FBI opens civil rights probe into killing of Andrew Brown

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed Tuesday that it will investigate the killing of Andrew Brown Jr., a Black man who died after police shot him during an arrest in North Carolina last week.

The announcement comes a day after attorneys for Brown's family, allowed to watch a 20-second video of his arrest, said the 42-year-old was shot in the back of the head while he had his hands on his steering wheel.

Brown was shot five times in all, including four times in his right arm, according to an autopsy conducted at the request of his family.

Brown was killed by sheriff's deputies in Elizabeth City during an attempt to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants. Seven of the deputies involved in the arrest were placed on paid leave, the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office said.

"The FBI Charlotte Field Office has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the police-involved shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr.," an FBI spokesman said. "Agents will work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice to determine whether federal laws were violated."

[SOURCE: CNBC]

Troy Carter wins Louisiana special election to replace Cedric Richmond in Congress

Louisiana State Senator Troy Carter, a Democrat, will win the special election runoff for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, The Associated Press projects. He will succeed former Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond, who left the seat to take a role as a White House senior adviser.

"I want to be clear — I welcome everyone to our tent because the election is over and I represent everyone," Carter said during his victory remarks. "Now I want to go to Washington to be your voice."

Carter's victory now fills a seat that has been left vacant since mid-January, but it does not change the makeup of the House.

Carter was backed by Richmond and House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn. He beat Democratic state Senator Karen Carter Peterson in Saturday's runoff after winning 36% in the March 20 primary while Peterson received 23% of the vote.

Department of Justice Announces Investigation of Louisville Metro Police Department

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced today that the Department of Justice has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (Louisville Metro) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). The investigation will assess all types of force used by LMPD officers, including use of force on individuals with behavioral health disabilities or individuals engaged in activities protected by the First Amendment. The investigation will assess whether LMPD engages in discriminatory policing, and also whether it conducts unreasonable stops, searches, seizures, and arrests, both during patrol activities and in obtaining and executing search warrants for private homes. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LMPD policies, training, and supervision, as well as LMPD’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.

“There are approximately 18,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in this country. In each one, dedicated officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” said Attorney General Garland. “Promoting public trust between communities and law enforcement is essential to making both communities and policing safer. Our enforcement efforts, as well as our grant-making and other support, will contribute to achieving that end and to protecting the civil rights of everyone in our country.”

Department of Justice officials informed Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, LMPD Chief Erika Shields, County Attorney Mike O’Connell, and Louisville Metro Council President David James of the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department of Justice will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LMPD.

“The Constitution and federal law require law enforcement officers to treat all people fairly and equitably, regardless of race, disability, or participation in protected First Amendment activities,” said Pamela S. Karlan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The investigation we are announcing today will examine whether these laws are being violated, while also analyzing the root causes of any violations we may find.”

The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The Act allows the Department of Justice to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The investigation will be led by the department’s Civil Rights Division and conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at Community.Louisville@usdoj.gov or by phone at 1-844-920-1460. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

HBCU, Lincoln University launches police academy

Lincoln University became the first historically Black college and university to create its own police academy that focuses on community-based policing. Lincoln University Police Chief Gary Hill, who created the academy, and Joseph Foster, a student in this year’s inaugural class, join Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss how the training seeks to shape a different approach to policing that they hope can inspire new recruits of color.

Congressman Gregory Meeks Introduces Bill to Advance Equity through the Legislative Process

On March 19, 2021 U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, introduced H.R. 2078, the Social and Economic Equity Promotion Act, a bill to require analyses from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on how legislative proposals would impact historically underserved communities, including communities of color and others that have experienced longstanding social and economic inequality.

The bill largely tracks the White House’s definitions of “equity” and “underserved communities” within President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.

The bill’s proposed Division of Social and Economic Equity within CBO would serve as an important resource to Members of Congress as they think through how proposed federal policies impact often marginalized communities.

Rep. Meeks stated, “First, I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking tangible steps towards promoting the welfare of often overlooked communities through the federal policymaking process. In that vein, Congress should also take steps to ensure there are nonpartisan congressional personnel dedicated to examining the impact of policies on the often underserved and overlooked. This bill will give the People’s House the tools to best serve all the People.”

The bill has received the endorsement of the National Action Network and Common Cause.

“For far too long, certain bills have created unintended consequences for traditionally underserved communities. In other instances, legislation has had an outright discriminatory effect, often targeted at Black and Brown voters,” said Keshia Morris Desir, Census & Mass Incarceration Project Manager for Common Cause. “We commend Congressman Meeks for introducing the Social and Economic Equity Promotion Act to help ensure that Members of Congress can understand how bills they vote on will impact communities that have traditionally been marginalized.”

Rep. Meeks’ bill comes on the heels of research from Andre Perry, Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, that argued for a scoring system that holds federal policy makers “accountable to basic democratic principles such as racial inclusion.” Writing in response to the January 6th insurrection, Perry recommended that “just as we score policies’ impact on the budget, we need to account for their potential impacts on racial equity.”