Monday, November 10, 2014

Homelessness is not a crime. Homelessness is an injustice to people outside the ability to survive and thrive under capitalism.

James Boyd is not coming back to life. Yet he was unjustifiably killed by a Swat Team with dogs and munitions that could stop a small war. This man was murdered for the reason he could find a place 'to be' in a park away from the city. James Boyd didn't have a place to live, period. He was not allowed to EXIST. Every place he went he was told he could not 'be there.' 
The intolerance to the homeless in Albuquerque had become so final in it's understanding there was absolutely no place Mr. Boyd, who suffered from mental health problems, could sit or stand or sleep. He was assailed by a Swat Team in a park to remove him from the area. A Swat team was deployed knowing full well what was going to come of him. 
The intolerance of homelessness as created though laws caused his death. Yet, no one is going to be held responsible. 
One of the reasons Albuquerque had really lousy police is because there are so many lawsuits against the city for the behavior of it's police officers there is less and less money to pay officers that would actually do a better job.
November 9, 2014
By Mark Berman
...Not long after the protests, (click here) the Justice Department released the results of a 17-month investigation into allegations that the Albuquerque police used excessive force. The investigation found that Albuquerque police “often use deadly force” when it is not needed, “often use unreasonable physical force” and generally operate without accountability.
The Justice Department and city officials announced an agreement last week that would reform the city’s police department, revamp how officers use force and improve the way complaints against officers are investigated. The Albuquerque City Council held a special meeting to discuss the settlement on Thursday night and voted 8-0 to approve the deal.
The agreement does not admit any liability or acknowledge any improper conduct by police officers but says the police department will make sure that officers avoid using force as much as possible and promises that uses of force will be thoroughly investigated.
It also says that officers must turn on recording systems whenever using force, which is particularly key to a larger issue nationwide.