Archive for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ Category

NY, NJ Officials Use Fiery Rhetoric to Condemn Charlottesville Violence – NBC New York

Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders plan to participate in an interfaith service in Harlem where they will address the violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Brain Thompson reports. (Published Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017)

Protesters marched and rallied in Manhattan Sunday, and elected officials and religious leaders in New York and New Jersey used fiery rhetoric to condemn white supremacism after clashes in Virginia and to rebuke President Donald Trump's response to the violence.

Three people died in Charlottesville Saturday: one person was killed when a car rammed into a crowd peacefully protesting the white supremacists and two Virginia state troopers monitoring the rally died when their helicopter crashed.

The rally was believed to be the biggest gathering of white nationalists in a decade.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, speaking before the Dominican Day Parade Sunday, called the violence "act of domestic terrorism. Period."

He criticized Trump's reaction to the violence.

"This is a president who clearly speaks in blunt terms on many, many topics, but unfortunately, weve seen him hold back when it comes to right wing terror," de Blasio said.

NYC Mayor Condemns Va. Violence

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.,criticized President Donald Trumpfor "failing to name the Neo-Nazi, white supremacist, Alt-Right hate for what it is: not only the cause of the horrific violence in Virginia, but the evil enemy of our Nations hope and promise."

Trump had condemned "this egregious display of bigotry, hatred and violence on many sides."

Booker also urged people to "rise to meet the urgent demands of our moment in history.

New York Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, a Democrat,tweeted: "White supremacy and neo-Nazism have no place in America. Domestic terrorism like this cannot be tolerated."

Protesters also marched from Union Square to Trump Tower. The afternoon march was planned by Black Lives Matter and Refuse Fascism.

Leaders from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths also spoke out at an interfaith service in Harlem.

Drone Footage of Charlottesville Car Attack

The religious leaders were especially critical of Trump's statement that he condemned "this egregious display of bigotry, hatred and violence on many sides," which didn't specifically name white nationalists.

"Mr. President, you can't tamp down the fires of hate with one hand while stoking them with the other," said Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-Elin Manhattan.

Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid, the spiritual leader ofThe Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem, drew parallels to those who condemn radical Islamic terrorism.

"They need to express the same concern about radicalization of white Christian males in America," he said.

TheRev. Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church compared what is happening in the United States to Nazi Germany and accused the president of leading the nation down that road.

"In the name of Almighty God, resign!" Butts said, which was met with a standing ovation from the congregation.

Published at 10:50 AM EDT on Aug 13, 2017 | Updated 5 hours ago

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NY, NJ Officials Use Fiery Rhetoric to Condemn Charlottesville Violence - NBC New York

Letters: Readers discuss the NAACP travel advisory, Black Lives Matter and immigration – Kansas City Star


Kansas City Star
Letters: Readers discuss the NAACP travel advisory, Black Lives Matter and immigration
Kansas City Star
For those who think the NAACP's Missouri travel advisory is nonsense, part of what prompted it was the governor's signing Senate Bill 43, which will become law Aug. 28 and will roll back workplace protections for employees who've been discriminated ...

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Letters: Readers discuss the NAACP travel advisory, Black Lives Matter and immigration - Kansas City Star

Black Lives Matter Rally In The Rain In Honor Of Marion AR Teen – www.localmemphis.com

MARION, Ark (localmemphis.com) - Black Lives Matter held a rally in honor of 16-year-old Aries Clark who was shot and killed by Marion police August 1st.

The prosecuting attorney ruled that deadly force was justified in the case but the family is not satisfied with the ruling.

Only a handful of Black Lives Matter members showed up Friday and rallied in front of East Arkansas Youth Services.

They wouldn't answer reporter questions but did say they want to see the unedited surveillance footage.

Yoni Ziggler with Black Lives Matter says, "We want the raw footage. We feel it's a cover up.

Fewer than five Black Lives Matter members rallied in front of East Arkansas Youth Services in support of Aries Clark's family.

Clark's mom showed up but didn't stay long. She didn't want to talk on camera. Clark was shot and killed by Marion police officers when he refused to put down what looked like a gun.

Teddy bears represent the spot where Marion officers shot Clark. The shooting was caught on the officer's body camera.

Clark's weapon turned out to be a BB gun. The district attorney ruled deadly force was justified in this case.

The two officers will not be charged. Clark's' family and supporters are angry over the ruling and refuse to accept it.

"Things happen and there's nothing wrong into looking into it. I don't just accept what somebody says and that's it. On either side," says Sandra Hebron with the Commission on Religion and Racism.

Local 24 spoke to the Marion police chief earlier today.

