Black Lives Matter Interrupts & Takes Over Bernie Sanders Rally

Black Lives Matter members momentarily took over a Bernie Sanders Rally in Seattle, WA. Several Black Lives Matter members took the stage and microphone to speak, listen to one of the organizers 4 minute speech at that event below:

Eric Garner grand jury records kept secret by appeals court

A mid-level appeals court has upheld a decision to withhold the grand jury minutes in ​the case against a cop initially charged in ​Eric Garner’s chokehold death.

The NAACP, New York Civil Liberties Union, Legal Aid Society and Public Advocate Letitia James — which appealed an earlier Supreme Court decision to keep the records secret — failed to prove there was a “compelling and particularized need for disclosure,” the four Second Department judges wrote in court papers.

“The Supreme Court properly determined that the public interest in disclosure was outweighed by the dangers inherent in violating the secrecy of the grand jury proceeding,” the appellate judges wrote.

Read more: Eric Garner grand jury records kept secret by appeals court

Study: Prejudice makes us see innocent people as threats

The police killings of unarmed black men like Eric Garner, Michael Brown and, most recently, Sam Dubose at a July 19 traffic stop at the University of Cincinnati, have enraged many and baffled more. Why did Cleveland police shoot and kill 12-year-old Tamir Rice last year? How did self-styled block watch patrolman George Zimmerman decide to shoot and kill teenager Trayvon Martin, who was armed with nothing but a bag of candy on that night in 2012? These outrages have caused demonstrations, urban unrest, more violence and a larger sense that something has gone wrong in the nation’s race relations.

Besides outright racism, what motivates the overreaction of law-enforcement and vigilantes who have left these men dead?

A social psychologist at Wellesley College who studies diversity and friendship, Angela Bahns, has recently completed research that helps to explain part of the puzzle: It shows that people can imagine a sense of threat — a threat serious enough to justify violence — even with no real evidence besides their own stereotypes. And the stereotypes, the research suggests, are the root causes of the violence.

Prejudice makes us see innocent people as threats, study says

Watch the Movement For Black Lives Convention Live.

Watch the First national Movement for Black Lives Convention taking place in Cleveland, OH. July 24-26, 2015.

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Hundreds of Activists Travel to Cleveland for Black Lives Matter Convention

More than 1,000 civil rights activists from across the country are expected to gather in Cleveland this weekend for the first ever Movement for Black Lives Convening.

The conference, which takes place from Friday to Sunday at Cleveland State University, will bring together leaders from Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, Ferguson Action and Cleveland Action to discuss next steps in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Read more: Hundreds of Activists Travel to Cleveland for Black Lives Matter Convention

Sandra Bland speaking on Black Lives Matter

Before her death in a Texas jail under mysterious circumstances, Sandra Bland made a video discussing Black Lives Matter. Check out her thoughts on Black Lives Matter below.

Billboard puts spin on Black Lives Matter

Civil rights activist Fred Davis has posted a billboard in Tennessee which reads “Black lives matter. So let's quit killing each other.” Check out this report focusing on Fred Davis and the billboard below.

MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Georgia cop speaks out against bad cops and speaks up for the good ones

Billy Ray Fields, an African American police officer in Georgia has posted a video doing something that can quickly ease tensions between African American communities and cops. Fields admits that there are bad cops and hopes that they are kicked off the force. What's sad is that he also admits that speaking out could hurt his career although he also speaks up for good cops. Check out the video below.

Tamir Rice Police Shooting Case Handed Over to Prosecutors

The investigation into the shooting death of Tamir Rice by Cleveland police officers has been handed over to prosecutors, who expect to convene a grand jury soon.

A source confirmed the move to ABC News and said that the grand jury will decide whether either of the police officers should stand trial for the 12-year-old's death last November. Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney has since reiterated the transfer of the findings of their investigation to the prosecutor's office.

Read more: Tamir Rice Police Shooting Case Handed Over to Prosecutors

6 Baltimore police officers suspended in Freddie Gray case

[SOURCE] Baltimore police have suspended six officers after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore police custody.

Freddie Gray, 25, was critically injured after his arrest April 12. He died early Sunday morning at Shock Trauma. According to the family's lawyer, Gray suffered a severe spinal cord injury.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott post responses to Walter Scott shooting

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott tweeted several messages about the horrific shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston. See his messages below.

After watching the video, the senseless shooting and taking of #WalterScott's life was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable. (1/2)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

My heart aches for the family and our North Charleston community. I will be watching this case closely. (2/2)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

The horrific video that came to light yesterday is deeply troubling. #WalterScott (1/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

It is clear the killing of #WalterScott was unnecessary&avoidable; my prayers are with the Scott family as they go through this ordeal (2/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

The swift action taken by SLED&relevant authorities upon receiving the video shows the severity of this terrible event. #WalterScott (3/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

With several protests planned today, I join community leaders in North Charleston in calling for peace. #WalterScott (4/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

I understand the hurt, the frustration and the anger many are feeling today. But violence solves nothing. #WalterScott (5/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

We must come together as a community, state, and nation in working to bring our communities together and rebuild trust. #WalterScott (6/6)

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015

South Carolina cop charged with murder after gunning down unarmed black man.

A white police officer in North Charleston, S.C., was charged with murder on Tuesday after a video surfaced showing him shooting and killing an apparently unarmed black man, Walter L. Scott in the back while he ran away.

