May 11, 2015
By Natasja Sheriff
The United States was slammed (click here) over its rights record Monday at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, with member nations criticizing the country for police violence and racial discrimination, the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility and the continued use of the death penalty.
The issue of racism and police brutality dominated the discussion on Monday during the country’s second universal periodic review (UPR). Country after country recommended that the U.S. strengthen legislation and expand training to eliminate racism and excessive use of force by law enforcement.
"I'm not surprised that the world's eyes are focused on police issues in the U.S.," said Alba Morales, who investigates the U.S. criminal justice system at Human Rights Watch.
"There is an international spotlight that's been shone [on the issues], in large part due to the events in Ferguson and the disproportionate police response to even peaceful protesters," she said....
Part of the human rights abuses cited by the United Nations revolves around Congressional dysfunction. That is extremely true about the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
The media has been citing an uptick in violence in it's cities. What is surprising about that? I doubt it has to do with warmer temperatures, unless one is referring to the heated anger of USA city's populations.
I am grateful to the United Nations in recognizing a long standing problem that continues today.
The problem within the police force is that they have written into their actions the long overused defense "My life was under threat." Their lawyers and/or advisers, including union advisers, simply pull the best EXCUSE out of a bag of tricks and it is honored by laws in the USA. Such legal calisthenics is a manipulation of the laws of the USA. It is supported by a willingness of city governments to respect the idea 'the truth is lost' if an officer decides it doesn't work in his or her favor.
It is common to hear the excuse making by city officials. One of the most dramatic examples recently of that is Tulsa, Oklahoma (click here). At first the death of Eric Courtney Harris was being stated as routine in the work of the police of that city. When the video was released and it was obvious Mr. Harris died an unnecessary death, the City of Tulsa did a complete pivot about the legitimacy of Mr. Harris's death. Tulsa also exhibited a willingness to put poorly trained individuals with fraudulent or outdated records on the street with the right to use a gun against citizens.
The issues the USA faces today is heightened gun violence by the extremely high number of guns in the USA. The gun industry is causing more than violence in the USA, it is also exporting munitions to places such as Mexico. So, while the problems of violence does belong to the USA it also has exported that violence. In the case of Mexico, there are drug cartels within an anarchy that challenges its' sovereignty.
It is incredible to realize the extent USA violence effects most countries with unrest today. And to realize the supply of guns into the markets in years past, it can be said the USA is more of a problem than most are willing to state.
The dysfunction of the USA Congress is reflected in all these problems. The gun industry is as responsible for human rights abuses as the country itself. The Congressional members that find it politically convenient to state extremist positions regarding guns, both domestically and internationally, are more the problem in all human rights violations cited by the UN.
The media is citing this past weekend as a very violent time in the USA. I doubt that will result in any significant gun laws and the deaths will continue both domestically and internationally. If the country involved was different than the USA a UN resolution would be on the lips of the UN Defense Council. But, given the USA is a permanent member any citation would be vetoed. It might be a good idea to propose an United Nation's Resolution anyway. It will be vetoed, but, it will be on the record.
The anti-gun groups such as the ones created by victims like Sandy Hook and Former US Representative Gabby Giffords can use this decision by the United Nations to promote their policies.
I am sure if the United Nations invited any of these victims and/or their families to speak at the United Nations, they would be honored to do so.
By Natasja Sheriff
The United States was slammed (click here) over its rights record Monday at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, with member nations criticizing the country for police violence and racial discrimination, the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility and the continued use of the death penalty.
The issue of racism and police brutality dominated the discussion on Monday during the country’s second universal periodic review (UPR). Country after country recommended that the U.S. strengthen legislation and expand training to eliminate racism and excessive use of force by law enforcement.
"I'm not surprised that the world's eyes are focused on police issues in the U.S.," said Alba Morales, who investigates the U.S. criminal justice system at Human Rights Watch.
"There is an international spotlight that's been shone [on the issues], in large part due to the events in Ferguson and the disproportionate police response to even peaceful protesters," she said....
Part of the human rights abuses cited by the United Nations revolves around Congressional dysfunction. That is extremely true about the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
The media has been citing an uptick in violence in it's cities. What is surprising about that? I doubt it has to do with warmer temperatures, unless one is referring to the heated anger of USA city's populations.
I am grateful to the United Nations in recognizing a long standing problem that continues today.
The problem within the police force is that they have written into their actions the long overused defense "My life was under threat." Their lawyers and/or advisers, including union advisers, simply pull the best EXCUSE out of a bag of tricks and it is honored by laws in the USA. Such legal calisthenics is a manipulation of the laws of the USA. It is supported by a willingness of city governments to respect the idea 'the truth is lost' if an officer decides it doesn't work in his or her favor.
It is common to hear the excuse making by city officials. One of the most dramatic examples recently of that is Tulsa, Oklahoma (click here). At first the death of Eric Courtney Harris was being stated as routine in the work of the police of that city. When the video was released and it was obvious Mr. Harris died an unnecessary death, the City of Tulsa did a complete pivot about the legitimacy of Mr. Harris's death. Tulsa also exhibited a willingness to put poorly trained individuals with fraudulent or outdated records on the street with the right to use a gun against citizens.
The issues the USA faces today is heightened gun violence by the extremely high number of guns in the USA. The gun industry is causing more than violence in the USA, it is also exporting munitions to places such as Mexico. So, while the problems of violence does belong to the USA it also has exported that violence. In the case of Mexico, there are drug cartels within an anarchy that challenges its' sovereignty.
It is incredible to realize the extent USA violence effects most countries with unrest today. And to realize the supply of guns into the markets in years past, it can be said the USA is more of a problem than most are willing to state.
The dysfunction of the USA Congress is reflected in all these problems. The gun industry is as responsible for human rights abuses as the country itself. The Congressional members that find it politically convenient to state extremist positions regarding guns, both domestically and internationally, are more the problem in all human rights violations cited by the UN.
The media is citing this past weekend as a very violent time in the USA. I doubt that will result in any significant gun laws and the deaths will continue both domestically and internationally. If the country involved was different than the USA a UN resolution would be on the lips of the UN Defense Council. But, given the USA is a permanent member any citation would be vetoed. It might be a good idea to propose an United Nation's Resolution anyway. It will be vetoed, but, it will be on the record.
I am sure if the United Nations invited any of these victims and/or their families to speak at the United Nations, they would be honored to do so.
