Tag Archives: Police

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Demand Justice for Renisha McBride

2 Comments

Renisha McBride was killed while seeking help after a car accident, but the man who shot her has not been arrested or charged with a crime.Justice for RenishaCall on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the Dearborn Heights police department to fully investigate Renisha McBride’s killing and bring the shooter to justice.Take Action

The tragic killing of unarmed 19-year-old Renisha McBride has left her family and supporters across the country seeking answers and demanding justice. More than a week after Renisha’s death the shooter has not been arrested and he may not face proper prosecution because of Michigan‘s so-called “Stand Your Ground” or “Shoot First” law.1

Shoot First laws have been under intense scrutiny since the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman – who “got away with murder” – because Florida’s Shoot First prevented a proper investigation and controlled the instructions given to the jury.2 These laws, when combined with the daily reality of deep-rooted racial prejudice, create a culture of fear and violence where Renisha McBride — a young Black woman perceived as a threat — can be killed without consequence.

Renisha’s family deserves justice and an end to a culture that does not value Black lives. Please join us in calling on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the Dearborn Heights police department to fully investigate Renisha McBride’s killing and bring the shooter to justice.

Shortly after the news of Renisha’s death broke, local residents of Detroit and nearby areas rallied for justice — condemning racial profiling and violence against women. Demonstrators referred to Dearborn Heights as a “sundown town”, a mostly white suburb outside of Detroit that has a history of being hostile to Black folks.3

Michigan enacted “Stand Your Ground” in 2006 and its law closely resembles Florida’s.4 In this case, the law can protect Renisha’s shooter from criminal prosecution if he believes that he was in danger, even if his belief is wrong and rooted in racial bias. But this tragedy and the countless others like it are preventable, if enough of us continue to speak up and demand justice.

Demand that Wayne County Prosecutor and the Dearborn Heights police department fully investigate and bring Renisha’s killer to justice. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Kim, William, and the rest of the ColorOfChange team    November 11th, 2013

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter

References

1. “Michigan’s ‘stand your ground’ law mirrors Florida law more than any other state,” Michigan Radio, 7-15-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3078?t=9&akid=3186.1689899.7lphca

2.”7 Mind Blowing Moments From Zimmerman Juror B37′s First Interview,” ThinkProgress, 07-16-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2799?t=11&akid=3186.1689899.7lphca

3. “Detroit activists demand justice for Renisha McBride,” The Grio, 11-08-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3079?t=13&akid=3186.1689899.7lphca

4. See reference 1.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Police attack 14-year-ol​d holding puppy

1 Comment

Change.org 

 My 14yr old son was brutally attacked by police while he was standing on the beach, holding a puppy. Now, he’s being charged with felony resisting arrest. Tell the State Attorney to drop the charges!

On Memorial Day, I took my kids and our new puppy to the beach near our home in Miami. It was supposed to be a treat. But it turned into a nightmare when the police attacked my 14-year-old son for no reason.

My son Tremaine was horsing around with one of his friends when the police showed up on ATVs. Tremaine was holding a newborn puppy in one hand and a bottle in the other. The police asked him where his mother was, and he turned to walk toward me. That’s when the police pounced on him, threw him to the ground, injuring our puppy and choking Tremaine so hard he urinated on himself.

It was a horrible, violent experience that left my son terrified and depressed. And now the police are charging my son with felony resisting arrest. Resisting arrest — for what? All he was doing was standing on the beach holding a puppy!

I started a petition on Change.org demanding that Florida State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle drop the resisting arrest charges against my son. Will you click here to sign?

Tremaine loves animals, and we love to watch Animal Planet together. He was so excited about our new puppy. Memorial Day was supposed to be a fun kickoff to our summer together — since I work in Miami Dade public schools as a nutritional specialist, I get the summer off to be with my kids.

But now, instead of spending time together, we’re preparing for Tremaine’s hearing on July 16. Instead of worrying whether he’ll stay out too late, I’m worried about finding a good lawyer. I still can’t believe this is happening. The police attacked my son for no reason, and now they’re throwing these charges at him to justify their brutality.

But there is some good news — public pressure can be very powerful in situations like these. Last fall, a man in New York was brutally beaten by police and then charged with resisting arrest, but after more than 100,000 people signed a petition on Change.org, all charges were dropped. I hope that if enough people sign my petition, State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle will drop these trumped up charges against my son.

Click here to sign my petition demanding that Florida State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle drop the charges against my son, who was attacked by police while holding our new puppy.

Thank you,

Maurissa Holmes

Miami, FL

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Garry Kasparov Faces Jail Over Pussy Riot Protest (Video)


 

http://www.care2.com/causes/author/autismvox

Aug 19, 2012 by

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garry-Kasparov/243791258306

Garry Kasparov was speaking to reporters outside the Moscow courthouse where the sentencing of the band Pussy Riot was taking place. Suddenly he was violently seized by police and forced onto a bus. Later he was beaten by a group of police. The police department has announced they are investigating whether Kasparov bit and injured an officer. The officer in question is highlighted in this video striking Kasparov with his fist. At no time during or after beating Kasparov does the officer show any sign of injury. The officer stays at the scene after Kasparov is forced onto the bus for the second time and the officer uses both of his hands to adjust his vest.