Friday, November 28, 2014

Grand jury nears decision on NYPD chokehold death (Eric Garner)

[SOURCE] A New York City grand jury is quietly nearing a decision in a case that has drawn comparisons to the police killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

The panel on Staten Island heard testimony last week from a police officer involved in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. He was believed to be the last witness.

The Staten Island district attorney won't comment on the proceedings that will determine whether the officer will face criminal charges. But an announcement is expected before the end of the year.

Diversity reigns supreme on The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has quietly assembled one of the most ethnically diverse casts on a top-rated TV show. When it airs its midseason finale Sunday, the show will have at least seven major non-white characters, including Michonne, a sword-swinging African American heroine who is also one of the program's most popular characters.

Listen to a great piece from NPR on the diversity showcased on The Walking Dead below

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Obama to Peaceful Ferguson Protesters: ‘Your President Will Work With You’

While making a speech in Chicago on immigration President Barack Obama took a few minutes to speak on the protest in Ferguson. Following up on his comments from the night before, the president urged any protests to be peaceful and said there is “no excuse” for the destructive violence seen last night. He also offered to work with peaceful protesters. Watch his statements below:

Lebron James weighs in on violence after Ferguson grand jury decision

[SOURCE] LeBron James said the decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer responsible for the shooting death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, "hit home for me" and spoke out about the violent aftermath of the announcement Monday night.

"That's not the answer," James said Tuesday on reports of rioting in Ferguson. "What does that do? What does that actually do? Just hurt more families, hurt more people, draw more attention to things that shouldn't even be going on instead of people going to the family's household and praying with them. And saying, 'Things are going to be great.' You know, 'Mike Brown is in a better place now,' and 'Trayvon Martin is in a better place now.' That's where it should be. I mean, burning down things and shooting up things and running cars into places and stealing and stuff like that, what does that do? It doesn't make you happy."

James also said that the Brown case only touches on larger societal problems that must be addressed.

"I think that news itself, the issue is much bigger than that," James said. "It's not just one instance. It's not just Mike Brown or Trayvon Martin or anything that's going on in our society. I think it's much bigger than that. Like I said last night, violence is not the answer and retaliation is not the solution. My prayers and best wishes goes out to the families of anyone that loses a loved one, especially a kid today."

Monday, November 24, 2014

VIDEO: President Obama statement on Ferguson grand jury decision

President Obama makes statement on 11/24/2014 decision by grand jury in Michael Brown case. Watch video of that speech below: