Honoring Dot Calm by remembering police brutality and unarmed Black deaths

Greetings, Dot Calm readers
and fellow Truth Crusaders!

I'm still very much thinking about Dot Calm and her untimely passing as described in the last post. One issue she was passionate about is unchecked police brutality and unacceptably high numbers of unarmed Blacks killed by police without any apparent or significant repercussions. To honor Dot, I will revisit that issue in today's post. I was rudely reminded of this injustice by a recent feature on "Democracy Now!" describing the untimely death of the unarmed Akai Gurley at police hands. Accountability should not be too much to ask of our authorities--no one should be above the law. So why is it that police, politicians, wealthy individuals, and corporations literally get away with murder when you or I would be thrown under the jail for as minor and as victimless an offense as possession of marijuana?

Before I get tuit, let me just remind you...

Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:

Daily Kos
AlterNet
Democracy Now!
Conservatives are Destroying our Future
Conservative Clown Car
Americans Against the Republican Party
Americans Against the Tea Party

...And, whatever you do,

VOTE BERNIE!!!!!

If at all possible, send him a buck o' five. He ain't out of it yet--he still has a lot of work to do, and I'm not asking you to do anything I don't already do myself!

 

Thanks for reading, and thanks for being you!

 

- Dot Calm's shadow

 

********************************************

ATTENTION, REPUBLICANS!

Obama is coming

for your guns 'n' Bibles

November 8, 2016.

DO NOT

LEAVE YOUR HOUSE

THAT DAY

FOR ANY REASON!

The rights you save
may be your own!

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76 unarmed Blacks were killed by police from 1999 to 2014; over 100 unarmed Blacks were killed by police in 2015 alone

 

Key Findings:

• Police killed at least 102 unarmed black people in 2015, nearly twice each week. (See which police departments were responsible for these deaths)

• Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were identified as unarmed, though the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting

• 37% of unarmed people killed by police were black in 2015 despite black people being only 13% of the U.S. population

• Unarmed black people were killed at 5x the rate of unarmed whites in 2015

• Only 10 of the 102 cases in 2015 where an unarmed black person was killed by police resulted in officer(s) being charged with a crime, and only 1 of these deaths (Matthew Ajibade) resulted in convictions of the officers involved. Only one of the two officers convicted received jail time. The officer was sentenced to one year in jail and allowed to serve this time exclusively on weekends.

---

Read their names and stories

Click on the link for the article to see the photos. Heartbreaking. Too many of these beautiful faces look like people I know and love. Only when Black Lives Matter will we know that all lives matter.

- Dot Calm's shadow             

 

Unarmed People of Color Killed by Police, 1999-2014

 

Rich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan

12/08/14 2:15pm

Filed to: black lives matter

 

On Wednesday, after the announcement that NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo would not be indicted for killing Eric Garner, the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund Twitter posted a series of tweets naming 76 men and women who were killed in police custody since the 1999 death of Amadou Diallo in New York. Starting with the most recent death, what follows are more detailed accounts of many of those included in the Legal Defense Fund's tweets.

Rumain Brisbon, 34, Phoenix, Ariz.—Dec. 2, 2014

Brisbon, an unarmed black father of four, was shot to death in when a police officer apparently mistook his bottle of pills for a gun. Aftermath: Pending.

 

 

Tamir Rice, 12, Cleveland, Ohio—Nov. 22, 2014

Officer Tim Loehmann shot and killed Rice, who was holding a BB gun, seconds after spotting him at a park. Aftermath: Rice's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cleveland.

Akai Gurley, 28, Brooklyn, NY—Nov. 20, 2014

Gurley was shot in a dark stairwell of an East New York housing project building by Officer Peter Liang. Gurley was unarmed. Police Commissioner William Bratton called Gurley "a total innocent." "The cop who was standing behind Officer Liang doesn't know what happened; the girlfriend doesn't know what happened," a senior police official told the New York Times. "There is a distinct possibility that Officer Liang doesn't quite understand what happened." Aftermath: District Attorney Ken Thompson announced that he is investigating.

Kajieme Powell, 25, St. Louis, Mo.—August 19, 2014

Powell was shot by police who responded to a 911 call accusing him of stealing some energy drinks and pastries. Cops claimed that he approached them holding a knife "in an overhand grip"; video footage of the incident shows that Powell did not come as close to the police as they reported and that his hands were by his side. Police shot him within 15 seconds of arriving at the scene. Aftermath: Powell's family has filed a wrongful death suit against the St. Louis police chief and arresting officers.

Ezell Ford, 25, Los Angeles, Calif.—August 12, 2014

Ford was shot by police who were conducting "an investigative stop." " A struggle ensued," read the LAPD's news release. Ford's family members say he was lying down when shot. Aftermath: The LAPD, which hasn't closed the investigation into Ford's death, put an indefinite "investigative hold" on the coroner's autopsy report to prevent witness testimony from being tainted.

Dante Parker, 36, San Bernardino County, Calif.—August 12, 2014

Police responded to a call about an attempted break-in. The suspect fled on a bicycle. Police found Parker nearby riding his bike. He was unarmed. He resisted arrest and a struggle ensued. Police tasered him and he died. Aftermath: Pending. The NAACP has called for a federal investigation.

Michael Brown, 18, Ferguson, Mo.—August 9, 2014

Shot by Officer Darren Wilson after an altercation that happened inside Wilson's car. Wilson reported that Brown "looked like a demon." Aftermath: Wilson was not indicted by a grand jury. He resigned from the Ferguson police force. "The family greatly wanted to have the killer of their unarmed son held accountable. They really would look at every legal avenue," said Brown's family's lawyer Benjamin Crump.

John Crawford III, 22, Beavercreek, Ohio—August 5, 2014

Crawford was fatally shot while carrying a pellet gun in a Wal-Mart. The gun was unsold merchandise and out of its package. A man named Ronald Ritchie told 911 that he looked like he was pointing it at people, but a month later he admitted that Crawford was not pointing the gun at people. Aftermath: No indictment.

 

Tyree Woodson, 38, Baltimore, Md.—August 2, 2014

Police say Woodson's fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted. That would mean that he smuggled his gun into a police station after police brought him there for having several open warrants. "Things don't seem quite right here," said Baltimore Councilman Carl Stokes. "This person could have a gun, a high caliber gun, that could be used against other officers and then he allegedly kills himself." Aftermath: Pending.

