DETROIT — As a prosecutor showed a jury photos of Renisha McBride, her father rushed out of the court room. The photos of the 19-year-old — first smiling, and then lying lifeless on a porch — were shown in quick succession at the beginning of one of the most highly publicized and racially charged trials of the year. Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of Theodore Wafer, the 55-year-old Dearborn Heights, Michigan, man charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of McBride. Wafer is accused of shooting her with a shotgun through his locked screen door around 4:40 a.m. on Nov. 2. His attorney seeks to show that he was in fear for his life and shot her in self-defense, while the prosecutor has maintained Wafer had no reason to be fearful, and killed an unarmed, impaired woman. “His actions that night were unnecessary, unjustified and unreasonable,” Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Danielle Hagaman-Clark said. Defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter said what happened to McBride was “horrible” but that the jury should set aside their feelings and focus on the law. Click through for more. Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
teenager
Why This Transgender Teen’s Big Legal Victory Matters
Wayne Maines was in a meeting when he got the call. His daughter, a transgender teenager who had been fighting the state of Maine for years over her right to use the girls’ bathroom at school, had finally won.
Community Village‘s insight:
Five states down, 45 more to go.
“Some jurisdictions (e.g., Colorado, Iowa, San Francisco, New York City, and the District of Columbia), however, have indicated that denying transgender people the right to use a gender identity-appropriate restroom violates nondiscrimination laws. In addition, Washington’s Human Rights Commission states that “transgender employees should be permitted to use the restroom that is consistent with the individual’s gender identity.” Some jurisdictions (e.g., Iowa, San Francisco, and D.C.) make clear that transgender people cannot be required to prove their gender to gain access to a public bathroom, unless everyone has to show ID to use that bathroom. Other jurisdictions (e.g., Chicago) continue to allow businesses to determine whether a transgender patron is given access to the male or female bathroom based on the gender on his or her ID.” –source
See on jezebel.com
guilty of starving teen who weighed 40 lbs
Affiliate WESH reports a Florida woman accused of assisting in the torture of a boy is found guilty on seven charges.
Community Village‘s insight:
It says the Woman is guilty. What about the dad?
See on www.cnn.com
Texas Man Charged With Federal Hate Crime For Knock-Out
The U.S. Attorney’s office reports that Conrad Alvin Barrett of Katy, TX, is charged with assaulting a 79-year-old African American man in a knockout game-style attack. Barret, 27, attacked the vi…
14 Year Old Girl Mistaken As Burglar Is Killed By Stepfather
“Another tragic killing in Colorado. This time, it’s in Colorado Springs. It’s a breaking story, so there’s not much information yet.
Police spokesman Larry Herbert gave a statement saying that Monday morning, around 6 a.m., a call was made of a burglary-in-progress. When police arrived on the 4300 block of Ascendant Drive, off North Carefree Circle and Peterson Road, they found a 14 year-old girl had been shot by her step-father. She was taken to an area hospital where she died of gunshot wounds. ”
…
Community Village‘s insight:
Jordan Davis’ Killer, Michael Dunn, Unleashes Racist Rant in Letters to Grandma – Atlanta Black Star
If there was any doubt about the true feelings of Michael Dunn, the Florida man who shot and killed 17-year-old Jordan Davis during an argument over loud music, the 46-year-old laid them to rest in letters that he wrote from jail to family members…
See on atlantablackstar.com
New evidence in Kendrick Johnson’s death – CNN.com Video
Disturbing new evidence casts a new light on the death of high school student Kendrick Johnson. Victor Blackwell reports.
See on www.cnn.com
Gathering at border marks 1 year since teen’s death
“Rodriguez died after being shot 10 times just before 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2012, on a street that runs just below the border fence. His family and protesters say he was an innocent bystander on his way to visit his brother Diego at the convenience store where he worked, when he was caught in a hail of bullets from the U.S. Border Patrol. ”
See on soboco.org
16-Year-Old Malala Yousafzai Leaves Jon Stewart Speechless With Comment About Pacifism
Stewart asked her how she reacted when she learned that the Taliban wanted her dead. Her answer was absolutely remarkable.
Community Village‘s insight:
When Malala says that education gives women power and the audience cheers, I’m thinking
- She’s 100% correct
- The U.S. high school drop out rate is high
- U.S. college is not getting more affordable
Many in the U.S. are disempowered due to the difficulty of obtaining a college education.
See on www.businessinsider.com
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