As Ferguson Protests Spread, So Does Residents' Backlash Around St. Louis from the Huffington Post
"The locations of demonstrators who descended on the St. Louis area over the weekend to push for national reforms regarding police brutality led to some heated confrontations with area residents."
Showing posts with label Ferguson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ferguson. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
White Rage in Ferguson
Ferguson Isn’t About Black Rage Against Cops. It’s White Rage Against Progress (Carol Anderson) from the Washington Post
"... white rage doesn’t have to take to the streets and face rubber bullets to be heard. Instead, white rage carries an aura of respectability and has access to the courts, police, legislatures and governors, who cast its efforts as noble, though they are actually driven by the most ignoble motivations. ... A rash of voter-suppression legislation, a series of unfathomable Supreme Court decisions, the rise of stand-your-ground laws and continuing police brutality make clear that Obama’s election and reelection have unleashed yet another wave of fear and anger."
Very interesting opinion here. It actually explains quite a bit.
"... white rage doesn’t have to take to the streets and face rubber bullets to be heard. Instead, white rage carries an aura of respectability and has access to the courts, police, legislatures and governors, who cast its efforts as noble, though they are actually driven by the most ignoble motivations. ... A rash of voter-suppression legislation, a series of unfathomable Supreme Court decisions, the rise of stand-your-ground laws and continuing police brutality make clear that Obama’s election and reelection have unleashed yet another wave of fear and anger."
Very interesting opinion here. It actually explains quite a bit.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Latest Crime Wave: Being Young, Black and Male
When Youthful Mistakes Turn Deadly (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post
"To be young, male and black in America means not being allowed to make mistakes. Forgetting this, as we’ve seen so many times, can be fatal."
"To be young, male and black in America means not being allowed to make mistakes. Forgetting this, as we’ve seen so many times, can be fatal."
Monday, August 25, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: In Ferguson, the Police More Engaged in Covering Their Asses Than Calming Demonstrations or Pursuing Justice
Black America and the Burden of the Perfect Victim (Toure) from the Washington Post
"An information war is being waged in Ferguson, Mo., each salvo meant to shape public perceptions of Michael Brown and Darren Wilson."
"An information war is being waged in Ferguson, Mo., each salvo meant to shape public perceptions of Michael Brown and Darren Wilson."
Details About WHO is Protesting in Ferguson
Who Are The Protesters Getting Arrested In Ferguson? from WESA Pittsburgh Public Radio
"More than 160 people have been arrested since the protests began, nearly two weeks ago. Arrest records provide details about where the protesters are coming from."
"More than 160 people have been arrested since the protests began, nearly two weeks ago. Arrest records provide details about where the protesters are coming from."
Friday, August 22, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: The Invisibility of White Privilege ... to Whites
Ferguson: A Failure Of Empathy (Connie Schultz) from the National Memo
"What struck me about this exchange, beyond the inappropriateness of the venue, was his assumption that our mutual whiteness meant I would agree with him. I left feeling as if I’d just time traveled back to 1972 for an argument with my dad about race. ... I think what bothers me most is that I know he represents a significant segment of white America — so certain in his assumptions, so blind to the privilege of race that fuels them."
"What struck me about this exchange, beyond the inappropriateness of the venue, was his assumption that our mutual whiteness meant I would agree with him. I left feeling as if I’d just time traveled back to 1972 for an argument with my dad about race. ... I think what bothers me most is that I know he represents a significant segment of white America — so certain in his assumptions, so blind to the privilege of race that fuels them."
African America and the NRA
Why Isn't the NRA Defending Ferguson’s Blacks? (Cliff Schecter) from the Daily Beast
"Every dystopian warning of the gun group has come true in Missouri, yet the organization is offering no sympathy for the African American victims."
This question perfectly showcases one (of many) of the NRA's hidden assumptions: that white people need access to guns to protect themselves against (1) the government; and (2) black people. One can only speculate what the organization's position would be if black young men embraced the same in-your-face "right to guns" nihilism that the NRA espouses for its members.
"Every dystopian warning of the gun group has come true in Missouri, yet the organization is offering no sympathy for the African American victims."
This question perfectly showcases one (of many) of the NRA's hidden assumptions: that white people need access to guns to protect themselves against (1) the government; and (2) black people. One can only speculate what the organization's position would be if black young men embraced the same in-your-face "right to guns" nihilism that the NRA espouses for its members.
What's Visible When Your TV News is on Mute
Black And White In Ferguson And Journalism (Jaime Steihm) from National Memo
"When you don’t know if the violent scenes on the evening news are in Iraq or in Ferguson, Missouri, then things are bad."
"When you don’t know if the violent scenes on the evening news are in Iraq or in Ferguson, Missouri, then things are bad."
