June 04, 2020 

By Ebone Monet

California Black Media

 

As mass protests continued across the state Tuesday, the California Legislative Black Caucus CLBC) called for lasting change in race relations — as well as reform in social justice policy — in California and around the country. Standing six feet apart and wearing masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19, the lawmakers held a press conference at the state Capitol to address what they described as a “pandemic of hate.” 

Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the CLBC, condemned the destruction and looting that sidelined the demonstrations in California and across the nation. The protests erupted about a week ago after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, on Memorial Day.

 

“The issue we’ve faced for over 400 years is the enslavement, mistreatment, and often the efforts of genocide of the African in this country,” said Weber, in a powerful statement that condemned the brutal death of Floyd.

In their statements, caucus members echoed Weber. They made the case that sustainable social and economic change in America starts with acknowledging that racism and injustice towards African Americans today is linked to slavery, and it can be traced to the decades of segregation and discrimination that followed.

She also said it is important not to limit the public conversation to the loss of property without addressing the deeper problems.

Weber offered emotional historic examples of public lynching of African American men and the separation of enslaved women from their children. It’s a part of U.S. history, CLBC members said.

CLBC leaders also highlighted victories such as the passage of police reform legislation. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill, AB 392, into law that Weber authored. The groundbreaking legislation limits when police can use deadly force. The legislation, which was fiercely opposed by police unions in California, is now being lauded by activists, policy makers and law enforcement experts across the country as one of the strongest and most effective actions taken by any state to reduce police shootings.

Another bill the CLBC supported, Senate Bill 227, which would have changed the way officer-involved shootings are investigated was signed into law by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017 but has since been declared “unconstitutional” and overturned by the California Court of Appeal.

State Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) authored the bill and said the fight for criminal justice reform is met with strong police union resistance in the Legislature and continues in the courts.

Weber also spoke about CLBC’s history of fighting for equality, civil liberties and economic justice for Blacks that has ended up benefiting all Americans. 

 “We have kicked down doors of opportunity for everyone only to have them run over our back, and snatch those opportunities off the table and forget from whence they have come,” said Weber.  

One of Weber’s latest bills is ACA 5 co-authored by Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson). It would give voters a new chance to weigh in on affirmative action, which was banned when voters passed Proposition 209 in 1996.   Supporters say ACA 5 would remove roadblocks to opportunities for women and people of color. Some opponents argue that the policy is discriminatory. Weber says, as of now, she doesn’t have the two-thirds majority votes needed to pass the measure.

Throughout her eight years in the Assembly, Weber says she’s faced resistance to efforts to improve conditions for African Americans.

"It becomes painful to continue the conversation. Weber said she’ll keep on advocating for equality and called on allies to share in the responsibility.

Standing with the CLBC were members of the Progressive Caucus, The Latino Caucus, the LGBT Caucus, the Asian &Pacific Islander Caucus and Women’s Caucus.

“We know that the solution lies in the changing of this nation,” Weber said, urging allies to take up the banner and fight along with African Americans.  “The battle that is so essential,” she said. 

Members of the CLBC are: Assemblymember Shirley N.Weber, (D-San Diego), the chair; Senator Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), the group’s vice chair; Senator Holy J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), secretary; Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), treasurer; Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena); Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles); Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-South Bay, Los Angeles); Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-South Los Angeles); and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento).

June 04, 2020

By Bertram Keller

Contributing Writer

 

March 13th— During the outset of Coronavirus and self-quarantining in the U.S., a innocent woman was shot and killed by the hands of Louisville police. Breonna Taylor, twenty-six, an accomplished EMT for the city of Louisville, Kentucky was shot 8 times in her apartment shortly after midnight.

12:40AM—Police used a battering ram to enter Taylor’s apartment concerning a narcotics investigation. Preceding the raid, Detective Joshua Jaynes ordered a “no-knock” search warrant, which was signed by Circuit Court Judge Mary M. Shaw; however, Shaw has yet to release a statement on Taylor’s murder.

Taylor and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker were watching a movie. Following a inimical battering ram punching through the door; like many would, Walker’s first instinct was to protect their home. 

