#justice for elijah mcclain

[carpemydms]

This is not a witch hunt. There are plenty of people I’m sure that would love to be roughed up and treated like less the human. They’re called submissive or sub for short. You want to tell me you’ve got protocols and then you don’t fucking follow them? Elijah McClain didn’t need to die because he was different. Nobody does. It’s bad enough being black is a death sentence. Now mental health is another capital punishment crime.

[phoenixisnthere]

They don’t deserve reduced anything

[megankoumori]

This was murder. It was murder three years ago and it's murder today. It was murder with the original autopsy report and it's murder with the amended one.

[thundergrace]

September 23, 2022

"The investigation suggests that [McClain] received an intramuscular dose of ketamine that was higher than recommended for his weight," the report from Adams County Monica chief coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan read. "Further, my review of all the body camera footage shows that Mr. McClain was extremely sedated within minutes of receiving a shot of ketamine. When he was placed on a stretcher, I believe he was displaying agonal breathing and respiratory arrest was imminent."

[...]

Aurora police officers responded to the scene and confronted McClain. An officer can be heard saying in body camera footage that they put him into a carotid chokehold, which restricts the carotid artery and cuts off blood to the brain, according to the Department of Justice. McClain can be heard saying, "I can't breathe," in police body camera footage.

[beardedmrbean]

The jury has reached a split verdict in Adams County Court for two Aurora police officers who are on trial for the death of Elijah McClain. The death of the unarmed young Black man four years ago received widespread publicity inside and outside of Colorado and led to large-scale protests and reforms in Aurora's police department.

The verdict was reached around 4:20 p.m. Thursday and the judge read the verdicts less than 30 minutes later.

The jury found Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty of manslaughter and assault. Sentencing for Roedema is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in Adams County Court.

The 23-year-old died after first responders got a call of a suspicious person walking down the street. They found McClain on Aug. 24, 2019, wearing a mask and carrying groceries when they arrived at Colfax Avenue and Billings Street. Jason Rosenblatt, Randy Roedema and another officer all were indicted by a grand jury for forcibly restraining McClain in a violent struggle that was captured on police body cam video. They face felony charges of criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and second-degree assault, however, the jury had the option to convict on lesser charges which they did in the case of Roedema where they found him guilty on third-degree assault.

CBS News Colorado's Karen Morfitt talked to McClain's mother after the verdict was read. Outside the Adams County Courthouse, Sheneen McClain said, "That's what happens in divided States of America," and she was visibly upset as she walked to the parking lot.

Rosenblatt no longer works for the Aurora Police Department. Roedema and the third responding officer, Nathan Woodyard, have been suspended from the police force without pay.

"We are here today because Elijah McClain mattered. He was only 23 years old when he died, he had his whole life ahead of him. His mother Sheneen McClain has had to relive that night again and again over the last several years. I and those on our team, are deeply inspired by her. Her commitment and devotion to her son and justice," said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. "She has been determined not to let anyone forget Elijah McClain, how he lived and how he died. I thank Sheneen for her strength, for her grace, for her commitment to justice, and for her resilience during this process. Elijah McClain's memory is living on as  a blessing."

Woodyard also faces a separate trial, and paramedics who injected McClain with the drug ketamine moments after the interaction with the officers are also facing a separate trial. After he was given the drug, McClain went into cardiac arrest and was declared brain dead. He died several days later. A coroner's report released in 2021 said his death was caused by the administration of the powerful sedative, and the coroner said he couldn't rule out the possibility that the carotid hold the officers put McClain in contributed to his death. The hold is designed to restrict blood flow to the brain.

During the trial prosecutors said Rosenblatt and Roedema ignored McClain's cries that he couldn't breathe as he struggled with them. They said the officers used excessive force and violated department policy by not taking steps to de-escalate the situation. They said those actions made McClain medically more likely to die from the dose of ketamine he received.

