Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Bill Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison

Bill Cosby was convicted in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting Constand at his home in 2004, in the first high-profile celebrity criminal trial of the #MeToo era.

Today Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison on Tuesday for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand.

Cosby, 81, faced a maximum of 10 years in prison after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one for sentencing purposes.

In handing down his ruling to Bill Cosby today, Judge O’Neill said no one is above the law. He also referenced how brave Andrea Constand, who Cosby was convicted to sexually assaulting, was through this whole process.

"No one is above the law, and no one should be treated differently or disproportionally," Judge Steven O'Neill said.

Cosby would be sentenced regardless of "who he is or who he was," O'Neill said.

"I have given great weight to the victim impact testimony in this case, and it was powerful," he added.

Bill Cosby’s PR representatives read out statements following the sentencing, decrying a “sex war” and referencing Jesus.

“I believe and think it is important to point out that this has been the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States,” said Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s publicist. He claimed that some of those who testified against Cosby were "white women who make money off of accusing black men of being sexual predators.”

Wyatt also tied Cosby's verdict to the accusations leveled against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, claiming both were victims in a "sex war." He did not elaborate.

Wyatt later referenced the persecution of Jesus, saying, Cosby “knows that these are lies. They persecuted Jesus and look what happened. Not saying Mr. Cosby's Jesus, but we know what this country has done to black men for centuries.”

Ebonee Benson, another PR representative, read a statement on behalf of Cosby’s wife, Camille Cosby. Camille was not in court for the sentencing.

Camille’s statement decried “falsified evidence," claiming that Cosby had not been granted his right to a fair trial.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Monday, September 24, 2018

Michelle Obama: Speech At When We All Vote Rally In Las Vegas

Watch former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama speak at the When We All Vote rally at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas about the importance of getting out to vote.

For more information, visit: https://www.whenweallvote.org

Amber Guyer fired by Dallas Police Departmant

The Dallas Police Department has released the following statement on the firing of Amber Guyer, the officer that murdered Botham Jean:

Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall terminated Police Officer Amber Guyger, #10702, during a hearing held September 24, 2018. An Internal Affairs investigation concluded that on September 9, 2018, Officer Guyger, #10702, engaged in adverse conduct when she was arrested for Manslaughter.

Officer Guyger was terminated for her actions. She was hired in November 2013 and was assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division.

Under civil service rules, Officer Guyger has the right to appeal her discipline.”

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Michelle Obama officiates wedding

Former first lady, Michelle Obama married Chicago couple Stephanie Rivkin and Joel Sircus Saturday evening at the Theater on the Lake.

Michelle Obama's connection to the newly married couple is Rivkin's mother who is the president of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, a Chicago charity launched by Penny Pritzker, who served as a commerce secretary in the Obama administration.

One attendee, Tina Newman and shared a video of Obama with the soon-to-be newlyweds at the altar on Instagram. TMZ first published the Instagram story, which has since been deleted. Check out the former first lady officiating the wedding below:

Disney redrawing Princess Tiana after lightening her skin for Wreck-It Ralph 2

Many Disney fans in the black community were outraged last month to find that Princess Tiana’s physical appearance was notably different. The character, who debuted in 2009’s Princess Tiana and the Frog, had a much smaller and thinner nose and skin that was several shades lighter while her previously tight, kinky hair had been smoothed out into looser European curls.

Disney has agreed to redraw their first black princess after outraging fans when they her facial features more eurocentric in the recent trailer and poster for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.

Disney has reportedly consulted with Princess Tiana voice over actress Anika Noni Rose and Color of Change, an advocacy group who campaign for racial representation in Hollywood movies, to discuss how best to revise the latest Princess Tiana animation.

Color of Change celebrated the move in a statement, released on Thursday, which said: ‘Disney’s decision to restore Princess Tiana’s image to that of an unapologetically black princess with full lips, dark skin and dark hair in Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 is a victory for Color Of Change members, black children and their parents, and black audiences who want to see the variety of shades, shapes and sizes of black characters accurately represented in the arts.’ Wreck It Ralph 2 - Sneak Peek Play Video Loaded: 0% 0:00Progress: 0% PlayMute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 1:00 Fullscreen The statement continued: ‘By redrawing Princess Tiana — Disney’s first and only black princess — in Ralph Breaks the Internet as she was in Princess and the Frog, Disney has shown its commitment to addressing the concerns of Color Of Change members and the black community.’

[SOURCE: METROUK]