While the country was gossiping about a tweet, it was still experiencing violence against it's Black people.
July 6, 2016
By Maya Lau and Bryn Stole
Alton Sterling, (click here) a 37-year old man who sold CDs, was shot and killed by a Baton Rouge police officer Tuesday morning outside a convenience store on North Foster Drive after “some type of altercation” with two officers, officials said.
Baton Rouge police did not provide much information about what escalated the incident between the officers and Sterling or what prompted an officer to fire his weapon. A witness, however, described police as “aggressive” and said Sterling was armed but was not holding his gun or touching his pockets during the incident. Police later retrieved a gun from the man’s pocket, said the witness, shop owner Abdullah Muflahi.
Around 12:35 a.m., Baton Rouge police responded to the Triple S Food Mart at 2112 N. Foster Drive after an anonymous caller indicated that a man in a red shirt who was selling CDs outside the store pointed a gun at someone, telling them to leave the property, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William “Beau” Clark said the initial results of an autopsy performed Tuesday show Sterling died due to a homicide and suffered multiple — meaning more than two — gunshot wounds to the chest and back....
In Alabama the community is stating Mr. Moore was unarmed and murdered. They remain resolute and oppose an investigation from police internal aairs. The community wants an independent investigation.
June 23, 2016
By Lawrence Specker
Michael Moore has been laid to rest. (click here) For some – including a roster of civic leaders and elected officials -- questions about the circumstances of his death have not.
Several investigations are under way, and there have been indications that it might be months for results are announced. Here's what we know now....
...The gun: Though Hurst reported that the confrontation escalated when he saw a handgun at Moore's hip, it was not recovered at the scene. Instead, according to police, it stayed in Moore's waistband as he was handled at the scene and transported to the hospital. Investigators recovered it there. Police Chief James Barber has described this as a breakdown in proper crime-scene procedure; among Moore's supporters, it led to widespread suspicions that the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson was planted. One of the men in the car with Moore has since given an interview in which he said Moore possessed the gun at the time of the incident – though he questions whether Moore reached for it.
The cameras: Because Hurst was on his way to roll call, he was not yet wearing his body camera, and this has been a point of contention with many. Mobile City Councilman C.J. Small has said that he and Councilman Fred Richardson pushed hard for Mobile police to be equipped with cameras and felt there had been some foot-dragging on the subject...
These cases always end up the same way, the families are paid off no different than in the war zones of the USA. The federal government always steps in to carry out an investigation. The local authorities are not trusted by the communities for the same reason that comes out when there is a death of an unarmed Black citizen, manipulation of the truth.
There are many, many Americans that carry guns on their person with or without a concealed carry permit. There are state now that do not require permits. It is always someone from the Black community that is dead. It is an issue and denial is not at all appropriate. The Black community is correct in continuing their protests and demands for "The Right to Live." They are correct because this doesn't end. It continues and Black men are continuing to fall in what should be a simple act of law enforcement.
July 6, 2016
By Maya Lau and Bryn Stole
Alton Sterling, (click here) a 37-year old man who sold CDs, was shot and killed by a Baton Rouge police officer Tuesday morning outside a convenience store on North Foster Drive after “some type of altercation” with two officers, officials said.
Baton Rouge police did not provide much information about what escalated the incident between the officers and Sterling or what prompted an officer to fire his weapon. A witness, however, described police as “aggressive” and said Sterling was armed but was not holding his gun or touching his pockets during the incident. Police later retrieved a gun from the man’s pocket, said the witness, shop owner Abdullah Muflahi.
Around 12:35 a.m., Baton Rouge police responded to the Triple S Food Mart at 2112 N. Foster Drive after an anonymous caller indicated that a man in a red shirt who was selling CDs outside the store pointed a gun at someone, telling them to leave the property, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William “Beau” Clark said the initial results of an autopsy performed Tuesday show Sterling died due to a homicide and suffered multiple — meaning more than two — gunshot wounds to the chest and back....
In Alabama the community is stating Mr. Moore was unarmed and murdered. They remain resolute and oppose an investigation from police internal aairs. The community wants an independent investigation.
June 23, 2016
By Lawrence Specker
Michael Moore has been laid to rest. (click here) For some – including a roster of civic leaders and elected officials -- questions about the circumstances of his death have not.
Several investigations are under way, and there have been indications that it might be months for results are announced. Here's what we know now....
...The gun: Though Hurst reported that the confrontation escalated when he saw a handgun at Moore's hip, it was not recovered at the scene. Instead, according to police, it stayed in Moore's waistband as he was handled at the scene and transported to the hospital. Investigators recovered it there. Police Chief James Barber has described this as a breakdown in proper crime-scene procedure; among Moore's supporters, it led to widespread suspicions that the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson was planted. One of the men in the car with Moore has since given an interview in which he said Moore possessed the gun at the time of the incident – though he questions whether Moore reached for it.
The cameras: Because Hurst was on his way to roll call, he was not yet wearing his body camera, and this has been a point of contention with many. Mobile City Councilman C.J. Small has said that he and Councilman Fred Richardson pushed hard for Mobile police to be equipped with cameras and felt there had been some foot-dragging on the subject...
These cases always end up the same way, the families are paid off no different than in the war zones of the USA. The federal government always steps in to carry out an investigation. The local authorities are not trusted by the communities for the same reason that comes out when there is a death of an unarmed Black citizen, manipulation of the truth.
There are many, many Americans that carry guns on their person with or without a concealed carry permit. There are state now that do not require permits. It is always someone from the Black community that is dead. It is an issue and denial is not at all appropriate. The Black community is correct in continuing their protests and demands for "The Right to Live." They are correct because this doesn't end. It continues and Black men are continuing to fall in what should be a simple act of law enforcement.