Defense attorneys tried to convince the jury the blame for McClain's death falls solely on the paramedics and their use of a drug that caused McClain to lose consciousness. They said what the officers did was according to policy and according to the department's training. They said it took several tries for McClain to respond when they told him to stop in what was described as a high-crime area.

The body-worn camera videos taken of the interaction with McClain were played several times in the courtroom during the trial.

"Stop right there. Stop. Stop," one of the officers said in one of the videos, to which McClain, who was headed home from a convenience store, responded, "I have a right to go where I am going." The officer replied "Stop. Stop. I have a right to stop you 'cause you're being suspicious." After the neck hold was used, McClain can be heard saying on the video he was having trouble breathing.

Neither of the officers took the witness stand in their own defense in the trial and the defense didn't call any of its own witnesses.

The trials for the other first responders are scheduled to take place starting at the end of the week (for Woodyard) and next month (for paramedics Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper).

Lawyers from the Colorado Attorney General's Office are prosecuting all of the cases. The district attorney representing Adams County decided against prosecuting the officers in the months after McClain's death in part because the initial coroner's report couldn't identify the exact cause or causes of McClain's death. A revised report was released in 2021.

In closing statements, prosecutors argued the officers failed to follow multiple police policies and that McClain struggled to breathe before the administration of ketamine. Defense attorneys for the officers argued that the state offered little evidence that either officer's actions caused McClain's death and that they followed their training in calling paramedics immediately after the use of the choke hold.

"No reasonable police officer could believe that this was appropriate for someone who was handcuffed," said prosecuting attorney Duane Lyons.

"You would think if they think there's some kind of criminal case here against Randy Roedema, that they could get at least one live witness," said one of his defense attorneys.

"We knew that this prosecution would be difficult. It was nonetheless important that this very significant case go before a jury so it could hear the evidence, review all the facts, and make a judgment," said Weiser. "I am deeply proud of the team behind me, their hard work, the seriousness of purpose and the manner in which they put everything they had into this prosecution. They presented the strongest cast they could to lead to hold accountable the actors responsible in the death of Elijah McClain."

Impacts of McClain's Death

In part because of McClain's death, neck holds by law enforcement officers are now banned in Colorado. The guidelines for use of ketamine in emergency situations where a person is acting in an erratic manner have also been limited by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Since McClain's death, APD has been through several police chiefs and the city has entered a consent decree in which police reforms surrounding use of force and racial bias are mandated. The City of Aurora reached a settlement with McClain's family two years after his death. That $15 million agreement resolved the federal civil rights lawsuit they had filed.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Who was Emmet Till?

I wanted to post this because Carolyn Bryant Donham just died, and people will be seeing Emmett's name in the news. While I hope most people know his story, I know not everyone does. I remember in college the professor mentioning his story as a topic people could write an essay on, and two other students, both at least 10 years older than I, not knowing who he was.

Emmett was a 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago. In 1955, he was visiting relatives in Mississippi. He and some friends were in a grocery store.

The owner's wife, a white woman named Carolyn Bryant, alleged that he grabbed her by the waist and propositioned her. Some people say he merely wolf-whistled at her. And other say absolutely nothing happened.

Four days later, Carolyn's husband, Roy Bryant, and his brother, John Milam, drove to Emmett's relatives house and kidnapped him. They beat and mutilated him before shooting him and throwing Emmett's body in the river.

When his relatives notified his mother Emmett was missing, Bryant and Milam were questioned by police and admitted to the kidnapping...but said they had let Emmett go.

When Emmett's body was found days later, the men were put on trial for murder. Decades later, an arrest warrant for Carolyn Bryant would be found, but it was never served. The all-white male jury deliberated only a little over hour, and they admitted it only took that long because they stopped for a drink at one point. They voted to aquit both men of murder. A separate jury later voted to aquit them of kidnapping.

Jurors would later admit they believed the men to be guilty, but did not think they should be punished.

