Sunday, December 07, 2014

Gabrielle Union on Eric Garner Case: We Watched A Snuff Film

There's a lot to complain about in the way the justice system has handled the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, but Gabrielle Union's chief concern is the lack of compassion in the response to it all. Watch her entire thoughtful remarks on Huffpost Live below:

Saturday, December 06, 2014

President Obama visits hospital due to sore throat.

[SOURCE] President Barack Obama made a quick visit to the hospital Saturday to have diagnostic tests for a sore throat. Obama's physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson, said a preliminary exam on Obama's throat showed swelling, and the results of a subsequent CT scan were normal. "The president's symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and will be treated accordingly," Jackson said.

The president's trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, was suggested by Jackson, said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. Jackson recommended that the president get the tests done Saturday because he had a gap in his schedule, not because he considered the situation to be urgent, Earnest said. Obama spent about a half-hour inside the medical center.

NYPD officer who shot Akai Gurley texted union rep as victim lay dying

In the six and a half minutes after Peter Liang discharged a single bullet that struck Gurley, 28, he and his partner couldn't be reached, sources told the Daily News. And instead of calling for help for the dying man, Liang was texting his union representative. What's more, the sources said, the pair of officers weren't supposed to be patrolling the stairways of the Pink Houses that night.

Read more: Rookie NYPD officer who shot Akai Gurley in Brooklyn stairwell was texting union rep as victim lay dying

Body cameras protect both civilians and the police.

First let me say that I have a deep respect for most of the people that police our neighborhoods and understand that they perform a necessary and at times dangerous job. It's a job I want no part of as I'm sure that cops see people at their worst and have to deal with some overwhelming situations. To those good cops who protect us, THANK YOU.

In light of the tragic deaths of both Eric Gardner and Michael Brown at the hands of the police many have suggested that police officers wear body cameras, and several departments such as Newark NJ and New York City are instituting pilot programs.

For some reason some cops and or their unions seem to be against the idea and think it will drastically affect how cops do their jobs. They say cops will be so worried about what they can and can not do that many will simply stop policing or be too busy over thinking a situation to do their jobs. They believe cops would do this to avoid being caught in any wrongdoing on camera.

My response to that is if you are doing things the right way, what are you afraid of? If you are following police procedures and treating all citizens with respect why would having to wear a camera bother you at all.

Police should keep in mind that body cameras also help THEM. There are many instances where the cameras showed that the police were in the right, and video has exonerated them. I see no reason why GOOD cops would have a problem wearing a body camera.

I also realize that a body camera doesn't solve everything. Those cops determined to do wrong will simply shut the camera off and depend on the fact that far too many District Attorneys and grand juries give them the benefit of the doubt. There must be punishment for those who don't have the cameras on when interacting with the public for this to work.

I think body cameras are a good idea and as long as cops are acting as officers and not overseers they will have nothing to worry about when wearing one.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Black father and son talk about the police

Black father: Son, If you get are in trouble or lost go find a cop.

Son: You mean like the one that shot Tamir Rice?

Black father: ......

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com, georgelcookiii@gmail.com