Eric Garner, 43, New York, N.Y.—July 17, 2014

Police alleged they saw Garner selling illegal untaxed cigarettes, but witnesses at the scene said he was stopped because he broke up a fight. After an argument, Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed Garner in a chokehold. Garner died of neck compression from the chokehold along with "the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police." Aftermath: The New York City medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide. Pantaleo was not indicted.

Victor White III, 22, Iberia Parish, La.—March 22, 2014

The coroner says he shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser. The autopsy report claims, White's injuries "are possible to be self-inflicted even with the hands handcuffed behind the back." "Short of him being Houdini or David Copperfield, it's not possible," said White's family's attorney. Aftermath: Pending. District Attorney Phil Haney of the 16th Judicial Circuit, who said he will let a federal investigation run its course before making a decision.

Yvette Smith, 47, Bastrop, Texas—February 16, 2014

Officers responding to a domestic disturbance call shot after she opened her front door to them. Initially, police claimed that Smith had a firearm, but the sheriff's office retracted this the next day. Aftermath: Deputy Daniel Willis, who shot Smith, was indicted on a murder charge. Her family is asking for $5 million in a wrongful death suit.

McKenzie Cochran, 25, Southfield, Mich.—January 28, 2014

Cochran died of "position compression asphyxia" during struggle with mall security. Cochran told them, " I can't breathe." His death ruled an accident by medical examiner. Aftermath: No indictments for the security guards.

Jordan Baker, 26, Houston, Texas—January 16, 2014

An off-duty police officer thought Baker fit the description of robbery suspects—both they and he were wearing black hooded sweatshirts. A scuffle and foot chase ensued. Baker, who was unarmed, was fatally shot. Aftermath: Officer J. Castro, who killed Baker, was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Baker's mother was said to be considering filing a lawsuit.

Andy Lopez, 13, Santa Rosa, Calif.—October 22, 2013

Lopez was carrying a pellet gun that resembled an AK-47 assault rifle. After officers reportedly told Lopez to drop the gun, he turned toward them and they shot him. Aftermath: No indictment.

Miriam Carey, 34, Washington, D.C.—October 3, 2013

While attempting to make a U-turn at a White House checkpoint, Carey allegedly hit a barricade and a Secret Service officer in front of the White House. After a high-speed chase, police surrounded her, weapons drawn. She was shot five times in the chase and died at the scene. She was unarmed. Her daughter was in the car with her and was unharmed. Aftermath: The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to press charges.

Jonathan Ferrell, 24, Bradfield Farms, N.C.—September 14, 2013

Ferrell crashed his car and knocked on the door of a nearby house. The woman inside called the police. Police said that when Ferrell was apprehended, they shot him. Ten times. Aftermath: Officer Randall Kerrick has been indicted on a charge of voluntary manslaughter. It took two grand juries to get there.

Carlos Alcis, 43, New York, N.Y.—August 15, 2013

Alcis died of a heart attack after the police mistakenly raided his home in search of a cell phone thief. Aftermath: Alcis's family has filed a wrongful death suit against the city and the NYPD for $10 million.

Larry Eugene Jackson, Jr., 32, Austin, Texas—July 26, 2013

Jackson was fatally shot during a scuffle resulting from a chase that took place when detective Charles Kleinert apprehended Jackson for trying to "defraud" a bank. Aftermath: Kleinert was indicted on a manslaughter charge.

Deion Fludd, 17, New York, N.Y.—May 5, 2013

Police say that a train clipped Fludd as the chased him after dodging subway fare. According to his mother, Fludd denied this before succumbing to his injuries. Aftermath: Fludd's mother sued the officers involved, the NYPD, and the MTA.

Kimani Gray, 16, New York, N.Y.—March 9, 2013

Police said Gray pointed a revolver at them as they attempted to question him. Friends and family say Gray had never had a gun, and a witness says he never pointed one at police. The cops shot a total of 11 rounds, striking Gray several times. Aftermath: No indictments for the cops responsible for shooting Gray.

Johnnie Kamahi Warren, 43, Dotham, Ala.—December 10, 2012

A Houston County Sheriff's deputy spotted Warren struggling with three other men outside a bar. Upon approaching Warren, he used a taser at least twice. Soon after additional officers arrived and arrested him, he lost consciousness and died at the hospital soon after. Outcome: An Alabama Bureau of Investigation probe; the sheriff's deputy was placed on paid leave.

Malissa Williams, 30, and Timothy Russell, 43, Cleveland, Ohio—November 29, 2012

Russell led 62 police cars on a chase that ended with 137 shots being fired at his car, killing him and Williams. Police believed someone in Russell's car had fired at them first. Cornered at a middle school, Cleveland Patrolman Michael Brelo jumped on top of Russell's car from behind, climbed to the hood, and fired 15 more shots. Aftermath: A judge approved a settlement between the city and the two's families—$1.5 million each. Brelo was indicted in May 2014 for voluntary manslaughter. His trial date has not been set.

Reynaldo Cuevas, 20, New York, N.Y.—September 7, 2012

Cuevas was shot and killed by police as he was fleeing armed men attempting to rob the bodega he worked at. Aftermath: The Bronx District Attorney did not find the officer at fault and declined to move the case forward to a grand jury. His mother filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against the city last year.

Chavis Carter, 21, Jonesboro, Ark.—July 29, 2012

Police say Carter killed himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car. His mother pointed out that he was left-handed (he would have shot himself with his right hand), detained for marijuana while his concealed weapon supposedly went undetected, and not suicidal. Aftermath: The officers involved were placed on administrative leave and the FBI stepped in to "monitor and assess " the situation. His mother filed a wrongful death suit.

Shantel Davis, 23, New York, N.Y.—June 14, 2012

Police chased Davis in a stolen car through East Flatbush until it crashed. In the ensuing struggle at the vehicle, one officer fired one shot, killing Davis. She was unarmed. It's "not clear" if the plainclothes officers chasing knew the car was stolen. David was due in court the week she died for helping hold a man hostage as the group robbed his home. Aftermath: The officers involved were placed on administrative duty.

Sharmel Edwards, 49, Las Vegas, Nev.—April 21, 2012

Edwards was suspected of stealing a vehicle. A police chase ensued. Cops said that when they were finally able to get her to leave her car, she pointed a gun at them and they opened fire. At least three witnesses disputed that claim, with two saying she wasn't carrying a weapon at all. Aftermath: The Clark County DA office ruled that the officers who killed Edwards acted "reasonably and lawfully."