After the trial, Roy Bryant and John Milam sold their confession for $4k to a newspaper. That was a huge amount of money back then.

There was never any justice done for Emmett. They lived the rest of their lives without serving a day in jail for his murder.

In 2008, Carolyn Bryant allegedly told a writer that she had lied on the stand about what had happened. This was not caught on tape, and she later denied it happened....but I mean...multiple witnesses have said either that nothing happened or that all Emmett did was whistle. I'm inclined to believe she was a lying cunt who made it all up.

Now, Carolyn Bryant is dead, may she burn in hell.

But it's important that no one ever forget Emmett Till. You see, it's not just that he was murdered, suffering what no child should ever need to go through. But these things are still happening today.

James Craig Anderson. Trayvon Martin. Tamir Rice. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. Elijah Mcclain.

And recently, Ralph Yarl could have very easily died.

We've come along way. Some of the murderers get convicted now. But what happened to Emmett Till could all too easily happen again.

[jonpertwee]

A flimsy justice.

[abstractindividual]

The hatred toward reparations for African Americans.

Salutation to my blog, I want to share my feelings on the reparations movement and the viritol that is being received by many bigoted people. This will be a long post as a disclaimer. This tweets I'll share is not for a "witch hunt," but bringing awareness to an issue not receiving enough media attention with discrimination and racism toward African Americans and reparations.

To start, the word reparation means to make amends for a wrongdoing, usually through compensation.

African Americans were promised reparations (40 acres and a mule) after the horrific treatments of slavery, but the promise was never honored for all. Here is an article from PSB that discusses the topic.

The topic with reparations to me did not gain such animosity until Black Americans began to demand what is owed, and the reason is not only due to slavery. For over 400 years there have been cases of

Lynchings and the many unsolved murders

Stolen land (Tulsa massacre, Forsyth, GA, African American farmers)

Human experimentation (Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington discusses this), The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

Jim Crow Era

Racism and discrimination in the military and medical industry (e.g. Henrietta Lacks and Black women neglected in hospitals)

Redlining

Police brutality

COINTELPRO from the FBI (spying on the civil rights members and Black Panther Party)

Cases like Emmett Till, The Birmingham Church bombing, Tulsa or Rosewood massacre, The 1985 Philadelphia bombing, Frank Embree, James Byrd Jr. leading up to today with Elijah McClain, Sandra Bland, George Floyd, Sinzae Reed. Don't forget The Buffalo shooting in 2022 and the racism case for the Black Colorado ranchers experiencing racism for putting up a BLM flag.

More restlessness came the more injustice happened. The topic of reparations is growing more than ever on social media. Unfortunately that brought the attention to many bigoted people on different platforms, to where I chose to take screenshots as proof:

I took many screenshots, but will only share these examples I have seen on Twitter. There are many protesting reparations on Instagram, YouTube and other platforms as well.

There is constant hostility and aggression toward African Americans, yet I have NEVER seen this for other people who received compensation from America, like the Jews from the Auschwitz Holocaust, the Japanese in internment camps and also billions for other countries.

This nation is known for giving out land and money to other countries and citizens here in America. From free land for Caucasians through The Homestead Act, to the G.I. Bill, to reparations given to other groups.

As a serious question to the reader who reached this far: Why are people against reparations when this country had no trouble giving out money and land to other races? I'm in favor reparations for all who were wronged, and this is no different for my people here or victims of racism and colonialism in Brazil, Africa, Australia, Canada and other continents. The fight for justice will continue, but I want a genuine answer why these people are angry against reparations for African Americans.

