Mediaboss Marketing

There is a reason that so many lawns and store fronts brandish Black Lives Matter signs, Ms. Maynard [letter, Signs].

On April 12, we learned of another Black man, Daunte Wright, who had been shot and killed by police, again in Minnesota, for some supposed minor traffic violation. And last week, the trial arguments ended for the police officer who is accused of killing George Floyd by kneeling on his chest and neck for over 9 minutes, this for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill.

More and more people are starting to recognize the truth that, in America, Black lives have not mattered, have never mattered and still do not matter today. Take another look at those signs and read them carefully this time. They do not say only Black Lives Matter. They do not say Black Lives Matter more. They do not say other Lives Do Not Matter. But what they are saying, begging really, is for the rest of us to understand that Black Lives Matter, too and we need to stop dismissing them as though they are not important!

For example, before Daunte and George, we watched as police put Eric Garner in a chokehold in New York City and held him until he died for selling cigarettes on the street. Then Breonna Taylor died in her bed when police stormed her apartment in the night looking for non-existent drugs. And there was John Crawford who was killed by police as he checked out a toy gun inside a Walmart. And 12-year-old Tamir Rice, shot within seconds of the arrival of a police officer as he played with a toy gun. And how about Trayvon Martin, walking home to his fathers apartment with some candy and shot by George Zimmerman. And none of these killers was ever held accountable.

In fact, the only reason that former Officer Derek Chauvin is being tried in the death of George Floyd is that someone filmed the whole sordid thing and shared it with the world!

It is a sad fact that, according to the Washington Post Fatal Force, updated April 15, Black people in America make up about 13% of the total population but over 50% of those killed by police. In addition, Blacks comprise 40% of the U.S. prison population, and according to PolitiFact, June 29, 2018, large numbers of them jailed not because they have been found guilty of anything but because, once accused, they have been unable to pay bail. Languishing in prisons for weeks, months, even years while awaiting trial, these people lose their jobs, their homes, their families, not for anything they have done but because they couldnt afford to pay off their jailers!

As a people, Black Americans suffer in countless other ways. Starting with the Emancipation Proclamation, laws were passed in America to guarantee that People of Color will be kept poor and powerless. Banks refused them loans or charged exorbitant interest rates. Real estate agents showed them only homes in poorer neighborhoods. Companies hired only for lower paying and less responsible jobs. Even the U.S. government refused returning Black soldiers access to the GI Bill.

Since schools are supported by property taxes in the U.S., poor people necessarily have schools that are deficient in almost everything. Old buildings, asbestos, faulty plumbing with lead pipes, inadequate textbooks, no libraries or school nurses, Black children struggle to learn and even to believe in themselves. With so many parents incarcerated, many unjustly, children struggle at home as well, living on a single parents minimum wage, inadequate food and housing and health care. They grow up fearing the police, learning from their parents experiences that Black people do not fare well in law enforcements hands.

The fact that any Person of Color ever succeeds at anything other than sports in this country is a testament to the courage, determination, intelligence and hard work of every one of them. And succeed they do! Doctors, nurses, lawyers, ministers and priests, teachers, accountants, bankers, designers, artists, architects, scientists, mathematicians, inventors, authors, lawmakers and a president name it and you will find exceptional examples all around you. Still, even these accomplished people must deal with the prejudicial attitudes that whites impose on them.

A few years ago, we heard about an older Black man, a well-dressed minister, who pulled into a store parking lot when he felt himself going into a diabetic hypoglycemic attack. He needed a shot of glucose (sugar), fast. Instead, the store manager called the police who assumed he was overdosing on drugs and refused to hear the mans pleas, dragging him out of his car, handcuffing him and holding him until he died. What are the chances that a white man would have experienced the same response?

Those signs, Ms. Maynard, are an invitation for us to learn more about why Black Americans are asking us to care and a desperate call to grant them the same respect and concern we demand for ourselves.

Read more:
My Turn: Those signs are an invitation for us to learn more - The Recorder

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Protesters gathered in downtown Grand Rapids for a planned demonstration as former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all charges in the death of George Floyd.

The event, led by Justice for Black Lives, was set to meet at Rosa Parks Circle Tuesday evening regardless of the outcome in the trial. The group is continuing calls for police reform. The events meeting spot was at a section of Monroe Center designated as Breonna Taylor Way, named after the Grand Rapids native.