Tamon Robinson, 27, New York, N.Y.—April 18, 2012

Police responded to a call from Canarsie, Brooklyn that Robinson was stealing paving stones. When confronted by police, Robinson, unarmed, ran toward the building where his mother lived; officers chased him by car, hitting him. Aftermath: Robinson's family reached a $2 million settlement in a wrongful death suit against the city this year.

Ervin Jefferson, 18, Atlanta, Ga.—March 24, 2012

Security guards shot Jefferson to death during a "bizarre chain of events" outside of an apartment complex. Aftermath: Security guards Curtis Scott and Gary Jackson were arrested and charged with impersonating police.

Kendrec McDade, 19, Pasadena, Calif.—March 24, 2012

McDade was chased and shot by two police officers after a 911 caller falsely reported he had been robbed at gunpoint by two black men. Both were unarmed. McDade was shot seven times. Aftermath: The police department and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office cleared the officers of wrongdoing. Investigations by the FBI and Office of Independent Review are pending.

Rekia Boyd, 22, Chicago, Ill.—March 21, 2012

Off-duty officer Dante Servin fired an unregistered firearm into an alleyway where four people were standing after he allegedly saw a man brandish a gun. One of the bullets hit Boyd in the back of the head. She died the next day. Aftermath: The city of Chicago paid Boyd's family $4.5 million in a wrongful death suit. The officer was charged with last November with involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, and reckless conduct.

Shereese Francis, 30, New York, N.Y.—March 15, 2012

Francis, a schizophrenic who at the time was not taking her medication, became "increasingly emotionally distraught" after an argument with her mother. Her sister called 311, hoping for an ambulance—four police officers arrived instead, who chased Francis through the home. All four allegedly pinned her down as they handcuffed her and she stopped breathing soon after. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. The coroner's report concluded Francis died of "compression of trunk during agitated violent behavior." Aftermath: Her family filed a lawsuit after police dragged their feet on releasing records under the Freedom of Information Act.

Wendell Allen, 20, New Orleans, La.—March 7, 2012

Allen, unarmed, dressed only in jeans and sneakers, was shot and killed by New Orleans police officer Joshua Colclough executing a search warrant of Allen's home for marijuana. Aftermath: Colclough pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison last year.

Nehemiah Dillard, 29, Gainesville, Fla.—March 5, 2012

Dillard was admitted to Meridian Behavioral Healthcare after "displaying strange behavior" in a stranger's yard. He allegedly struck a member of the hospital's staff, who called police. Officers shot him twice with tasers after he allegedly attacked them. After being handcuffed, the Tampa Bay Times reports, "a staffer at the facility injected him with drugs" and Dillard died soon after from cardiac arrest.

Dante Price, 25, Dayton, Ohio—March 1, 2012

Security guards ordered Price out of an apartment complex. They told him to leave his car, but instead he decided to drive away, so they fired 17 shots at him. Aftermath: Justin Wissinger and Christopher Tarbert pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and abduction. They were sentenced 3 to 11 years in prison.

Raymond Allen, 34, Galveston, Texas—February 27, 2012

Police responded to a complaint from a hotel that Allen was repeatedly jumping from the second story. Two officers tased him. He stopped breathing, and died in the hospital. Aftermath: His wife filed a lawsuit against Galveston, the county, and taser's manufacturer.

Sgt. Manuel Loggins, Jr., 31, Orange County, Calif.—February 7, 2012

On a religious fast and off medication for ADHD, Loggins allegedly crashed into a gate a Orange County high school with his car carrying his two daughters. After walking to and returning from the school's athletic field with a Bible, he was approached by a police officer, who shot Loggins three times through his car window. He was unarmed. Aftermath: Orange County paid $4.4 million to Loggins' family in a settlement last year.

Ramarley Graham, 18, New York, N.Y.—February 2, 2012

Graham was shot and killed by police in the Bronx, who chased him into his home without a warrant. He was unarmed. Aftermath: The officer, Richard Haste, was initially indicted in 2012, but the case was later overturned. A second grand jury decided not indict Haste. Graham's mother said just last month that the Justice Department will proceed with its own investigation.

Kenneth Chamberlain, 68, White Plains, N.Y.—November 19, 2011

Chamberlain's Life Aid alert necklace was triggered by mistake, causing the police to respond. He refused to answer his door, saying he did not need help. Officer Steven Hart called Chamberlain a "nigger." The police broke down his door. They allege that Chamberlain attempted to charge them with a butcher knife. They tasered him, and shot him dead. Aftermath: No indictment for Officer Anthony Carelli, who shot Chamberlain twice. Chamberlain's family filed a $21 million wrongful death suit.

Alonzo Ashley, 29, Denver, Colo.—July 18, 2011

Police were called by Denver Zoo security who were alarmed over Ashley's behavior. Ashley was confronted and tasered. He started convulsing and then stopped breathing. Aftermath: Ashley's death was ruled a homicide by the coroner, but no officers were charged. Ashley's family sued Denver and the zoo.

Kenneth Harding, 19, San Francisco, Calif.—July 16, 2011

Harding fled a routine Muni fare inspection. The police said that a shootout ensued, witnesses said that Harding did not have a weapon. According to police Cmdr. Mike Biel, the caliber of the bullet that killed Harding did not match the caliber used by police. "We believe that the fatal wound on Mr. Harding's body was self-inflicted," Biel said. Aftermath: Harding's mother filed federal wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits against San Francisco.

Raheim Brown, 20, Oakland, Calif.—January 22, 2011

During a struggle with the police, Brown was shot five times, including twice in the head. Police reports alleged that Brown was attempting to stab an officer with a screwdriver. Aftermath: No indictment for Officer Barhin Bhatt. The Oakland Unified School District settled with Brown's parents for $995,000.

Reginald Doucet, 25, Los Angeles, Calif.—January 14, 2011

Police responded to a "disturbing the peace" call, where Doucet was arguing with a taxi driver. Doucet had stripped down. Doucet reportedly resisted arrest, and a chase ensued. During a violent confrontation, the unarmed Doucet was fatally shot. Aftermath: The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled that officer Aaron Goff was justified in shooting Doucet. A judge dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Doucet's family.