[dumplingnews]

The sentence for the paramedic convicted in Elijah McClain's death has been reduced to probation. Paramedic's Prison Sentence for Elijah McClain's Death Reduced to Probation A Colorado paramedic, Peter Cichuniec, who was initially sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the death of Elijah McClain in 2019, had his punishment reduced to probation on Friday. Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, died after being placed in a chokehold by Aurora police officers and injected with ketamine by paramedics. Cichuniec, the senior paramedic involved, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault for administering an excessive amount of the sedative. The judge cited unusual and extenuating circumstances as the reason for the sentence reduction, highlighting Cichuniec's lack of criminal history and good character, as well as the quick decisions he had to make on the night of the incident. This decision, however, has drawn disappointment from prosecutors. The case against Cichuniec and others involved in McClain's death has sparked controversy and anger, particularly within the emergency medical worker community. The reduction of Cichuniec's sentence has raised concerns about undermining the jury's verdict and the legislature's mandatory sentencing scheme. Elijah McClain's mother has been calling for justice, emphasizing that her son's death was preventable and holding all five police officers and paramedics responsible. Despite her opposition to the sentence reduction, the court proceeded with the decision.

[allthenewsworld]

A Colorado paramedic convicted in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the U.S. in 2020, is being released from prison after a judge reduced his sentence to four years of probation Friday.

Judge Mark Warner ruled that "unusual and extenuating circumstances" in the case justified reducing the five-year prison sentence for Peter Cichuniec, The Denver Post reported.

Warner is the same judge who sentenced Cichuniec to prison in March. McClain was walking down the street in a Denver suburb in 2019 when police responding to a suspicious person report forcibly restrained him and put him in a neck hold. His final words "I can't breathe" - foreshadowed those of George Floyd a year later in Minneapolis.

Cichuniec and a fellow paramedic were convicted in December of criminally negligent homicide for injecting McClain with ketamine, a powerful sedative blamed for killing the 23-year-old massage therapist. Cichuniec also was convicted on a more serious charge of second-degree assault for giving a drug without consent or a legitimate medical purpose.

Read more at link in our bio.

[unbrokenjourney]

“Letter From Birmingham Jail” Essay

In the letter Dr. King also depicts the censorship of the unjust laws, the privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, which is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. King). Dr. King also states that he was arrested that Friday for parading without a permit to prevent segregation. That of which is an example of an unjust law due to the fact there is an ordinance in place which requires a permit for a parade but when that ordinance is used to deny citizens the right to protest openly and freely against segregation, is considered unjust. The relevancy that this constitutes is also in retrospect to the violent protest that took place at the US Capitol January 6, 2021. In contrast to the events that had taken place in the official “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which was orchestrated to allow individuals to disobey unjust laws and take direct action to bring social change. The attacks on the US Capital involved violent actions which included breaching security barriers, vandalizing property, physically assaulting law enforcement officers and disrupting a joint session in congress. All of which ultimately distinguishes the difference between peaceful demonstrations, which involve nonviolent expressions of dissent or demands for equality and change.

Dr. King eloquently highlights police brutality as a manifestation of systemic injustice faced by African Americans in the fight for civil rights in his letter. A perfect example of that senseless killings and use of unnecessary excessive force that have taken place today are the deaths of George Floyd, Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, Manuel “Manny” Ellis, and Tyre Nichols depicted in the New York Times article by writer (D.S. Burch). Burch argues that these untimely deaths have resulted in a mixed bag of verdicts, including convictions, acquittals, and, in one case, a mistrial. Ellis McCain of Aurora, Colorado was placed in a neck restraint, beat, hogtied along with a hoodie placed over his head, and illegally injected with excessive amounts of ketamine by the paramedics. Both George Floyd and Manuel “Manny” Ellis died at the hands of the police pleading that they could not breathe. In George Floyd’s case Minneapolis police officer Dereck Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges and sentenced to 22 and a half years. The other three officers were found guilty on various state and federal charges (D.S. Burch.) Only one officer in Breonna Taylor���s case pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison. In McCain’s case two paramedics were convicted, yet two police officers were acquitted of all charges, and one returned to the force. All these cases with law enforcement officers resulted in some convictions, yet come cases are still unresolved due to an acquittal or mistrial resulting in no justice served at all for the African American community collectively as a whole.