The Louisville Metro Police Department said they knocked first and announced themselves —regardless of having a “no-knock” warrant —local witnesses have questioned police’s claim. Police body-cameras were off during the drug raid.

According to the arrest report, LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Detectives Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove busted their way into Taylor's apartment where officers were met with gunfire. Walker reportedly shoots Sgt. Mattingly in the leg, which really led to a panic of unloading more than 20 deathly shots. The scrambling gunfire said to come from detectives Mattingly, Hankison and Cosgrove.

12:48AM—Breonna Taylor is pronounced dead. Taylor’s boyfriend told the emergency operator “I don't know what happened ... somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend." When responders asked where she was shot, Walker said, "I don't know, she is on the ground right now,” and repeated “I don't know, I don't know.” The audio of the 911 call was released by Taylor’s family attorney, CBS affiliate WLKY-TV reported.

LMPD entered Taylor’s home with a “no-knock” search warrant looking for illegal drugs; however, Taylor and Walker are not criminally-minded people. The couple did not possess any illegal drugs, and do not have criminal history. The incompetent communication skills demonstrated by LMPD mixed with the malpractice of protocol; the night was in vain, to where the officers really raided the wrong house.

 

Detective Jaynes cited an affidavit for a “no-knock” search warrant, which was warranted at the residence of suspects Jamarcus Glover and Adrian Walker; whom were the targets of the narcotic investigation. Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker’s name was not at all mentioned in the search warrant issued to Taylor’s home. 

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against LMPD, the lawsuit cites that the police’s motivation for the search was to arrest the suspect Jamarcus Glover. Despite that Glover was already detained that morning of the drug raid prior to Taylor’s murder.

Taylor family attorney, Benjamin Crump stated, “This was a botched investigation, that ended with an innocent young woman killed. [Police] did not check to see if [Glover] was already in custody before they went in shooting over 22 times.”

Below is a full statement of Taylor Family’s attorney Benjamin Crump, Sam Aguiar and Lonita Baker:

“Today, Louisville postal inspector Tony Gooden asserted that the LMPD did not use his office to verify that a drug suspect delivered packages to Breonna Taylor’s address, which directly contradicts what the police stated in the affidavit to secure a no-knock warrant for the home. 

This revelation validates what we already knew: This young woman was brutally and unjustifiably killed by Louisville police, who supplied false information on the warrant they used to enter her home unannounced. Gooden further stated that ‘no packages of interest were going there.’ We will continue to demand transparency from the Louisville police on behalf of Breonna’s family.”

Breonna Taylor was a Western High School graduate c/o 2011. She was an experienced college student at the University of Kentucky. An accomplished EMT, who worked full-time as ER technician for two hospitals, Jewish East and PRN for Norton Healthcare.  Likely, prepping to confront the coronavirus during it’s early outbreak. In the comfort of her own home, likely half asleep, she was brutally murdered. Due to the panic of gunfire, investigating the incorrect address, as well as a failure to verify and legitimized police records. Incompetence could just be an accommodating excuse for Louisville authorities.

Tragically, the fatal killing of an unarmed citizen by detectives Mattingly, Hankison and Cosgrove will never restore the lives of everyone affected by Breonna’s death.

Kenneth Walker was charged with attempted murder and assault; however, Commonwealth’s attorney, Tom Wine, announced Walker was dismissed of all charges.

As for officer(s) Mattingly, Hankison and Cosgrove; all three detectives are in an ongoing litigation with Taylor’s family. LMPD has declined to comment on the pending case, but confirmed the three detectives have remained on administrative reassignment while internal investigation is ongoing.

A federal lawsuit against detective Hankison remains unresolved. He was indicted for harassing suspects by way of unnecessary arrests.

June 04, 2020

By Betti Halsell

Contributing Writer

 

Washington Post live streamed a virtual town hall that was entitled, “Reimagining Policing in the Wake of Continued Police Violence with President Obama.” The Conversation drew a focal point to the possibility of equality in protection and the relationship between policy and protest.

Listening to the 44th President share steps to move forward in protecting all those who inhabit a community was a breath of fresh air among the smog. Political leaders alongside the former president discussed the possibilities of a new way of protecting and how to grow from this moment.

