:35 PM

4 min read

CABOT, Ark. -- A former Arkansas deputy was convicted Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for fatally shooting an unarmed white teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national civil rights leaders.

Jurors acquitted Michael Davis of the more serious offense of manslaughter while finding him guilty of the misdemeanor charge in the death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a June 23 traffic stop outside Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.

The maximum jail term that Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office, faced was one year. Manslaughter is a felony for which he would have faced between three and 10 years in prison. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis also was sentenced to a $1,000 fine.

Davis remains free on bond pending an appeal.

Davis, who is white, told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck during the stop outside an auto repair shop after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with Davis' commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands.

The jurys deliberations, which began Thursday afternoon and resumed Friday morning, lasted less than three hours total.

After the verdict was announced, Brittain's family and friends chanted justice for Hunter" outside the Army National Guard facility that was used for the trial, which began Tuesday.

Rebecca Payne, Brittain's grandmother, said family members wanted the deputy convicted of the felony to ensure he could not serve as a law enforcement officer again.

Now what's going to happen? Are people going to have to fear for their lives again?" she told reporters.

Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley for not turning on his body camera until after shooting Brittain. The footage, presented at the trial, shows only the moments after it happened.

The passenger in Brittain's truck said he and the teen had been working on the pickup's transmission. Brittains family members have said he was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel to stop it from rolling backward. Investigators found no evidence of firearms in or near the truck.

Emotionally recounting the shooting, Davis testified Thursday that he thought the teen was grabbing for a gun.

I didnt get into this job to kill people, Davis said.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, who represent Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. The civil rights attorneys, who also represented George Floyd's family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better."

The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain," the attorneys said in a written statement.

Robert Newcomb, Davis' attorney, said he was pleased jurors didn't find his client guilty of manslaughter but planned to challenge the standard they used to determine whether he was negligent.

The police officer has a lot more situational awareness of a danger than maybe your or I would be aware of," Newcomb told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The sheriff said he respected the jurys decision.

As I have said since day one, this was a tragic event and we all need to continue praying for those involved, Staley said in a statement posted on his offices Facebook page.

Brittain was eulogized last year by the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as Jacob and Crump. They said the teens death highlighted the need for interracial support for changes in policing.

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Arkansas deputy convicted in teen's death, gets year in jail - ABC News

Mayor Tony Vauss Delivers State of the Township Address

IRVINGTON- On Thursday, February 24, 2022, Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss held his eighth State of the Township Address at Transcend Worship Center located at 971 Clinton Avenue in Irvington, New Jersey to a crowd filled with Irvington residents, members of Vauss administration, local elected officials and community leaders.

At the address, Mayor Vauss presented videos that showcased some of the achievements made by his administration over the past4years. Also true to his usual style, Mayor Vauss had two lively gospel performances by Dale Ciceron and Jekalyn Carr and the Irvington High School band and dancers.

The highlight of the evening was the Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. April Vauss presentation of awards given to each and every player, coach, manager and athletic director of the Irvington High School football team, who were 2021 state champions. Mayor Vauss also held a parade through the Township for the team and coaches earlier this year.

The biggest surprise of the evening was remarks and the presentation of an award by Reverend Al Sharpton to Mayor Vauss. The award was presented on behalf of the National Action Network for Mayor Vauss excellence as an elected official. Mayor Tony is rare. If we could use the model that is in Irvington and bring it around the country where people of different races and colors and religions can learn to be together and be a community, said Sharpton. Sharpton further proclaimed, I respect this Mayor, and I respect what he is doing in this town. What you are doing in Irvington is rare. . . This is a city on the rise, and you cant rise unless you have a leader that is about rising. The reason I like Vauss is because hes got that get up spirit.

The evening also included the promotion of Irvington police officers, an appearance by the Irvington High School JROTC and a book signing by Sharpton.

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Mayor Tony Vauss Delivers State of the Township Address - InsiderNJ

Activists take over Z'Kye Husain news conference in Bridgewater

Activists take over start of Z'Kye Husain news conference with civil rights attorney Ben Crump in Bridgewater.

Thomas P. Costello, MyCentralJersey.com

BRIDGEWATER Noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump came to the townshipWednesday to address the force police used on a Black 14-year-old at Bridgewater Commons seen in a video that went viral last month.

But before Crump could utter a word at his press conference planned outside the entrance of the Bridgewater Police Department, he was upstaged by a man with a loudspeaker who argued people like Crump and the Rev. Al Sharptonare not helping to solve racism in the United States.

The disruption started even earlier in the day when an anti-Black Lives Matter banner was seen hanging on a pedestrian bridge over the rampfromRoute 22 to Route 202-206, near Bridgewater Commons.

The latest: Attorney for Black teen in NJ mall fight considers civil rights lawsuit

The banner was removed and is being investigated, according to township officials who had no other comment.

"I urge everyone in the community to stand up against bigotry as we work through our recent issues. Incendiary language from any side will not help with the healing our community needs to experience in order to move forward," Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Y. Robinson said in a comment about the banner.

Refusing to allow the organizers of the Crump press conference and rally to speak, a Newark man named Afrikasaid he believes police terrorize the Black community and nothing has changed since the civil rights movement.

"We're still catching hell. They are still lynching us. We're tired of people like Al Sharpton and the National Action Network speaking for us," Afrika said, adding the Rev. Steffie Bartley, northeastern director of the National Action Network, was trying to cut him off from speaking.