Racial prejudice is something that still exists today, and Dr. King addresses the systemic barriers in particular places like Alabama where African Americans faced discrimination which prohibited their right to vote. A concise example of this is the Riverfront Brawl that took place in Montgomery, Alabama. Damien Pickett, an African American co-captain was the involved in the incident and he was confronted by several other white men in a heated exchange that quickly escalated (Jones 5). The argument in this article is that several experts, pundits, users may possibly consider this incident a hate crime, while others may consider it a racial divide, or simply have nothing to do with race at all (Jones 2). Steven L. Reed, Montgomery’s first Black mayor, had two completely different perspectives on this subject matter. He strongly believed in our justice system but felt as though this level of violence should not go unrestrained. (Jones 3). Derryn Moten was a professor of American History, and he completely rejected the idea that race played any significant role (Jones 7). Lastly, Christina Ferraz, public relations consultant firmly believed that public officials in positions of power shouldn’t make statements about violent incidents related to the Riverfront Brawl or civil unrest (Jones 6). All of these statements conclude that arguably there are many different opinions and assumptions in terms of whether or not race was involved, or this incident was considered a hate crime.

In conclusion, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" remains profoundly relevant today, particularly in its exploration of just and unjust laws, its recognition of not being able to enact the right of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, police brutality and racial prejudice which still exist today. Dr. King emphasized the significance of civil disobedience, non-violent protest, and the pursuit of justice as a crucial step towards achieving equality and justice in America, illustrating the necessity of dismantling institutionalized racism to uphold the nation’s moral and constitutional values. Dr. King's insightful distinction between just and unjust laws provides a moral framework for evaluating current legislation and social practices, urging us to challenge those that perpetuate inequality. Furthermore, Dr. King's insistence on the moral necessity for the oppressed to demand their rights continues to resonate, inspiring ongoing movements for justice and equality. His letter serves as a timeless call to action, reminding us of the imperative to confront injustice with courage and to advocate for a society where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

[usnewsper-politics]

Colorado Police Officer Found Not Guilty in Elijah McClain Case: Calls for Police Reform and Justice #Coloradopolicereform #ElijahMcClain #NathanWoodyard #policebrutality #racialdisparitiesinpolicing

[urbtnews]