He says he stands by the state's ruling that deadly force was justified and he stands by his officers.

Clark's family plans to file a civil suit.

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Black Lives Matter Rally In The Rain In Honor Of Marion AR Teen - http://www.localmemphis.com

Tensions flare between Sac sheriff, Black Lives Matter leader – KCRA Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)

Tensions and a crossfire of words between Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and the leader of the Black Lives Matter Sacramento movement continue to heat up as both sides hurl accusations at the other.

Black Lives Matter Sacramento sent a letter on June 28 addressed to Jones, accusing the sheriff's department of "atrocities" and "violence" against the black community, while issuing a set of 10 demands.

Click here to read Black Lives Matter Sacramento's letter to Jones

In response, Jones wrote a letter addressed to Tanya Faison, the leader of the Sacramento movement.

"Even though you chose not to sign the letter as the spokesperson for BLM Sacramento, I wanted to personalize my response to you," Jones wrote. "I wanted to extend you the courtesy to let you know that none of your demanded items will be forthcoming."

Click here to read Jones' letter to Faison

Jones goes on to say that in his opinion, "There are far more responsible, effective voices for the African American community here in Sacramento than you, Ms. Faison; in fact there is nothing local law enforcement can ever do that will earn your approval."

In a separate statement, Jones said that he has no issue with Black Lives Matter Sacramento, but with Faison herself.

"She has twice organized and hosted protests at my residence, screaming profanity and drawing chalk body outlines and inappropriate statements in the street, disturbing my neighbors and causing fear in my wife and children," Jones said. "She has posted my home address online several times and entertained online comments about assaulting and killing police officers."

Jones said that Faison "does not want better police, she wants NO police."

He added that Black Lives Matter is a movement that can contribute an important voice and bring important issues to the forefront, but the Sacramento chapter's message is being marginalized, causing responsible and constructive discourse to be weakened.

After Jones' letter and comments, Faison and Black Lives Matter Sacramento organized a protest Wednesday outside the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Faison spoke in front of the department, addressing the issue and noting that the original letter sent to Jones was not written by her nor was it printed and mailed by her.

"He keeps making this about me when in fact we are asking for information for families that are asking questions and not being able to get the answers," Faison said. "So I think he needs to refocus on what the intent was of the original demands."

When asked about Jones' comments that nothing law enforcement do will make Faison happy, she said he hasn't tried to provide any information that they have requested.

"We made demands for some basic information," Faison said. "All he has to do is meet those demands."

As for Faison and the Black Lives Matter group going to Jones' house, Faison said they use many different ways to fight for the families.

"We are fighting for our freedom, and we are fighting for answers," Faison said. "And we are creative in our fight, and we will continue to be creative."

Faison called Jones' response to the organization's letter "petty and emotional," adding that Jones does not get to pick the leaders int he black community.

"He doesn't get to tell black people who their leaders are," Faison said. "We are not slaves. We're no longer living on plantations, so he doesn't get to make those deviations for people. We're free thinkers, and we do what we want."

The group said it has not decided what its next course of action is in order to get their demands met.

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Tensions flare between Sac sheriff, Black Lives Matter leader - KCRA Sacramento

Black Lives Matter group releases info alleging ‘violent culture’ in … – WJLA

D.C. Black Lives Matter activists hold news conference Friday releasing information on what they call a "culture of violence" within the Metropolitan Police Department. Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 (ABC7 photo)

Three activists from the Black Lives Matter movement in Washington, D.C. shared new information alleging that a "culture of violence" exists within the Metropolitan Police Department.

At a Friday morning news conference, the group's information asserts that MPD promotes "aggressive police behavior" but encourages behavior that may heighten the chance of a D.C. Police officer "fatally injuring someone."

These activists are calling for action from D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham and Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The group in a release cited examples of shootings MPD officers have been involved in including those of Rafael Briscoe in 2011, Darius Jamal Murphy in 2013, Terrence Sterling in 2016, Isabelle Duval in 2017, and Timothy Williams in 2017.

Sterling, 31, was an unarmed motorcyclist that was fatally shot in Sept. 2016. According to the U.S. Attorney's Offce for the District of Columbia, the MPD officer who shot and killed Sterling will not face charges.

Additionally, the release states another example of a gun case that was dismissed by a D.C. Superior Court judge based on an internal investigation by MPD.

The probe by the department is connected to MPD officer Vincent Altiere, who was seen wearing an offensive t-shirt while he was in court testifying in the case. According to the release, the t-shirt contained violent and white supremacist imagery linked with the Seventh District "Powershift" team.

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Black Lives Matter group releases info alleging 'violent culture' in ... - WJLA