After two days of deliberation, the jury found Chauvin guilty on all three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin could spend decades in prison.

Floyd died May 25, 2020 after Chauvin had his knee pinned on Floyds neck for nearly 9 minutes.

Justice for Black Lives President Aly Bates said moments in the Floyd case reminded her of the trial in Trayvon Martins death, adding that many thought George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot Martin, would be found guilty of his charges. Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges in that case.

I was so sure, so sure that they were going to find him guiltyand he was not found guilty, Bates said to a small group of demonstrators. So, while we celebrate for George Floyds family,we also need to fight for the other families that were affected by not only police brutality but police killings as well.

Many say they did not know what to expect in the Chauvin trial. Grand Rapids protesters say theyre pleased with the verdict, adding that change still needs to be done with the policing system in America.

We need to fight for justice, especially in Breonna Taylors hometown. We cannot forget about Breonna, we cant forget about Daunte Wright, we cant forget about Trayvon Martin, we cant forget about Sandra Bland, we cant forget about the so many names I cant even sit here and name them all because it would take hours for me to actually name these people, Bates said. This verdict means a lot, it means the world, but its still not enough.

My heart is with George Floyds family, and I want them to know that millions of Michiganders, Minnesotans, and Americans mourn with them. No verdict can bring George back, but his legacy will live on.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to the national news, adding that they are pushing for continued change to make communities safer.

Grand Rapids police set up barricades and salt trucks prior to the verdict being announced to prepare for possible unrest. Additional officers were were staffed including some on foot and on bikes.

We didnt know when the verdict would come out just like everyone else, GRPD Chief Eric Payne said.There could be the potential for civil unrest, so we have to prepare for that to make sure we have an adequate number of officers to be able to address those issues.

Payne gave remarks to the community about two hours after the verdict was announced. He said justice was served and that Chauvin was held accountable for his actions.

Ive said from the beginning almost a year ago when this occurred, every law enforcement department has to look themselves in the mirror and see if were doing things correctly. We are here to serve the community and work with the community, Payne said.

Payne said GRPD is continuing to use its strategic plan, saying safety is our number one objective. He said GRPD is looking at innovation to keep the community safe. Payne added that engagement is another objective in the strategic plan.

Chokeholds or any type of neck restraint have never been a trained tactic with the Grand Rapids Police Department, Payne said. I challenge every police department across the country to make sure that theyre reviewing their policies, theyre training, that theyre up to date with the type of training that will not have a negative outcome like this particular incident did and when it does, make sure youre holding your officers accountable. We will continue to do that in Grand Rapids.

Regarding protests and rallies going forward in Grand Rapids, Payne says theres a proper way for organizers to hold their demonstrations.

Anyone that wants to have that type of demonstration or expressive speech is to get a permit or to follow the law, Payne said.

In Kalamazoo, a group of protesters were joined by police for a gathering. The group celebrated the verdict, but said theres still a lot of work to be done.

Protesters said they hope that police heard their voices and work with them to improve the relationship with the community.

This is a definitely a message to keep pushing, push even harder. We got to be the force behind police and officials being held accountable. We got to be in their faces, so to speak. We got to be out in the streets, letting them know that this is not where we stop. We want a better policing in our community, activist Quinton Bryant said.

News 8s Whitney Burney and Ruben Juarez contributed to this report.

See original here:
Local activists gather following Chauvin conviction - WOODTV.com

by M. Anthony Davis

I cant describe the wave of emotion I experienced hearing the reading of the verdict. Guilty on all counts. I had spent so much energy refusing to believe justice would be served that I never allowed myself to even consider the idea that Chauvin would be found guilty of all charges. Now that it has happened, Im in shock.

After about 10 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial found Chauvin, the officer who was filmed with his knee on the neck of George Floyd, guilty on charges of third-degree murder, second-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The verdict was followed by both cheers and tears from those awaiting the decision outside the courthouse in Minneapolis.

The killing of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked protests nationwide and catapulted the Black Lives Matter movement to the forefront of American media. In many cases, protests in cities like Seattle, Portland, and New York led to a firestorm in the media with pundits on the right and the left debating the protests themselves just as much as the police violence that was being protested.