"We don't have no money. We don't have no platform. We're the ones sleeping on the floor to feed our kids, working at these jobs where you can't even pay rent. The rent is too high in North Jersey. We'reslaving two or three jobs to take care of your family," he said. "We can't live like this and listen to these people that come into our community when something happens and get a paycheck. Al Sharpton is a millionaire, and I'm broke. We're all broke. I'm living paycheck to paycheck."

He said Crump and Sharpton, who was scheduled to attend the event but did not,don't live in the Somerset County community and they are being paid to attend the event

Afrika said the family of 14-year-old Z'Kye Husain has been brutalized by police and the system.

"We're herefor systemic racism, not just one incident," said another activist, who refused to be identified, who asked members of the large crowd if they had been beatenby Bridgewater police.

"This isn't a social gathering. These situations happen and they come into our town, they create a circus, and they are gone," the man said. "Show me any of these faces that will be here in Bridgewater Township when 5 percent of the Black people get pulled over by the police. Where are you guys going to be when they got to fight the town by themself? I'm only 15 minutes away, I'll be here."

Roundtable discussion: Bridgewater to host roundtable with Black community leaders and police on mall arrest

The man said there were dozens of pastors gathered for Crump's event, but it's hard to get one to come out into the streets.

The man said the press conference should have been held in conjunction with the roundtable hosted by the township, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday.

Andrew Buckmire, a former Bridgewater resident who now lives in North Brunswick,said what happened with Z'Kye has been happening in Bridgewater and Somerset Countyfor more than 35 years.

"I'm here to support Z'Kye but to support the bigger picture because I was Z'Kye. I've been harassed by this police department from 12 years old to 18 years old," said Buckmire who along with Afrika refused to let anyone silence their microphone as tensions grew between the activists and the organizers of the Crump press conference.

"These people are not our leaders. They don't lead nobody," Afrika said. "Sharpton, Crump, they're not leading nobody. They are here to make money. We explain how we're suffering, and they are going to get paid. They are millionaires. They are not staying in our community. Why are we listening to them? Why do they speak for us? They don't speak for me."

Story continues below the gallery

New Brunswick resident Tormel Pittman, who is scheduled to be one of the participants in Thursday's roundtable, said he's tired of gatekeepers speaking for the community.

"They don't come with a plan. They comewith their hands out, they come to exploit a situation that was already going on," he said. "They exploit our pain. What will be the situation that will stop this from going on? We demand change."

The disruption promptedCrump and the Husain family to moveinside the municipal complex where the news conference was held a short time later.

When asked about the activists comments at the end of press conference, Crump had no comment.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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NJ Black activists say Al Sharpton, Ben Crump arent helping their cause - My Central Jersey

Led by Mrs. Sybrina Martin, Mayor Adams, Rev. Sharpton and others

by BenYakaswww.gothamist.comReverend Al Sharpton and Mayor Eric Adams were joined by Sybrina Fulton and her family to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the murder of Fultons son, Trayvon Martin, in Harlem on Saturday.

Of course today is a bittersweet day, said Fulton, who noted that she usually does not make plans or appearances on the anniversary of her sons death. A lot of people talk about Trayvon Martins story its not a story for me, its a tragedy. Because a story has a beginning and an ending. There is no ending for what I carry in my heart.

Fulton, who started the Trayvon Martin Foundation in the wake of her sons death to bring awareness to ending gun violence, said we have to continue to hold people accountable for killing our loved oneswe cant give up, weve come too far.

Adams credited Fulton with turning her pain into a purpose, transforming it from a burial into a planting, and today we see the fruits of her harvest in the foundation that she has established and continued to pursue.

Adams spoke of how Fulton has worked to redefine the term stand your ground, the Florida statute that neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman used as his defense after he fatally shot the unarmed 17-year-old Martin on February 26th, 2012, in Sanford, Florida.

Adams argued that Fulton had turned the phrase into a rallying cry to fight against discrimination and unfair laws. He said that continuing the fight for Martin now means fighting against bigotry of all kinds, and connected it to hate crimes happening throughout NYC recently.

Trayvon was shot and killed because of who he looked like, Adams said. That is what youre seeing if someone is Asian, theyre being murdered because of who they look like. Someone who is in the transgender community is being assaulted because of who they look like. Someone who is Jewishis being attacked because of who they look like. Someone who is wearing a hijab that is being spat on or assaulted because of who they look like. If we stand our ground for Trayvon, were standing our ground for every group in the city. You cannot be treated based on what you look like.Zimmerman was ultimately acquitted of the charges of second degree murder and manslaughter, and, after a three-year inquiry, the Department Of Justice decided not to charge him with a hate crime either.

Sharpton, who introduced Adams and Fulton, said unequivocally that Martin was a victim of a hate crime: We wanted today, 10 years later, to say in his name [that] we stand against all hate crime whether its against Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Jews, gays, hate against anybody is wrong. You cant just fight for yours; you got to fight [for] everyone.

At Saturdays event, held at National Action Networks House of Justice at 145th Streetand Lenox Avenue, Sharpton criticized what he called microwave activists people who get heated up for one issue and then disappear and called Adams a long distance runner in comparison.Eric Adams is not here because hes mayor, hes mayor because hes been there all along, Sharpton said. Dont get it twisted. A lot of folks that will criticize him in the name of their [activism] were not active when Eric Adams was an activist out there, when there were just a few of us. Dont show up late to class and start taking attendance; get a seat in the back.

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10th Anniversary of Death of Trayvon Martin Observed at National Action Network - Our Time Press