Police Violence is Gun Violence

Police Violence is Gun Violence. Law enforcement’s use of excessive force garners renewed scrutiny following today's verdict, in which a jury found Aurora, Colorado. Police officer Nathan Woodyard not guilty of reckless manslaughter and a lesser-included charge of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain. McClain an unarmed 23-year-old Black man who died in 2019 after being subdued by police. Later he was injected with ketamine by paramedics. Unsurprisingly, police shootings and incidents of police brutality contribute significantly to cycles of distrust and community violence. Every instance of police brutality reinforces this mistrust. Although no national or standard definition exists, an officer-involved shooting (OIS) is the discharge of a firearm. Have "We the People" Become Desensitized? Research on the impact of violence has consistently found that the more exposure people have to violence in television, video games, and real life, the more they become desensitized or habituated to future violence. With the desensitization of violence, people's natural negative responses to such stimuli are reduced, along with the amount of empathy and sympathy they have for victims of violence. As access to creative media continues to expand, issues related to the desensitization towards police violence necessitate highlighting the harmful relationships between the criminal justice system and American civilians. The introduction of police body cameras has heightened public debate on the use of force by police officers. With a particular view of officer-involved shootings (OIS). For example, somebody videotaped the critical piece of evidence in the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) police officers. The video-recorded beating of Rodney King exposed the use of police violence to communities that would otherwise not witness such acts. Similar to the Rodney King incident, videos of violence in Black communities continue to be shown on a rapid loop on various media platforms to showcase the improprieties of the police, the victims, or both. DOWNLOAD THE URBT NEWS APP Duty to Protect and Serve In one year, more than 50 million persons in the U.S. have contact with police during a traffic stops, street stops, arrest, traffic accident, or resident-initiated contact. Law enforcement officers have the authority to use deadly force to protect their own lives and the lives of others and, under certain circumstances, stop the flight of felons. It is a tremendous authority, and its use generates intense public interest and scrutiny. Particularly in a world where camera footage can be made immediately available or even live-streamed as it is taking place. Incidents in which police officers use deadly force have led to protests and civil unrest in many communities. That said, brutality and dehumanization are deeply embedded in many departments. PICTURE: Police car with red and blue lights flashing. PHOTO: COURTESY OF: Wikipedia (Creative Commons) Deadly Use of Force On average, police in the United States shoot and kill more than 1,000 people every year, according to an ongoing analysis by The Washington Post. While police fatally shot a similar number of unarmed White non-Hispanic Americans, the racial disparities are apparent, given that there are five times as many white Americans as Black or African Americans. According to an UIC School of Public Health study, legal intervention injuries had more severe outcomes. Additionally, they disproportionately impacted marginalized communities -- Black and Brown Americans (BIPOC), as well as people suffering from mental health conditions. Many police officers see their use of deadly force as morally justified, obligatory, and even virtuous. However, the use of deadly force is something that we, as citizens and police departments nationwide, should not take lightly. Officer-Involved Shootings Statistics Although half of the people fatally shot by police are White, Black Americans are shot at a disproportionate rate. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, both Black/African-Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are twice as likely to experience the threat of or use of force during police-initiated contact despite maintaining a population roughly one-fifth the number of White non-Hispanics. While White non-Hispanics account for roughly 76 percent (75.5%) of the U.S. population, Black or African Americans account for approximately 14 percent (13.6%). Blacks are killed by police at more than twice the rate of White non-Hispanic Americans. Hispanic or Latino Americans, who comprise roughly 19 percent (19.1%) of the U.S. population, are also killed by police at a disproportionate rate. To put this into perspective, in comparison to the 2.3 per million White, non-Hispanic Americans who are fatally shot by police per year, 5.7 Black or African Americans per million, and 2.4 Hispanic or Latino Americans are fatally shot by police each year, according to The Washington Post Fatal Force Database. PICTURE: Legal Intervention Deaths Distribution by Race (2020). PHOTO: COURTESY OF: The Washington Post Fatal Force Database. DOWNLOAD THE URBT NEWS APP Police Violence is Gun Violence The Washington Post Fatal Force Database Findings Since January 1, 2015, 8,811 victims have been fatally shot by an on-duty police officer. Of these, 3,811 of the victims were White non-Hispanic, 2,027 victims were Black or African American, and 1,388 were Hispanic or Latino. Startlingly, of the 8,811 victims, 517 were unarmed, and 4,714 were not fleeing at the time police killed them. Combined, unarmed, non-fleeing victims accounted for 236 of the victims fatally shot during police-initiated contact. Even more appalling is the