Derrick Jones, 37, Oakland, Calif.—November 8, 2010

Jones' neighbor accused him of assault. Police arrived and Jones fled. According to Officers Perez-Angeles and Daza-Quiroz, when they caught up with Jones, they thought that he was reaching for a gun, so they fired at him. Six of their nine shots hit Jones, who was unarmed. Aftermath: No indictment. Oakland settled with Jones' parents and daughter for $225,000. His widow lost a $10 million civil suit.

Danroy Henry, 20, Thornwood, N.Y.—October 17, 2010

Officer Aaron Hess shot Henry through the windshield of Henry's car as Henry drove during a chaotic altercation. Aftermath: No indictment for Hess. Henry's family filed a wrongful death suit.

Aiyana Jones, 7, Detroit, Mich.—May 16, 2010

Jones was shot when a Special Response Team raided the duplex she lived in. Officers threw a grenade into Jones' apartment. Officer Joseph Weekley claimed Jones's grandmother grabbed his gun, causing Jones to be shot. Aftermath: Weekley was charged with involuntary manslaughter. His first trial ended in a mistrial. So did his second.

Steven Eugene Washington, 27, Los Angeles, CA—March 20, 2010

Police officers spotted Washington on a Los Angeles street. He reportedly approached them, appearing to be removing something from his waistband. He was shot and killed. No weapon was found on him. Later, Washington's family revealed that he was autistic. Aftermath: Police Chief Charlie Beck recommended that Officers Allan Corrales and George Diego be cleared of charges, but the civilian commission that oversees the LAPD disagreed Washington's mother received $950,000 in a settlement with Los Angeles.

Aaron Campbell, 25, Portland, Ore.—January 29, 2010

Campbell was shot in front of his apartment after being reported to the police as suicidal and possessing a gun. Campbell was unarmed. Campbell was walked backward with his hands behind his head. Officer Frashour told Campbell to put his hands straight in the air. When Campbell did not comply, Frashour shot him. Aftermath: No indictment for Frashour. He was fired for not following protocol, but then reinstated. Portland agreed to pay Campbell's family $1.2 million to settle their civil suit against the city.

Kiwane Carrington, 15, Champaign, Ill.—October 9, 2009

Police investigating a suspected break-in at a house encountered the unarmed Carrington. A scuffle ensued and Officer Daniel Norbits's gun "went off," killing Carrington. Aftermath: No indictment for Norbits, but he did receive a total of $423,697 in disability and worker's compensation payments. Carrington's family received $470,000 from Champaign in a settlement of their wrongful death lawsuit.

Victor Steen, 17, Pensacola, Fla.—October 3, 2009

Sheen rode his bike as a cop chased him. Steen refused to stop, and so the cop, Jerald Ard, tasered him. Steen fell from his bike and Ard ran him over, killing him. Ard also may have planted a gun on Steen after his death. Aftermath: Ard was suspended from the force without pay for two weeks. The city of Pensacola paid Steen's mother a $500,000 settlement.

Shem Walker, 49, New York, N.Y.—July 11, 2009

Walker was shot when trying to eject an undercover officer from his stoop. Walker was unarmed. Aftermath: No indictment for the officer. New York City paid $2.25 million to settle with Walker's family.

Oscar Grant, 22, Oakland, Calif.—January 1, 2009

After reports of a fight at the BART train station, police detained Grant and some of his friends. While Grant was lying face down, resisting arrest, a police officer named Johannes Mehserle shot him. The officer claimed he meant to taser Grant. Aftermath: Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to two years in prison. BART paid Grant's mother and daughter $2.8 million to settle the civil suit they filed. Grant's father lost a civil case against Mehserle.

Tarika Wilson, 26, Lima, Ohio—January 4, 2008

A SWAT team arrived at Wilson's home with the intention of arresting her companion for dealing drugs. When they opened fire, they shot and killed Wilson. Aftermath: Sgt. Joe Chavalia, who shot Wilson, was acquitted of two misdemeanors: negligent homicide and negligent assault. Wilson's family received a $2.5 million wrongful death settlement.

DeAunta Terrel Farrow, 12, West Memphis, Ark.—July 22, 2007

Farrow was out walking with his 14-year-old cousin when gunned down by a police officer, Erik Sammis. Sammis claims that only after he shot Farrow did he realize that the gun Farrow was carrying was a toy. Aftermath: Sammis wasn't indicted. He resigned from the force via a letter that contained the sentence, "Then there are others who are not rational and breed hate and racism in this community." Sammis and Jimmy Evans, who was also on duty with him July 22, 2007, were found not liable in Farrow's family's $250 million civil suit.

Sean Bell, 23, New York, N.Y.—November 25, 2006

On the night before Bell's wedding, Bell and his friends attempted to flee the scene of escalating tension with the police. The police fired about 50 shots into Bell's car, killing him in the process: Aftermath: All three officers were acquitted on all charges. They and their commanding officer were fired/forced to resign. New York City agreed to pay Bell's family $3.25 million to settle their wrongful death suit.

Henry Glover, 31, New Orleans, La.—September 2, 2005

Glover was shot in the chest by NOPD officer David Warren at a strip mall in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Glover, with the help of a friend, attempted to get aid, and ended up handcuffed. He died. NOPD Officer Greg McRae set fire to Glover's body in Glover's friend's car. Aftermath: David Warren was sentenced to 25 years and 9 months on a manslaughter conviction. Greg MacRae got 17 years and 3 months for obstruction of justice. About a year and a half later, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Warren's convictions and two of MacRae's, ordering new trials. Warren was acquitted in the retrial.

Ronald Madison, 40, and James Brisette, 17, New Orleans, La.—Sept. 4, 2005

Police received a call claiming gunfire on the Danziger Bridge. Police opened fire upon arriving in a Budget Rental Truck. They hit Brisette. Madison, who was developmentally disabled, fled. Two cops chased him down. One, Robert Faulcon, shot him. The other, Sgt. Kenneth Bowen, was convicted of stomping Madison on the back before he died. Aftermath: That conviction was later overturned. Police attempted a coverup. Eventually five officers involved in the shooting were found guilty of various charges. Faulcon was sentenced to 65 years' imprisonment, Bowen and Sgt. Robert Gisevius Gisevius received 40 years, Officer Anthony Villavaso got 38 years, and Arthur "Archie" Kaufman, who was the investigator placed on the case and eventually found guilty of conspiring to conceal evidence, received 6 years. A month later, the same judge that convicted them, Kurt Engelhardt, vacated their convictions and ordered a new trial as a result of the defendants' appeal and "highly unusual, extensive and truly bizarre actions" by prosecutors.