The officer, Michael T. Slager, 33, had said he feared for his life because the man took his stun gun in a scuffle after a traffic stop on Saturday. A video, however, shows the officer firing eight times as the man fled. . If you watch the video closely you can also see the officer pick something up off the ground and drop it near Mr. Scott's body after the shooting. Planting evidence? Maybe. Watch the shocking video below:

Ferguson judge named in DOJ report resigns

A Ferguson municipal court judge, Judge Ronald Brockmeyer who was named in a scathing Department of Justice report is resigning.

Wisconsin students march on state capitol demanding justice for Tony Robinson

Over 1,500 high school and college students marched to the capitol building in Madison Wisconsin, and then peacefully entered to protest the police shooting of teenager Tony Robinson. Watch the inspiring video below.

Congressional Black Caucus Not Surprised by Ferguson Report

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said they are not surprised by the findings in the report released Wednesday by the Justice Department, faulting the city of Ferguson law enforcement for racial bias and unconstitutional practices.

Michael Brown's parents announce civil lawsuit in death

Lawyers for the parents of an unarmed, black 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson said Thursday that they would file a civil lawsuit in Michael Brown's death.

Pres. Obama marks 3rd anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death

[SOURCE] President Obama on Thursday commemorated the third anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old black high school student shot dead in Florida by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

“Today on the third anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, showing all of our kids, all of them, every single day, that their lives matter — that’s part of our task,” Obama said during a White House reception for Black History Month that was attended by Martin's parents.

“Progress in this nation happens only because seemingly ordinary people find the courage to stand up for what is right, not just when it’s easy but when it’s hard,” Obama said.

HBO Acquires ‘3 1/2 Minutes’ Doc on Jordan Davis Shooting

[SOURCE] HBO has licensed U.S. television rights to director Marc Silver’s “3 1/2 Minutes,” following its premiere in documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

The film centers on the 2012 shooting death of black teenager Jordan Davis at a Florida gas station and the subsequent trial of his killer, Michael Dunn.

HBO will air the film in the fall after its theatrical release.

“3 1/2″ Minutes” is a production of the Filmmaker Fund / Motto Pictures, in association with Lakehouse Films and Actual Films. Producers are Carolyn Hepburn and Minette Nelson. Executive producers are Orlando Bagwell, Bonni Cohen, Julie Goldman and Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann.

Watch the trailer below.

Sheriff to take over probe of police shooting death of Tamir Rice

Cleveland has transferred its investigation into the fatal police shooting of a 12-year-old boy to the Cuyahoga County sheriff's department, city officials said on Friday.

Cleveland police shot and killed Tamir Rice at a park in November while he was carrying a replica gun that typically shoots plastic pellets. Police, who were responding to a 911 call that a man was pointing a gun at people, shot Rice within seconds of arriving at the scene.

"I believe that the best way to ensure accountability in a use of force investigation is to have it completed by an outside agency," Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said in a statement.

Read more: Sheriff to take over probe of police shooting death of Tamir Rice

Go tell it on the streets: Black lives also have to matter to blacks

My wife and I had the privilege of attending a prayer service in Roselle, Dec. 29, for black men gunned down by police. There were many clergy and some elected officials from Roselle, Elizabeth, Hillside and Plainfield at the service, which was put together by the Rev. David Ford at the St. Matthew Baptist Church. I heard many great speakers discuss issues of special interest to the African-American community.

Because it was an open and honest dialogue, black-on-black crime was mentioned and our responsibility to address and deal with it were discussed.

Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley gave a great speech about the need for parents to step up, instill values in their children and value education. Myrtle Counts, president of the Roselle NAACP, gave an impassioned speech that, yes, black lives matter, but they must also be of value to us as African Americans.

The Rev. Ford mentioned not wanting to live in a world without police, but wanting to have a good and respectful police corps. I heard Councilwoman Rev. Tracey Brown of Plainfield lament the fact that she had made more than 100 eulogies in 2014, and most of those were for young people.

As I looked around, I saw the nodding heads and heard the “Amen”’s and shouts of “Yes!” But I also noticed something else: As great as the speakers were, the message they were delivering didn't need to be given to the 50 or so people in the church. They were preaching to the choir.

What good is a great and possibly life-saving message if the people who need to hear it don't hear it?

We as elected officials, clergy and community leaders need to take the message that “Yes, black lives matter, but they have to matter to us African Americans, too,” from the churches and meeting halls to the streets. Delivering that message won't be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. I don't pretend to have all the answers on how to do that, but if we all work together, I'm sure we’ll find a way.

It's imperative that we get out there and deliver that message. As an elected official, I'm ready to do my part and hope that others will do the same. Our children's lives depend on it.

George L. Cook III, Hillside Board of Education. Email georgelcookiii@gmail.com

The opinions expressed here are mine and do not reflect the opinions of the entire Hillside NJ Board of Education.

Op-ed published by The Times of Trenton: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/opinion_go_tell_it_on_the_streets_black_lives_also_have_to_matter_to_blacks.html#incart_river

The South Florida Times: http://www.sfltimes.com/opinion/that-black-on-black-crime-sermon-deliver-it

Frost Illustrated: http://www.frostillustrated.com/2015/take-message-black-black-crime-streets/