fact that of the 236 unarmed, non-fleeing victims, 70 were Black or African American, and 43 were Hispanic or Latino. Combined, these underserved, marginalized communities account for 113 of the unarmed, non-fleeing victims fatally shot by law enforcement, while 104 were White non-Hispanics. Researchers have estimated that, on average, a Black unarmed person is at least as likely to be shot by police as someone who is white and armed. The number of fatal police shootings has risen slightly in recent years. Police killed the highest number of people on record in 2022. Officer-Involved Shootings Involving BIPOC Victims The history of policing and its relationship to Black and Brown communities in this country is complex and fraught. Brandon Cole On August 5, 2023, Brandon Cole, an unarmed 36-year-old Black man, was fatally when two Denver Police Department officers responded to a "violent" domestic violence call in the southwestern part of the city and found a Cole, who had reportedly "thrown" his wife from her wheelchair and was beating his 14-year-old son. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said at the scene, Cole "became agitated and aggressive" and advanced toward the officers after stopping the assault. When he disobeyed their several commands, one of the officers deployed a Taser, which was ineffective, Thomas said. That's when the other officer fired his duty weapon. Officers suspected he had a knife, but he did not possess one. As it turned out, Cole only had a black marker in his hand. Based on how Cole is acting in the video, including seeming to conceal one of his hands behind his back, two experts in police use of force said the officer seemed to act reasonably in response to someone she believed to have a knife and intended to hurt her. https://youtu.be/C9KFRF9dE40?si=NTJvtlBQz5pmBVCX VIDEO: Officer-Involved Shooting: 2300 Cedar Ave - Body Camera 2, VIDEO: COURTESY OF: Denver Police VIA YOUTUBE. (DATED: AugUSt 10, 2023) Isidra Clara Castillo On July 9, 2023, Isidra Clara Castillo, an unarmed 38-year-old Hispanic woman, was fatally shot in an officer-involved shooting while a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop in Amarillo, Texas. Police said the license plate on the suspect vehicle did not match the vehicle that it was on. According to the Amarillo Police Department, Andrew Scott Norton, 32, pointed a gun at officers after exiting the vehicle. Seated in the front seat during the incident, Castillo was, also, struck by gunfire. He died at the scene, and she later died from her injuries. It did not result in any injuries to officers. DOWNLOAD THE URBT NEWS APP Police Violence is Gun Violence Officer-Involved Shootings Involving Victims In Mental Crisis Lamoris Dejuan Speight Jr. On September 10, 2023, Lamoris Dejuan Speight Jr., a 22-year-old, unarmed Black Army reservist who was "in mental crisis," was shot and killed by a Wilson County deputy in Saratoga, N.C., after he choked another deputy almost to the point of unconsciousness, according to the sheriff's department. James Lanier On February 24, 2023, James Lanier, a 34-year-old, unarmed and naked Black man, who had a history of and had been dealing with mental health issues was fatally shot by a Wallace police officer in the parking lot of a Wallace, N.C. convenience store. According to Wallace Police Chief James "Jimmy" Crayton, Lanier attacked the officer and continued attacking even after being tased. According to Chief Crayton, Lanier's behavior was more indicative of someone under the influence of controlled substances than of someone experiencing a mental health crisis, or perhaps both. Lanier was naked and disturbing customers at the time, the store owner said at the time of the incident. According to District Attorney Ernie Lee, Wallace Police Department officers responded. Video surveillance shows Lanier pushing the officer and refusing to back off despite repeated requests. The officer tased Lanier, but it appeared to have no impact on him. A way to engage with persons with a history of mental illness, which does not result in death, must exist. DOWNLOAD THE URBT NEWS APP Police Violence is Gun Violence Combatting Dehumanizing Language Law enforcement refers to victims as "subjects" involved in the incidents. Language like this dehumanizes the victim because it denies their humanness and portrays them as unthinking brutes or unfeeling machines. Good intentions don't blunt the impact of dehumanizing words or or make the language any less damaging. There needs to be an intentional re-training of police officers to model the use of people-first language to combat dehumanization. After all, we are all human beings human beings capable of deserving, suffering, and understanding the harm done to us. Call for Transformation to Policing One of the most dangerous things is for a police force is to lose the trust of its community. Police shootings, as well as other forms of police brutality, do untold damage to these already fragile relationships. The public must demand a transformation to policing. One that holds officers in the highest regard for the sanctity of human life, dignity, and people's liberty. Only in extreme circumstances and when all less-lethal means have failed, should officers apply deadly force. Communities torn apart by distrust, gun violence, overpolicing, and underprotection have a clear path forward. When police departments focus on building trust and concentrating their efforts around violence prevention, both law enforcement officers and community members are safer. We must rebuild community trust and refocus law enforcement efforts around just, effective, and proactive responses to community violence. DOWNLOAD THE URBT NEWS APP Police Violence is Gun Violence. Read the full article

