Month: January 2016

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The American town with water too poisonous to drink

Water towers in America usually boast the names of the communities they serve, often with a mascot or slogan; totems of civic pride. Not here. Smudged by driving snow on a recent morning, this one merely proclaims: FLINT WATER PLANT. And this one stands for betrayal, hardship and scandal. Cast your eyes down to the neighbourhoods beyond; homes with sagging roofs and dilapidated porches, and you will see them, bundled-up figures shuffling down the streets. Some carry their loads in their arms, others push trollies through the drifts.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.independent.co.uk

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Lawsuit Exposes Police Horror Story, Cops Hogtie #TroyGoode Until Dead

Southhaven, MS — Troy Goode had taken LSD at a concert he and his wife attended in Southaven, Mississippi, but must have been having a bad trip and began acting erratically, running around the parking lot. Though the Memphis, Tennessee, man’s behavior wasn’t violent or threatening to anyone, someone felt it necessary — likely out of misguided concern — to summon the police. That fateful decision by a stranger cost Goode his life.

 

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/lawsuit-exposes-police-horror-story-cops-sic-k9-peaceful-man-hogtied-face-dead/#UDHIJFckLQc9PczY.99

Sourced through Scoop.it from: thefreethoughtproject.com

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Barbara Dawson

Barbara Dawson (1958-2015), a Black American woman, died soon after police forcibly removed her from Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, a small town in the Florida Panhandle. This was four days before Christmas,

 

At 10.30pm on the night of December 20th 2015, she was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. She had stomach pains.

 

Before dawn the next morning, the hospital discharged her. It said her condition was stable. She said she was still in pain and had trouble breathing.

 

Continue reading

Sourced through Scoop.it from: abagond.wordpress.com

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No indictment for officer accused of choking unarmed Jonathan Sanders to death in an altercation

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Guatemala: first trial for systematic violations of indigenous women

Guatemala’s recent history bears the mark of a 36 year long, painful internal armed conflict, during which the State systematically violated the rights of the Mayan population.

 

According to the Report of the Commission for the Historical Clarification of Human Rights Violations in Guatemala, 83.3 percent of the human rights violations were committed against them.

Indigenous women have particularly suffered from the conflict.

 

Continue reading

Sourced through Scoop.it from: intercontinentalcry.org

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Stop and Frisk – # 2 … The Beat Goes On

As the NYPD headed by police commissioner and broken windows architect William Bratton informs an unsuspecting public that he has reduced stop and frisk by 95%, I uncover how he is able to make such a claim as their illegal practice remains virtually unchanged.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.youtube.com

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Just Mercy: Race and the Criminal Justice System by Stanford Alumni Association [VIDEO]

Watch Stanford Alumni Association’s 1/13 Just Mercy: Race and the Criminal Justice System on Livestream.com. Roundtable conversation featuring Bryan Stevenson, Jennifer Eberhardt, Gary Segura, Robert Weisberg, JD ’79, and Katie Couric. OpenXChange is a year-long, student-focused initiative on campus that aims to encourage meaningful dialogue around tough issues. This is the first in a series of discussions with Stanford faculty and global experts on criminal justice, inequality and international conflict.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: livestream.com

Bryan Stevenson is a power house for social justice. He’s a defense attorney and author with 21 honorary doctorate degrees. Listen closely to what he’s telling us. The auditorium was packed, including the overflow room. I was sent away with this link to the live stream.