The first time I remember hearing the phrase, Black Lives Matter! chanted was back in 2014. This was after George Zimmerman was acquitted of charges for killing Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown had just been murdered by police in Ferguson, Missouri. I cant begin to name all of the Black people killed by police between then and now that received no justice. Todays victory feels both monumental and overdue.

It will be easy for folks to jump out and say that this win is a grain of sand in a desert of injustice. And they are right. But this victory has meaning. This victory declares that George Floyds life has meaning. That my life has meaning. And not just to you and me that was never in question. But now Black Lives Matter to the courts. This case has the potential to set the precedent that police cannot continue to kill unarmed Black people with impunity.

While I encourage folks to take the time to celebrate victory in the courts, we must still remember a few things. George Floyd is not here to celebrate. His life is forever lost, and his family will forever mourn him. But we have the opportunity to build in his name and expand his legacy. This can start with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

While not loved by all activists, this bold and comprehensive bill is aimed at holding police accountable for misconduct, ensuring that a registry is created to prevent problematic cops from being rehired in different jurisdictions, ending qualified immunity for law enforcement, and protecting the public from excessive force via chokeholds and other tactics used to cause harm. If this Policing Act becomes law, it will be a historical step in police reform and potentially create a path for massive shifts in the culture of policing. I admit that this bill is not perfect, and creating laws that police will actually follow has been difficult. But I think it is a pivotal step in the right direction. Especially if it ends qualified immunity and stops taxpayers from footing the bill when cops are sued for misconduct. If we are ever going to change the culture of policing in this country, we must do it with solid legislation that guarantees accountability.

But for today, we can take a collective sigh of relief. For all of us who watched the video of Floyds death and for all of those citizens, including children, who were there to bear witness to Floyds death, today justice was served. Tomorrow the fight will continue.

We must demand justice for Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo and the names that will continue to be added to this list. We must not forget Manuel Ellis. We must not forget the struggle and pain that has led us to this moment. As political pundits and politicians step out to make statements, we must not let up. Black bodies are still being brutalized on their watch.

Our push for justice must continue.

Editors Note: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name Daunte Wright. The article was updated to correct the error.

M. Anthony Davis (Mike Davis) is a local journalist covering arts, culture, and sports.

Featured Image: Protester at a Black Lives Matter march in Othello Park on June 7, 2020. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Like Loading...

Here is the original post:
OPINION: Todays Ruling Was a Victory Tomorrow the Fight Continues - southseattleemerald.com

Derek Chauvins defense has been dealing the race card all throughout the trial, but prosecutors should not let them get away with it. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyds neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds on May 25, 2020, is on trial for murder in the second degree, murder in the third degree and second degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd. Chauvin is white. Floyd was Black.

On Tuesday, Chauvins attorney, Eric Nelson, began the defenses case by focusing on Floyds drug use and criminal history. He showed jurors police body camera footage from a May 2019 traffic stop involving Floyd. In the video, one can see Floyd in the front passenger seat being told several times by Officer Scott Creighton to put his hands on the dashboard. Floyd does not put his hands on the dashboard and Creighton pulls his gun on Floyd. Called as a defense witness, Creighton testified that Floyd was incoherent. Nelson also presented then-paramedic Michelle Moseng, who administered aid to Floyd that day. Moseng testified that Floyd told her that he had been taking multiple opioids about every 20 minutes prior to being arrested because he was addicted. Nelson also recalled Nicole Mackenzie, a Minneapolis police training officer, to speak about excited delirium, a condition that Mackenzie testified can be found in one who engages in illicit drug use. Mackenzie testified that someone suffering from excited delirium might be incoherent, exhibit extraordinary strength, or suddenly snap.

Attempting to depict Floyd as a drugged-out criminal who exhibited superhuman strength taps into deeply rooted stereotypes about Black men as dangerous, violent criminals. Professor Paul Butler notes that this strategy is not new and was used in 1992 by four white Los Angeles police officers charged in state court with assaulting Rodney King, a Black man. At that trial, retired Los Angeles police instructor Edgar Oglesby testified that the four officers justifiably thought King was high on PCP when King did not respond to their orders, looked at the officers with a blank stare and was speaking unintelligibly. The officers claimed that when they tried to take King into custody, King threw one officer off his back and did not seem phased by baton blows or a shot from an officers stun gun. Oglesby testified that this behavior reflected the "superhuman strength" often shown by PCP users. Even though no PCP was found in Kings system, the officers were acquitted.