Timothy Stansbury, 19, New York, N.Y.—January 24, 2004

Officer Richard S. Neri Jr., testifed that he shot the unarmed Stansbury by accident when Stansbury pushed open the rooftop door of a building Neri was patrolling. Aftermath: Neri was not indicted. He was suspended for 30 days without pay and stripped of his gun permanently. The NYPD settled the wrongful death lawsuit of Stansbury's family for $2 million.

Alberta Spruill, 57, New York, N.Y.—May 16, 2003

Police knocked down Spruill's door, apparently acting on bad information that there were drugs and guns inside her apartment. They threw a concussion grenade into her home. She died of a heart attack. Aftermath: The city paid Spruill's family $1.6 million as a settlement for the wrongful death lawsuit they filed.

Ousmane Zongo, 43, New York, N.Y.—May 22, 2003

Zongo was shot four times (twice in the back) by officer Bryan Conroy during a police raid in a storage facility where Zongo worked. Zongo was unarmed and his business (art and musical instrument reparation) had nothing to do with what the police were investigating (CD and DVD piracy). Aftermath: Conroy was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. He received five years probation and lost his job. Zongo's family received $3 million in a wrongful death suit.

Orlando Barlow, 28, Las Vegas, Nev.—February 28, 2003

Barlow was hired to babysit seven children. After a supposed argument, his employer (the children's mother) called the police, saying that Barlow was holding her children hostage with a sawed-off shotgun. Police responded to the call. Barlow was shot while surrendering. He was unarmed. Aftermath: A coroner's inquest labeled the shooting "excusable." The FBI looked into it. "The shooting was unanimously ruled justifiable, but Hartman and two other officers were fired after they printed T-shirts with the initials 'BDRT' — 'Baby's Daddy Removal Team,'"reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Timothy Thomas, 19, Cincinnati, Ohio—April 7, 2001

Nine officers pursued Thomas, who was wanted on 14 misdemeanor counts. Twelve of them were traffic violations. A chase ensued. Thomas ran into an alley and was shot by Patrolman Stephen Roach, who joined the group of nine officers during the pursuit. Roach said he believed Thomas was going for a gun, but an investigation later revealed that Thomas was attempting to pull up his pants. Aftermath: Roach was acquitted on a charge of negligent homicide. An investigation later revealed that Roach lied on his incident report and broke protocol.

Prince Jones, 25, Fairfax County, Va.—Sept. 1, 2000

An undercover narcotics agent followed the unarmed Jones, firing 16 shots at him while Jones was in his Jeep. Eight landed. Officials later confirmed that Officer Carlton Jones (no relation) mistook Prince Jones for someone else. Aftermath: The Fairfax commonwealth's attorney and the Justice Department declined to file charges against the officer, Carlton Jones. The case was not put before a grand jury. Five years after the killing, Prince Jones's parents and daughter were awarded $3.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Ronald Beasley, 36, and Earl Murray, 36, Dellwood, Mo.—June 12, 2000

Beasley and Murray, described as family and friends as small-time drug dealers, were shot and killed during an attempted drug bust in a restaurant parking lot. One cop called the killings "unintended, but not a mistake." Aftermath: The officers were cleared of wrongdoing after a yearlong investigation.

Patrick Dorismond, 26, New York, NY—March 16, 2000

An undercover cop approached Dorismond and his friend, Kevin Kaiser, when they were standing outside of a lounge. The cop asked where he could buy marijuana. A scuffle ensued and another undercover cop, Anthony Vasquez, stepped in to help his partner. Vasquez claimed Dorismond grabbed his gun and caused it to discharge into his own chest. Vasquez said the first cop was in their face, and that he attempted to pull Dorismond out of the confrontation to no avail. Aftermath: Vasquez was not indicted. New York paid the Dorismond family $2.25 million as a settlement in a wrongful death suit.

Malcolm Ferguson, 23, New York, N.Y.—March 1, 2000

Drug officers "noticed some movement" in the hallway of a public housing building and investigated. Ferguson, who was unarmed, ran up the stairs. "At some point, on the second-floor landing, there was a struggle," Chief John Scanlon said. "The [officer Officer Louis Rivera's] firearm discharged." Aftermath: Rivera was cleared of wrongdoing. Ferguson's mom, Juanita Young, was awarded $10.5 million as a result of her wrongful death suit against the NYPD and the city.

Amadou Diallo, 23, New York, N.Y.—Feb. 4, 1999

Four plainclothes officers fired a total of 41 shots at Diallo outside of his apartment in the Bronx. Nineteen hit him. He was armed with a wallet, which an officer mistook for a gun when he pulled it out of his pocket. Officers initially approached him because he supposedly matched the description of a serial rapist. Aftermath: The officers were acquitted of all charges. Diallo's mother and stepfather filed a $61 million ($20m plus $1m for each shot fired) wrongful death suit against the officers and New York city. They settled for $3 million.

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According to the Christian Bible,

women are men's chattel property...

women belong to their fathers

before marriage

and to their husbands

after marriage.

So why do Christians act

as if all women are THEIR property?!??

Why do Republicans act

as if all women are THEIR property?!??

******************************************** 

Petitions

Tell Congress: Audit the Pentagon

Tell your member of Congress: “Co-sponsor Rep. Barbara Lee’s Audit the Pentagon Act. Defense and military spending deserve the same scrutiny as other government programs.” Add your name:

 

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From Ruben Kihuen for Congress

Another Earth Day just passed with Republicans in Congress again denying the science of climate change and refusing to lift a finger to combat it.

Democrats must demand action by replacing science deniers in Congress.

Pitch in $5 to move us closer to action on climate change.

As long as Republicans like Cresent Hardy remain in Congress, the big oil companies will continue to run rampant through Washington at the expense of our air, soil and water.

Join Democrats across this country and do your part.

Donate $5 before midnight to elect Democrats who will combat climate change.

Our best chance to protect President Obama’s landmark climate change agenda, including the Paris Agreement, is to ensure that Democrats take back Congress.

Thanks for joining our fight so that next Earth Day we can commit to action.

- Ruben

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Tell Google and Microsoft not to sponsor Trump’s hate

Tell Google and Microsoft CEO’s: “Ensure that you do not help provide a platform for Donald Trump's harmful and bigoted rhetoric by pledging not to sponsor the Republican National Convention if Donald Trump is the Republican nominee.” Add your name:

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When the CEO of a company makes almost $20 million a year but then tries to outsource jobs, reduce wages, and cut health benefits -- that's the kind of corporate greed we need to get rid of in America. And that's exactly what Verizon is doing right now.

