A DOJ civil rights investigation into the Ferguson criminal justice system found that authorities have routinely violated the rights of black citizens and have used tickets to generate revenue for the city. Read the entire DOJ report on the Ferguson Police Department below:
Ferguson Police Department Report
A Justice Department review has found that Missouri's troubled Ferguson Police Department engaged in a broad pattern of racially biased enforcement that permeated the city's justice system, including the use of unreasonable force against African American suspects, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the findings.
In 88% of cases in which Ferguson police documented the use of force, for example, that force was used against African Americans, according to the official who is not authorized to comment publicly. In addition, in all 14 canine bite incidents in which the suspect's race is known, the person bitten was African American.
African Americans account for 67% of the population in Ferguson, but they accounted for 85% of the drivers stopped by police, 90% of the people issued tickets and 93% of the people arrested, a three-year examination of suspect stops found. When those cases reached the Municipal Court, authorities collected more fines for suspects' failure to appear than any other charge, mostly from the city's poorest and most vulnerable residents.
African Americans were more than twice as likely than white drivers to be searched during vehicle stops, but 26% less likely to have contraband, the review found.
The Ferguson Police Department often charged its black residents with petty crimes. African Americans accounted for 95% of the people charged with walking in the street and 92% of people charged with disturbing the peace.
Investigators also recovered racially charged e-mails sent among employees of the police department and the Ferguson Municipal Court, which authorities said contributed to the alleged bias.
Among the e-mails was a missive apparently sent soon after President Obama's 2008 election. It suggested that he would not remain long in the job because "what black man holds a steady job for four years.''
Another May 2011 e-mail referred to an African-American woman receiving a "Crime-stoppers'' reward for terminating a pregnancy.
Read more: DOJ: Ferguson PD engaged in racially biased policing
Let's Talk Honestly Host George Cook discusses what was really lost when Byron Allen made his unnecessary and just plain nasty comments about Al Sharpton. You know, those fried chicken comments. Listen to the 5 minute show by using the player below.
DALLAS, TX (BlackNews.com) — Keberland Media LLC, announced today that they have digitally released their first feature film entitled, _IF IT AIN’T BROKE: Black Folks and Family Structure_.
Captured in various cities throughout the United States, the filmmaker explores the subject of the consistently rising number of single parent households in the African American community. What has caused this dilemma? Why are families no longer being headed by a mother and father? _IF IT AIN’T BROKE_ seeks to identify the reason.
The film can now be streamed or purchased on Vimeo On Demand. It was written and directed by Texas Southern University graduate Keenan Morgan, and is produced by Keberland Media in association with The International NETXCHANGE Group.
“Everyone should see this film,” Morgan says. “The film is connects with audiences through humor and introspection.”
Local screenings of _IF IT AIN’T BROKE_ are currently being scheduled in various cities and the filmmaker welcomes those interested in booking new dates. A screening schedule will be released as more dates are confirmed. Q&A with the filmmaker will follow each screening.
For booking inquiries or general information, send questions to info@keenanmorgan.com.
To view the film, visit the following link: www.vimeo.com/ondemand/iiab
The 17-year-old, Brittany Overstreet claims she was beaten by a school resource officer over a false allegation that she was carrying mace. When searching for the mace there was an altercation that left her with a broken jaw and other injuries. No mace was found and to top it off Brittany was the one charged with attacking the officer.