Hosting the Broadcast was Michael Smith, Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance created by the Obama Foundation. My Brothers Keeper was launched by President Obama in response to the lack of opportunity found among boys and men of color throughout the nation.

Through this task force, there is a network with 250 different communities to connect young people to “mentoring, support networks, and skills they will need to find a career and continual educational development.

 

 

Playon Patrick, an 18-year old future college student of Ohio State University commenced the townhall meeting by sharing his gift of spoken word, “2020 Quarantine Killings” signified the passion behind the movement that is happening today. Patrick raised his voice and spoke boldly about the pile of bodies this country was built on.

Inspired by the passion of Playon’s words, Obama brought a focus to the power of young people. Previous change came from young men and women, the former president explained, young people are making the movement clear. Seeing the peace in all protest coming from diverse groups from all spectrums of society is a sign of hope, and an indication that the mindset is shifting. Obama shared his grievances over the spirits fallen due to institutionalized racism; he explained everything happening today are the outcomes of a long history of inequity.

However, the 44th presidents sees this moment of upheaval and uncomfortable energy as a grand opportunity for reform and real change. He spoke about the marriage of protest and policy, communities can both highlight the problem and translate it into legislation.

He spoke powerfully about this land never feeling like home, but as a collective community we figured out what to do with our hands. Playon looked directly into the camera as if they were into the eyes of the oppressor and declared, “Tonight, a riot is the language of the unheard.”

June 04, 2020

Thandisizwe Chimurenga

Contributing Writer

 

“God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, the fire next time.” ~Traditional Black spiritual

All 50 of the United States have seen protests and more than 10,000 people have been arrested, cities have enacted curfews and several states and the District of Columbia have called up the National Guard following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of police [last Monday] in Minneapolis.

 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that Derek Chauvin, the officer accused of causing the death of George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes, has been charged with second-degree murder and three other former officers who were on the scene -  Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao - have been charged with aiding and abetting murder.

 

Chauvin was arrested last Tuesday and charged last Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter and his former colleagues were not charged at all, leading to the intensity of protests against Floyd in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

Locally, Los Angeles enters its [Fourth] night of a county-wide curfew imposed after weekend protests in downtown and Beverly Hills turned violent with riot-clad police and sheriff’s deputies firing rubber bullets at peaceful demonstrators.

The 46-year-old Floyd died after his arrest on a charge of allegedly passing a counterfeit bill. In a now globally-seen video clip, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is kneeling on the neck of a prone and handcuffed Floyd for approximately eight minutes.

Floyd can be heard telling the officers he cannot breathe and calling out for his mother before eventually becoming unresponsive.

Dr. Michael Baden, well known forensic pathologist, ruled on Monday that Floyd's death was “homicide by asphyxia.” Baden had been retained by Floyd’s family to conduct an independent autopsy following preliminary findings of the Hennepin County medical examiner that “revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation.”

“What we found is consistent with what people saw,” Dr. Baden said in an emailed release. “There is no other health issue that could cause or contribute to the death. Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That’s not true.”

Dr. Baden continued, “The autopsy shows that Mr. Floyd had no underlying medical problem that caused or contributed to his death,” Dr. Baden was the chief medical examiner for the City of New York in the late 1970s.

In one week’s time, protests from Minneapolis to New York to Atlanta to Los Angeles, New Zealand, London, Iran and Berlin have turned out a diversity of thousands of people outraged at Floyd’s death.

As reported by Al Jazeera news agency, “The European Union is ‘shocked and appalled’ by the death of George Floyd in police custody, the bloc's top diplomat said, calling it ‘an abuse of power’ and warning against further excessive use of force.”

 

“Like the people of the United States, we are shocked and appalled by the death of George Floyd ... all societies must remain vigilant against the excessive use of force," Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, told reporters.”

On Monday, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed Floyd’s killing via social media in a Facebook post.

“Black people, the world over, are shocked and distraught by the killing of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, by a White police officer in the United States of America. It carried with it, an all too painful familiarity, and an ugly reminder. It cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the

United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.”

 

“On behalf of the people of Ghana, I express my deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the late George Floyd.”

“We stand with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism.”