[beardedmrbean]

A second Colorado police officer has been acquitted in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, who was pinned down and injected with ketamine.

Nathan Woodyard, 34, was found not guilty of negligent homicide and reckless manslaughter charges.

Another officer, Jason Rosenblatt, was acquitted in October. A third, Randy Roedema, was found guilty.

The death of Mr McClain, a black man, faced renewed scrutiny after the death of George Floyd.

Mr McClain, a 23-year-old massage therapist, was walking home from a shop in the Denver suburb of Aurora when he was stopped by three white police officers responding to a call about a "sketchy" individual in the area.

At the time, he was wearing a balaclava to protect himself from chronic chills due to his anaemia, as well as headphones. Mr McClain initially ignored officers' calls to stop.

Body camera footage of the ensuing confrontation shows Mr McClain being wrestled to the ground and placed in a chokehold, repeatedly uttering the words "I can't breathe". A medic later injected him with ketamine, a sedative. He never regained consciousness and died after being taken off life support three days later.

Mr Woodyard placed Mr McClain in the chokehold during the incident. He faced years in prison if convicted.

During the week-long trial, Mr Woodyard testified that he placed Mr McClain in a chokehold because he feared for his life after allegedly hearing him say that he intended to take "his power back".

Another officer also said that Mr McClain had attempted to reach for Mr Woodyard's weapon - a charge prosecutors deny and that is not supported by footage of the incident.

In court, lawyers for Mr Woodyard argued that he was not at the scene during the time in which Mr McClain's condition worsened. The body camera footage shows that he had stepped away.

In an email quoted by the Washington Post , Mr Woodyard's lawyers said that they "never disregarded the tragic circumstances" of Mr McClain's death but are "relieved for what we believe is the just outcome for our client".

It was not clear if Mr Woodyard would be back on the force in Aurora. He was suspended without pay in 2020.

In a statement, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said that while the verdict "is not the one we hoped for", the state is "undeterred in our pursuit of accountability and justice for Elijah McClain".

"We must do all we can to stop the unlawful and unnecessary use of force that can result in people dying at the hands of law enforcement," he added.

In October, a jury found officer Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault.

Two paramedics, Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, are facing trial later this year.

[dnaamericaapp]

Colorado Officer Who Confronted Elijah McClain Found Guilty Of Criminally Negligent Homicide, But Is That Enough For Justice?

A Colorado jury Thursday convicted one of two officers charged in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black pedestrian who was put in a chokehold and injected with a powerful sedative, and it acquitted the other officer.

The jury convicted Aurora Police Officer Randy Roedema of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.

Former Aurora officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted. Both had been charged with reckless manslaughter, as well as the lesser charges of criminally negligent homicide and assault.

Sentencing was set for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 5.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office was appointed as the special prosecutors in the case, said more work must be done to make policing safer.

“Today’s verdict is about accountability; everyone is accountable and equal under the law,” he said in a statement. “And hopefully today’s verdict is another step in the healing process for the Aurora community and the state.”

McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, walked out of the courtroom with a raised fist after the split verdict and said she was not satisfied with the outcome.

“America needs to start telling the truth about its history and changing the way it treats all the people that pay into its systems of control,” she said in a statement to ABC News on Friday. “Don’t say sorry to me for humans that fail even their own kind. My soul still cries out for Divine Justice For My Son Elijah McClain.”

A pair of responding paramedics, also set for trial this year, injected McClain with ketamine to sedate him after police video showed him writhing on the ground, saying, “I can’t breathe, please,” and throwing up. He apologized for vomiting.

Minutes later, McClain was found to have no pulse in the ambulance and went into cardiac arrest, according to a report released in fall 2019 by a local prosecutor, Dave Young.

McClain was revived but later declared brain dead and then taken off life support. He died Aug. 30. -(source: nbc news/abc news)

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