Verizon's employees are fighting back. They're out on strike for a contract. Stand with them against their CEO and add your name to Bernie's to say you support Verizon employees.

Bernie's email to you about this very important issue about this is below. Thank you for standing in solidarity.

---

Sisters and Brothers,

The CEO of Verizon makes almost $20 million a year in compensation. He leads one of the most profitable companies in the country.

Yet Verizon wants to take away employees' health benefits. Verizon wants to outsource decent-paying jobs. Verizon wants to avoid paying federal income tax. And right now, Verizon is refusing to sit down and negotiate a fair contract with its employees.

In other words, Verizon is just another major American corporation trying to destroy the lives of working Americans. But this time, Verizon's employees are fighting back.

Thousands of very brave employees of Verizon and Verizon Wireless are on strike until they can get a fair contract. They made a very difficult decision that puts their families at risk -- but it's a choice they made to stand up for justice against corporate greed.

I'm asking you today to stand up and tell the CEO of Verizon that you think Verizon employees deserve a fair contract that protects health benefits, guarantees fair pay, and stops outsourcing. Click here to add your name in support of Verizon employees.

Add Your Name »

Twice last week in New York City I stood with Verizon workers in the streets. I did so because they're doing something very brave: they're standing up not just for themselves, but for the millions of Americans who don't have a union.

The working class of this country deserves to earn decent wages, decent benefits, and not see their jobs go to low-wage countries.

Verizon's CEO doesn't think that. He called me "contemptible" for saying that his employees need a fair contract, and that Verizon should pay its fair share in federal income taxes.

What I think is contemptible is CEOs with multi-million dollar compensation packages, presiding over extremely profitable companies, and still refusing to give their employees fair contracts.

Corporate greed is a scourge on this country, and it will take all of us standing up for justice in order to rein it in. One significant way you can stand up to corporate greed is by standing with Verizon employees who are out on strike.

Add your name and say you support Verizon employees who are standing up to the CEO in order to get a fair contract with health benefits, fair pay, and job protections.

Corporate America is slowly beginning to realize that they cannot have it all. Thanks for helping them know it.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

Contribute

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Tell the Senate: Stop the Native American land grab

The petition to the U.S. Senate reads: "Support Sen. Bernie Sanders’ legislation to repeal the Oak Flat land exchange and stop the transfer of this sacred Native American land to a foreign mining company." Add your name:

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From ATTN:

Hi there,

This week, ATTN: released part one of our interview with Vice President Joe Biden regarding the future of the Supreme Court. After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February, President Obama nominated a potential replacement, Judge Merrick Garland, but leadership in the U.S. Senate will not currently consider Garland for confirmation hearings. Instead, they argue that this empty seat should be filled after the American people elect their next president in November.

In our interview, Vice President Biden blasted this obstruction, calling the Senate dysfunctional, saying it has "no right to [take its] dysfunction and spread that cancer to another co-equal branch of government." He also told ATTN: that the American people already had a say in the next Supreme Court justice when they elected Barack Obama twice.
You can watch the full interview here:

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Tell Google and Microsoft not to sponsor Trump’s hate

Tell Google and Microsoft CEO’s: “Ensure that you do not help provide a platform for Donald Trump's harmful and bigoted rhetoric by pledging not to sponsor the Republican National Convention if Donald Trump is the Republican nominee.” Add your name:

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From Daily Kos: Google, DON'T be Evil!

Sign the petition urging Google (and other corporations) to withdraw their support for the Republican National Convention.

Republicans will meet in Cleveland this summer for the Republican National Convention, and their likely presidential nominee will be Donald Trump.

Many corporations plan to sponsor the 2016 Republican National Convention, which would effectively sanction Trump’s racist rhetoric against Muslims, Mexicans and other minorities.

This is unacceptable. Activists have pushed Coca-Cola to scale back their sponsorship of the Republican Convention because of Trump's rhetoric, and now we must push Google and Microsoft.

Daily Kos is working with CREDO and other groups for a petition delivery to Google HQ in Silicon Valley on April 28—right before Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to California.

Sign the petition.

Keep fighting,
Paul Hogarth, Daily Kos

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Tell the U.S. Senate: Reject the China Bilateral Investment Treaty

Tell the U.S. Senate: “Reject the China Bilateral Investment Treaty. Say no to corporate trade deals that kill American jobs and give corporations veto power over domestic laws.” Add your name:

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Rafael "Ted" Cruz

wants to ban dildos

because he hates competition!

-- Dot Calm's shadow

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Democracy Now!
 

"Horrified": Seymour Hersh Reacts to Obama's Plan to Send 250 More U.S. Special Ops Troops to Syria President Obama has announced the deployment of 250 more Special Operations troops to Syria in a move that nearly doubles the U.S. presence in the country. This comes ... Read More →

Seymour Hersh Weighs In on Sanders vs. Clinton: "Something Amazing Is Happening in This Country" Legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh weighs in on the foreign policy positions of the 2016 presidential candidates. "For me to say who I'm going to vote for and all ... Read More →

Is the Obama Admin Ignoring the Role of Turkey & Saudi Arabia in Syria's 2013 Sarin Gas Attacks? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh rejects the Obama administration's claim that the Bashar al-Assad regime carried out deadly chemical weapon attacks in the ... Read More →

Sy Hersh's Book on Bin Laden Killing Rejects U.S. Story, Says Saudis Financed Hiding of Qaeda Leader Next month will mark the fifth anniversary of the raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden. We speak with legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh about his ... Read More →

Obama to Deploy 250 More Special Ops Forces to Syria

Germany: Up to 90,000 Protest TTIP U.S.-EU Trade Deal Ahead of Obama Visit

Kasich, Cruz to Coordinate in Bid to Defeat Trump

GOP Megadonor Charles Koch Suggests He Could Back Clinton

Virginia Governor Restores Voting Rights to 200,000 Felons

8 Family Members Shot to Death in Ohio; 5 Killed in Georgia

In Victory for CIA Torture Victims, Judge Lets Lawsuit Against Psychologists Advance