Protesters also registered their anger over other deaths at the hands of current and former police such as Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky; Tony McDade in Tallahassee, Florida and Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia.

Minneapolis protests over Floyd’s death began last Tuesday evening after police chief Medaria Arredondo fired Chauvin, as well as three other officers who stood by without rendering aid to Floyd. Hundreds of people took to Minneapolis streets, including in front of the Third Precinct police station where Chauvin and the other fired officers were assigned.

Patrol vehicles were damaged, the building defaced and eventually encircled and set on fire. Video footage shows police officers in formation abandoning the station just prior to its being set ablaze. 

A few businesses adjacent to the police station including a Target and an affordable housing complex nearby were also engulfed in flames.

 

Protests of Floyd’s death and other African Americans spread to several cities where violence followed. Police, politicians and media have blamed organizers and outside agitators for creating the violence, on-the-ground organizers and observers countered that undercover police officers embedded in the crowds were the actual culprits.

A Wednesday protest organized by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles began in downtown Los Angeles called attention to District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s handling of shootings by law enforcement. Protestors marched from the Hall of Justice onto the 101-Hollywood Freeway where they encountered two CHP cruisers.

Footage from the scene shows protestors surrounding one of the vehicles when it takes off, almost running people down. The car drives off with one protestor sitting atop the hood of the car, its back window smashed by a skateboard. The protestor fell from the cruiser and landed face first on the pavement where they were knocked unconscious. Angry protestors then attempted to protect the fallen man by swarming the second cruiser, also shattering its rear window.

Disturbingly, much of the violence experienced throughout many protests came at the hands of visible, uniformed police officers.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that “at least 125 press freedom violations have been reported nationwide by journalists covering the demonstrations” over Floyd’s death during a three-day window beginning May 29.

In New York footage emerged of two NYPD cruisers ramming through a crowd of protestors; in another video, an NYPD officer pulls down the face mask of a young, an unarmed protestor, who had his hands raised and pepper sprays him in the face.

In Utah an elderly man with a cane walking in the area of a downtown Salt Lake City protest was knocked to ground by riot-clad officers for not moving fast enough.

In Atlanta, a curfew was declared over the weekend as a peaceful protest made its way through the upscale Buckhead section of town and became violent. Saturday night police came under fire for encircling protestors, leaving them no way to exit, the arresting them for violating the curfew. Footage of a young Black couple being attacked, pepper-sprayed and dragged from their car by Atlanta officers who were subsequently fired.

A Black congresswoman in Columbus, Ohio, was pepper-sprayed during a protest in that city. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, along with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said they were talking with constituents during the protest when they were “sprayed with mace or pepper spray” by police.

In Louisville, Kentucky, a journalist and photographer with the local NBC affiliate was fired on by police as she covered a Friday protest called to protest the deaths of both Floyd and 26-year-old Breonna Taylor.

Taylor, an emergency medical technician, was killed when the police raided her apartment in Louisville, Ky., in March. Officers entered Taylor’s residence without announcing themselves to execute a warrant. Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend, opened fire on the intruders thinking there was a break-in. Police returned fire killing Taylor.

Protestors returned to the streets of Louisville over the weekend where this time, police say they were fired upon by unknown protestors as they attempted to disperse a crowd early Monday morning. Police returned fire, killing restaurant owner David McAtee. 

Two officers, Kate Crews and Allen Austin, were confirmed to have been involved in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave. By Monday evening Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired from his position.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fired Conrad, a 40-year veteran of the department who had been chief for eight years, after he learned that no police officers deployed to the protests had their mandated body cameras turned on.

Locally, actor Kendrick Sampson of HBO’s Insecure and Adolphi Guzman-Lopez, reporter for KPCC radio, were hit with rubber bullets during a protest in West L.A., that ended up in Beverly Hills.

All of this has taken place in the midst of a still-deadly global pandemic that has thus far claimed more than 100,000 people.

As of press time the curfew in Los Angeles, originally from 8 pm to 5:30 am on Saturday night, has now become to 6 pm to 6 am. No word on when or if the curfew will be lifted, as concerns for new Coronavirus cases rise along with attendance at the protests.

From all indications, when or if the protests against police violence will subside are also unknown.