While relying on the Black-as-criminal stereotype may have worked in the past, it is not clear whether it will work this time. Floyds death led thousands of people to demonstrate, demanding police accountability and racial justice. Individuals from all walks of life saw Floyds death as an example of systemic racism in policing gone amok.

The prosecution in Chauvins case, however, cannot simply hope that in light of the racial reckoning following Floyds death, things will be different this time. It also should not ignore the racial implications of this case. We need only look to the murder trial of George Zimmerman to see how the prosecution in that case ignored race to its peril.

The shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, by George Zimmerman led to widespread protests at the failure of the police to arrest Zimmerman immediately after the shooting in 2012. Thousands of people held candlelight vigils to demand Zimmermans arrest. The belief that Zimmerman had racially profiled Martin and that racial bias influenced the initial decision not to arrest Zimmerman animated the protests. Following the public demands for justice, Zimmerman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Even though the initial failure to arrest Zimmerman focused the nations attention on race and the criminal justice system, there was little talk of race at Zimmermans murder trial in 2013. The judge ruled that the prosecution could say Zimmerman profiled Martin but could not use the term racial profiling to describe Zimmermans act of following Martin and calling 911 to report his suspicion that Martin looked suspicious and was probably on drugs. The prosecution argued its case without any explicit mention of race. During the rebuttal closing argument, a member of the prosecution team told the jury, this case is not about race. Its about right and wrong. Zimmermans defense team too maintained that the case had nothing to do with race. Yet, at the same time the defense was claiming race was irrelevant, they called a white woman who lived in the neighborhood to testify about hiding in fear with her children in an upstairs closet while her home was being burglarized by two Black male youths. Even though Martin had nothing to do with the burglary of this womans home, the defense used this witness to signal to the jurors that reasonable people fear young Black males and that Zimmermans fear of Martin was reasonable. In the end, Zimmerman was acquitted.

The prosecution in the Chauvin case cannot afford to ignore race. Research on implicit racial bias suggests that making race salient making jurors aware of race encourages jurors to treat Black and white individuals more fairly. The defense has tried to paint Floyd as a threat by appealing to racial stereotypes about Black men as violent, drugged out criminals. During closing arguments next week, the prosecution should remind jurors that they should decide the case on its facts and not on racial stereotypes. If the prosecution chooses to ignore race, it will do so at its peril.

Cynthia Lee is the Edward F. Howrey professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and the author of Murder and the Reasonable Man: Passion and Fear in the Criminal Courtroom.

Go here to read the rest:
Ignoring race at its peril in the Derek Chauvin trial | TheHill - The Hill

The mothers of Black men killed in recent years by police had personal messages of strength and hope for the mother of Daunte Wright. Wright was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Sunday.

But I want her to know that she has a guardian angel forever, said Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown who was killed in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014.

Whoever said time heals all wounds did not lose a child, said Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin. Martin was killed in 2012 by George Zimmerman, who a part of a community watch group.

McSpadden, Fulton and others were part of an event by the Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump in Brooklyn Center Wednesday.

Fulton warned Wrights family that they should prepare for the long legal process to come.

An arrest is just step one. We all had arrests, and anyone can get arrested. But we have to get a conviction, and you cant give up on that, Fulton said. Were not going anywhere were in this for the long haul.

Earlier in the day Wednesday, it was announced the officer who fired the deadly shot at Wright, Kim Potter, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter.

To my sister Katie [Daunte Wrights mother], you are not alone we are here for you, said Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner. In my sons case, I did not get a day in court. Thats why I not only fight for my child, I fight for everyones child. Death can knock on any one of your doors any day.

Garner was killed in 2014; widely-shared video of the incident with New York police showed an officer using a prohibited chokehold on Garner and him shouting "I can't breath."

Grieve like you want to. Dont let anyone tell you how to grieve, how long to grieve and when to stop grieving. You do that yourself, Carr added.

Potter and the Brooklyn Center chief of police tendered their resignations Tuesday.

See more here:
'She has a guardian angel forever': Moms of killed Black men share hope, strength with Wright family - The Denver Channel