Saudi Human Rights Activist Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

Nigerian Military Accused of Massacring Hundreds of People

Austria: Far-Right Candidate Tops 1st Round of Presidential Elections

Expert Panel Accuses Mexican Gov’t of Stonewalling Probe of 43 Missing Students

Immigration Guard Could Serve Less Time for Sexual Assault Than His Victim Did in Detention

Woman Who was Among 1st to Sue over Flint Water Crisis Shot Dead

Family of Man Killed by Corrections Officers Stages 5-Day Hunger Strike

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Friends don't let friends

vote Republican

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Daily Kos
 

Trans teen physically removed from Ted Cruz rally—here is the 16-year-old's excellent response

Of course he did: Sheriff Arpaio pisses all over Prince's life and death

Paul Ryan has a plan to unite Republicans–by running against the Republican presidential candidate

Join us and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to tell Congress: hold the gun industry accountable. sponsored

Cartoon: God-Man v Human-Man

Jim Webb claims uninformed 'political correctness' used to denigrate Andrew Jackson

As we suspected: NRA's Myth of Defensive Gun Use is largely just a myth

Drunk History episode offers amazing lesser known reasons Harriet Tubman was 'dope as hell'

Cartoon: That feel when...

Sign if you agree with Everytown: McConnell and Ryan should support efforts to repeal PLCAA - the law passed in 2005 that gives gun and ammunition manufactuers blanket immunity. sponsored

House and Senate Republicans form an 'anti-national park' caucus to wreck our park system

Let's not party like it's 1984

Why we must not accept the new normal

The breadth and power of Prince's activism begins to be revealed after his death

Feeding the black and brown poor to the maw of neoliberalism and military academies

RIP Prince: A world lit up in purple (PHOTOS)

Fox News & Sarah Palin denounced in stunning Earth Day video by Prince Ea

Former ‘Religious Right’ Republican to Obama: ‘You’re going to be vindicated’

Rev. William Barber removed from American Airlines flight

Imperial Wizard of Georgia KKK killed after shootout with police

A Hillary Clinton–Goldman Sachs ‘Wall Street’ speech has been released

Add your name: it's time to end federal contracts with private prisons. Sign to be a citizen co-sponsor of the Justice is Not for Sale Act.

Despite unanimously passing, Florida governor vetoes bill aimed at helping poor and rural residents

GOP turns its back on Brownback

Rush Limbaugh’s contract is up, his benefactors are broke, and his audience ‘toxic.’ Next? s golden boys are over with this Politico story

Deadbeat rancher Cliven Bundy’s wild cows are reportedly starving; Nevada and BLM have yet to act

Do you agree voting should be easier? If so, stand with the Democratic Governors Association and call for moving Election Day to a weekend. sponsored

U.S. Customs to man who saved 40,000 people: ‘go back where you came from’

Witness blasts House fetal tissue panel for not demanding that video faker testify under oath

Arguing with the right-wing: Recognizing their five new favorite fallacies

Judge holds public defender in contempt for doing his job

Free college tuition activist wipes the floor with Fox News during live interview

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Why are Christians and Republicans

so obsessed

with everyone else's

sex lives?

I think it's because they're all PERVS.

