Molly Suzanna shared a story on Facebook that she had never told before: when she was 19, she ran a red light while crying, then was pulled over and forcefully removed and beaten by a police officer. She explains in the letter that she believes her situation would have been even worse had she been black — and she ends the letter with an important call to action.
The public needs to hear more stories like this as well.
Wow. This is horrifying.
Cops are drunk on power. Add any ism to that, you have a bunch of abusive, gun wielding, trained to kill, non empathetic, killers running around.
This woman got hauled out of a window, beaten, stripped, tortured, and humiliated, and she still is able to understand how white privilege saved her life.
“The officer who fired the fatal shots at the 16-year-old, however, was cleared of all charges by a grand jury.”
W T F
There is absolutely no justice in this. First of all why is he being tried as an adult?
basically the reasoning behind this bs is that he was an accessory to murder because he was involved in the robbery, which “caused” the officer to have to fire his gun. laiketh was offered 25 years if he plead guilty, 65 if he took it to trial. (long sentences like this are basically used to scare people into pleading guilty.) he decided to fight (because, you know, he didn’t actually shoot anyone) but he lost. it’s so sad and stupid.
“I don’t think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison,” District Attorney C.J. Robinson said. “We are very pleased with this sentence. Because the sentences are consecutive, it will be a long time before he comes up for even the possibility for parole, at least 20 to 25 years.”
This adult is speaking with joy about sentencing a 15-year old kid to prison for the rest of his life, knowing full well the kid isn’t guilty for the crime he’s being punished for, because it was proven to be the police who murdered his friend.
there is no grain in this that isn’t the most absolute form of evil , and C.J Robinson deserves to die
HOW DO YOU SENTENCE SOMEONE FOR ACCESSORY TO MURDER AND THEN LET THE (FOLLOWING THE CHAIN OF LOGIC) MURDERER GO FREE????? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS FUCKED UP LEGAL SYSTEM OVER THERE IN THE USA??
Fifteen. He is fifteen.
We live in a horrific dystopia and I hope someone gets this kid the fuck out of prison. Somehow. I will even accept “through a hole in the prison wall and successful, permanent escape to a country that doesn’t have extradition treaties.”
Since there’s no links, here’s an article from USA Today with footage, and here’s a CNN follow-up from a day later stating that the officer retired before disciplinary action could be taken.
The man holding this #BlackLivesMatter sign is Richmond (CA) police chief Chris Magnus, whose department has not lost an officer or killed a citizen since 2007, the year after he took over. This is not an accident, this peacefulness is the direct result of his leadership. Police departments across the country should be looking to his department as an example to be followed.
‘Chief Magnus changed the department from one that focused on “impact teams” of officers who roamed rough neighborhoods looking to make arrests to one that required all officers to adopt a “community policing” model, which emphasizes relationship building.
“We had generations of families raised to hate and fear the Richmond police, and a lot of that was the result of our style of policing in the past. It took us a long time to turn that around, and we’re seeing the fruits of that now. There is a mutual respect now, and some mutual compassion.”’
They also do regular officer trainings with roleplay scenarios and airsoft guns to teach them how to de-escalate, how to avoid firing when fired upon, and how to deal with people with weapons in a way that doesn’t end with a shootout.
They also apparently go through the details of officer-involved shootings elsewhere, picking them apart and using them as teaching tools for what NOT to do or what the officer could have done to avoid shooting the person.
Essentially, they take a proactive approach to not shooting people and put time, money, and effort into it. Richmond isn’t a low-crime area. Other cities could follow their model and almost certainly see results.
Who’d have thought it would take so much work to learn how to just … NOT shoot people
These are the sort of police officers who deserve respect. The ones who take the time to build a relationship with the community they’re supposed to be protecting, and work to actually protect people instead of just shooting anyone who looked scary.
In before anyone tries to say that the only reason this works is because Richmond is probably like “not as bad” as other places in the US
if we’re being honest it was black lives matter that really paved the way for all of these recent protests like I hope people as a whole aren’t assuming otherwise
[Image: A tweet from @AmyDentata that reads: “BLM is just as peaceful as the #WomensMarch – only difference is cops aren’t as willing to jump white women. Acknowledge privilege.”]
Let’s agree this year has been a total mess full of tragic events that got us all thinking “Can we have a damn break?”. Sadly all the bad stuff tends to bring us all so down that we forget about the good stuff. However, I want to remind you all of the incredible things that happened this year.
Diversity was the night’s winner at SAG Awards in pointed counter to Oscars.
The US Justice Department sued Ferguson to force the city to adopt police reforms negotiated with the federal government.
Beyoncé told us to get in Formation.
“Formation” is more than just a music video, it’s a siren call, a hymn that addresses discrimination and racism.
Jay Z’s Tidal donated $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter and other non-profit organizations.
The funds were raised during the October 2015 Tidal X concert at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Performers included Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Usher.
Beyoncé killed it at the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show…
…and then blessed us with Lemonade…
…which introduced
Leah Chase who is also the prototype of Tiana from “The Princess and The Frog”.
Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther stole the show in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and his character got his own movie that will be coming out in 2018.
Rihanna announced the launch of the Clara Lionel Foundation which will provide scholarship to international students that plan to continue their education in the US.
She said: “To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor. Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.”
Actress and playwright Danai Gurira won the Black Girls Rock Star Power Award.
Jesse Williams was presented a Humanitarian award at the BET Awards and delivered the most powerful speech.
Dark skin
beauty pageant titleholder and lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve
Deshauna Barber became Miss USA 2016.
Black teens continuously made us proud!
As well as Black women 👑
Imran Yousuf saved dozens of lives at the Pulse night club.
Now this is still making my heart ache, I don’t think anyone will ever get over what happened that night. But I think we need to honor Imran again, he is a true hero.
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that Harriet Tubman will appear on face of the $20 bill.
We witnessed the blackening of CNN’s Don Lemon.
Colin Kaepernick took a knee during national anthem…
…and reminded us of our rights at the Know Your Rights Camp.
Ben & Jerry’s declared support for Black Lives Matter.
Solange blessed us with ‘A Seat At The Table’
8-year-old Jalen Bailey set up his own baking company to buy a house for his mother.
Black athletes made US history at the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Ava DuVernay has become the first African American woman to ever direct a film with a budget over $100 million.
The US Army Corps of Engineers announced it won’t grant easement to cross Lake Oahe for DAPL.
Three Victoria’s Secret models of color went short and natural for the fashion show.
Honey Bun Baby.
Cicely Tyson, Diana Ross, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan were awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The confirmed cast of the upcoming Black Panther is lit.
And lastly just a huge shout out to Black Twitter and just Black people everywhere for coming up with the funniest jokes and memes even though you are not credited enough!
I’m not even sorry this turned out to be such a long post. I just wanna say that Black people, we’re gonna keep on rocking next year and every year after. Stay real, stay strong and feel free to add whatever made you proud in 2016 🙌🏾
Steel Phoenix Studios 