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AlterNet

Pentagon Dramatically Lowballs Civilian Deaths in Bombings By Sarah Lazare, AlterNet The military says its nearly two years of bombings against Islamic State have killed 41 civilians, but a key monitor group puts the number far higher. READ MORE» Bernie Says Hillary Will Need to Challenge Oligarchs to Get Enthusiastic Support from His Voters By Paul Jay, The Real News Network "If she continues to be a proponent of establishment politics and establishment economics ... she'’s not going to generate the excitement that I think we need." READ MORE» Fringe Activist Group Forces Texas State GOP Convention to Consider Resolutions to Secede From Union By Marlena Fitzpatrick García, AlterNet The resolution originated from the Texas Nationalist Movement. READ MORE» 'Catastrophic Leak' Found at Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington State The Watchers "This is probably the biggest event to ever happen in tank farm history." READ MORE» Cruz and Kasich Make a Desperate Bid to Derail Trump and They’ve Fallen Right Into His Trap By Sean Illing, Salon This move will cement the Trump vs. the establishment narrative in a way Trump could only dream of. READ MORE» Robert Reich: Don't Bank on All of Bernie's Supporters Making an Easy Switch to Hillary By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog The anti-establishment fury in the election of 2016 may prove greater than supposed. READ MORE» Clinton Team Cynically Exploits 'Cyberbullying' to Justify $1 Million Online Propaganda Push By Adam Johnson, AlterNet Clinton’s super PAC is spending a bundle to counter hostile messages on social media.  READ MORE» Why Right-Wing Oligarch Charles Koch Doesn't Seem That Concerned About a Hillary Presidency By Charles J. Reid, Jr., Huffington Post The world seems a little upside down. READ MORE» Tamir Rice's Family Paid $6 Million for Police Shooting TeleSur City of Cleveland to pay US$6 million to Tamir Rice's family to settle lawsuit over fatal police shooting.  READ MORE» We Could Be Witnessing the Death of the Fossil Fuel Industry—Will It Take the Rest of the Economy Down With It? By Nafeez Ahmed, AlterNet In just two decades, the total value of the energy being produced via fossil fuel extraction has plummeted by more than half.  READ MORE» No One Thought It Was Possible: 12 Ways the Sanders Revolution Has Transformed Politics By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet Sanders' hugely successful campaign might just have a lasting impact. READ MORE» Countdown to the RNC Apocalypse: Republicans Still Can’t Control Trump as the Clock Ticks Down to the Convention By Gary Legum, Salon The Republican National Committee just met for the last time before the convention, demonstrating its lack of power.  READ MORE» On Teenage Girls, Sex and Pleasure: The Scary Terrain No One Wants to Touch By Carrie Weisman, AlterNet In her new book about girls and sex, Peggy Orenstein says it's time to change our definition of virginity.  READ MORE»  The Black Lives Matter Movement Is Most Visible on Twitter But Its True Home Is the Hard Work of Organizing By Dani McClain, The Nation For the movement to survive, it needs to focus on work that doesn’t lend itself to 140 characters.  READ MORE» Young Farmers Are Aiming to Change the Face of Local Farming By Stan Cox, AlterNet Two-thirds of farmers are over the age of 55 and white. But don't count young people out just yet. READ MORE» Canada Will Move to Legalize Pot Next Year By Phillip Smith, AlterNet The land of the maple leaf is about to become the land of the marijuana leaf, too.  READ MORE» The Reason Queer Couples Don't Get Divorced as Often as Hetero Couples By Nico Lang, Ravishly It might sound like anathema to social conservatives, but heterosexuals could learn a lot from gay couples.  READ MORE» National Parks Are Used Mostly By Older White People: Here’s Why That Needs to Change By Lornet ­­­­­­­­­­­ Turnbull, YES! Magazine With its history of segregation, the Park Service has had a rocky relationship with race. READ MORE» The Mainstream Media’s Big Disconnect: Why They Don’t Get Middle America By Neal Gabler, Moyers & Company The top journalists covering the elections are out of touch. No wonder they're missing this year's big stories. READ MORE» Fox Uses Stuffed Armadillo to Persuade Viewers ‘There’s Nothing to Worry About With Global Warming’ By David Edwards, Raw Story “There’s nothing to worry about with global warming. So say the top scientists around the world.” READ MORE» 5 Despicable Right-Wing Moments This Week: The Shamelessness of LePage and Trump Just Stuns By Janet Allon, AlterNet There appears to be something seriously wrong with Stacey Dash. Just saying. READ MORE» I Love California Deeply: Here's Why I'm One of the Hundreds of Thousands Who Left to Move North By April M. Short, AlterNet People who don’t make extravagant tech salaries can no longer afford to live in my golden home state. READ MORE» Bernie’s Most Valuable Lesson: The Democratic Party Does Not Do Enough to Represent the Values of Progressive Americans By Conor Lynch, Salon Sanders has laid bare for all to see the political expediency that drives the Democratic establishment. READ MORE» Trumpism Can't Last Forever, Right? By Simon Radford, Open Democracy So what’s The Donald’s plan? He’s donning his camouflage, dusted off his traps and nets, and setting off in search of that rarest of beasts: the white man. READ MORE» The Devastating Impact of School Closures on Students and Communities By Rachel M. Cohen, The American Prospect Shuttering “failed schools” can have painful consequences for children and neighborhoods. READ MORE» Is Weed a Weed? By Katie Tandy, The Establishment In its most Emersonian light, a weed is considered a “plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” READ MORE» Has Obama Ushered in the Most Racially Divided Period in Recent History? By Michael Tesler, University of Chicago Press Americans were upbeat about racial relations when Obama was elected? Not anymore. READ MORE» Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes a Disorder By Alina Petre, MS, RD, Authority Nutrition Some people suffer from an unhealthy obsession with healthy food. READ MORE» 4 Ways Well-Intentioned White Feminists Can Perpetuate Racism By Rachel Charlene Lewis, Ravishly It never seems to occur to white women that I might not be interested in doing their work for them. READ MORE» Bill Moyers: Meet the Rare Conservative Who Admits That Money Corrupts Politics (Audio) By Bill Moyers, Moyers & Company I sat down with former Bush administration lawyer Richard Painter to discuss why conservatives should care about the influence of money in politics—and how they can fight to get it out. READ MORE» Why Does Being a Man Require So Many Masks? By Terrance Hayes, YES! Magazine National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes writes about fatherhood and his own struggle to negotiate Americans' narrow definition of masculinity. READ MORE» A Grieving Dave Chappelle Pays Tribute to Prince During Stand-Up: ‘This Is Black 9/11’ By Bethania Palma Markus, Raw Story In the wee hours of Friday morning, Chappelle performed in San Francisco. READ MORE» A Member of Congress Just Issued a Warning to the World Bank: 'Stop Privatizing Water' By Jesse Bragg, AlterNet Rep. Gwen Moore's actions could mean the beginning of the end of the World Bank’s harmful water-for-profit pursuits. READ MORE»

Donna Edwards and Others in Congressional Primaries Next Week Hope to Inject More Progressivism into the Dem Party By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet Will Maryland progressive Donna Edwards beat insider Chris Van Hollen?  READ MORE» The Deviant Campaign Style of Donald Trump is Now a Topic of Academic Scrutiny By Marlena Fitzpatrick García, AlterNet Donald Trump’s campaign tactics and politically deviant behavior are now being studied by a host of academic entities. READ MORE» How the FBI May Have Tried to Turn a Muslim Civil Rights Advocate into an Informant By Joseph Sabroski, AlterNet New questions raised about the disturbing case of Omar Jamal. READ MORE»

Trump's Campaign Manager Admits His Boss Has Been Playing a 'Part' the Whole Time By Sean D. Illing, Salon If you've suspected all along that Trump's routine was phony, you now have confirmation. READ MORE» Colorado's First Black Woman Pot Entrepreneur on Edibles, Incarceration & the Industry's Whiteness By Democracy Now, Democracy Now! Who stands to cash in on the billions being generated by cannabis sales? READ MORE» Bedbugs Are Getting Tougher to Eradicate —The Big Myths And Facts About the Bloodsucking Pests By April M. Short, AlterNet They've been developing thicker exoskeletons to resist insecticides. Good luck sleeping tight. READ MORE» Vice President Elizabeth Warren? By Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect Hillary Clinton is considering picking a woman running-mate, and the optics suggest that this means Elizabeth Warren.  READ MORE» The Psychological Impact of Sending Robot Assassins, Halfway Around the World, to Inevitably Kill Both Terrorists and Innocents By Pratap Chatterjee, Tom Dispatch In Washington’s Drone Wars, Collateral Damage Comes Home  READ MORE» Top 7 Ways Harriet Tubman Is the Most Badass Spy & Warrior Ever to Grace US Currency By Juan Cole, JuanCole.com Because most of us probably have only a foggy idea who Harriet Tubman, chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, was.  READ MORE» The Death Gap Between Rich and Poor is Only Getting Bigger By Sam Pizzigati, Other Words The richest Americans now live 10-15 years longer than the poorest. READ MORE» The 12 Best Foods to Eat in the Morning By Franziska Spritzler, Authority Nutrition Start your day off right by fueling your body with these healthy and nutrient-dense foods. READ MORE» Fracking a Possible Cause of Disturbing Birth Defects and Deaths Found in Horses By Lorraine Berry, Raw Story Research has linked the presence of the byproducts of hydraulic fracturing to numerous animal deaths and stillbirths.  READ MORE»

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Don't let Jesus

and his BFF Rafael "Ted" Cruz

catch you masturbating!

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Movies!

Awesome video by philhellenes: there is one lie that even creationists won't tell!

 

This video is a bit slow for entertainment purposes; to cut to the chase and read the description, click here.