Monday, August 18, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: What's Driving the Ferguson Police Now
Ferguson Police Released Robbery Video Despite DOJ Concerns from the Huffington Post
"The Ferguson Police Department on Friday released a video that allegedly shows Michael Brown robbing a convenience store. Critics lashed out at police, saying that the footage's release was an attempt to disparage Brown's character. CNN revealed on Saturday that the Department of Justice found out about the video earlier this week and asked police not to make it public. According to CNN, the DOJ was worried that the footage would spark more violence in Ferguson."
Sad to say, this news does not surprise me -- and it showcases perfectly a central fact: the DOJ and the MO governor are focused on reducing tension and ending the rioting -- and the Ferguson police are concerned about ... something else. This is where I'd love to hear people's speculation as to what that something else is. Here is my theory: the Ferguson police are now in a defensive fetal position where everything they do is about validating their actions over the last week and portraying the black community of Ferguson as an out-of-control, unruly mob for whom shootings, HUMVs, tanks, and all their other military toys and tactics are the only defense. In this light, it makes perfect sense that they would ignore the DOJ's concern and do something they KNEW would throw gasoline on the fire rather than calm things down. Releasing the video has the added benefit of muddying the legal waters in a Treyvon-Martin-kind-of-way as all the white authorities there brace themselves for the hurricane of law suits that is doubtlessly headed their way. Prediction: for any trials that come out of the Michael Brown case, look for Ferguson's white police and leadership to demand a change of venue -- to some nearby all-white community where they could get a sympathetic all-white jury. I suspect that, for the Ferguson authorities, it has been their all-white constituents who are the only ones they've had any concern about all along. -- Nuggetsman
"The Ferguson Police Department on Friday released a video that allegedly shows Michael Brown robbing a convenience store. Critics lashed out at police, saying that the footage's release was an attempt to disparage Brown's character. CNN revealed on Saturday that the Department of Justice found out about the video earlier this week and asked police not to make it public. According to CNN, the DOJ was worried that the footage would spark more violence in Ferguson."
Sad to say, this news does not surprise me -- and it showcases perfectly a central fact: the DOJ and the MO governor are focused on reducing tension and ending the rioting -- and the Ferguson police are concerned about ... something else. This is where I'd love to hear people's speculation as to what that something else is. Here is my theory: the Ferguson police are now in a defensive fetal position where everything they do is about validating their actions over the last week and portraying the black community of Ferguson as an out-of-control, unruly mob for whom shootings, HUMVs, tanks, and all their other military toys and tactics are the only defense. In this light, it makes perfect sense that they would ignore the DOJ's concern and do something they KNEW would throw gasoline on the fire rather than calm things down. Releasing the video has the added benefit of muddying the legal waters in a Treyvon-Martin-kind-of-way as all the white authorities there brace themselves for the hurricane of law suits that is doubtlessly headed their way. Prediction: for any trials that come out of the Michael Brown case, look for Ferguson's white police and leadership to demand a change of venue -- to some nearby all-white community where they could get a sympathetic all-white jury. I suspect that, for the Ferguson authorities, it has been their all-white constituents who are the only ones they've had any concern about all along. -- Nuggetsman
Federal and State Authorities Become More Involved in Ferguson
Federal, state officials take sweeping steps in response to Ferguson, Mo., unrest from the Washington Post
"Federal and state officials unveiled a sweeping response Thursday to violent clashes between police and protesters over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, with Missouri taking over security operations from local police and authorities agreeing to accept Justice Department help in handling protests."
"Federal and state officials unveiled a sweeping response Thursday to violent clashes between police and protesters over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, with Missouri taking over security operations from local police and authorities agreeing to accept Justice Department help in handling protests."
The DOJ Getting More Involved in Investigation of the Brown Case
Eric Holder Authorizes Second Autopsy Of Michael Brown from the Huffington Post
US AG Holder: "Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner," Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said in a Sunday statement.""
Given what serial mishandlers the Ferguson authorities have been around the Brown case, don't be surprised if they try to block Holder's effort here.
US AG Holder: "Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner," Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said in a Sunday statement.""
Given what serial mishandlers the Ferguson authorities have been around the Brown case, don't be surprised if they try to block Holder's effort here.
A Militarized Police and the Limits on "Crowd Control:"
Playing Soldier in the Suburbs (Ross Douthat) from the New York Times
"Militarized tactics that are potentially useful in specialized circumstances — like firefights with suicidal terrorist groups — can be counterproductive when employed for crowd-control purposes by rank-and-file cops. (The only recent calm on Ferguson’s streets came after state cops started walking through the crowds in blue uniforms, behaving like police instead of storm troopers.)"
"Militarized tactics that are potentially useful in specialized circumstances — like firefights with suicidal terrorist groups — can be counterproductive when employed for crowd-control purposes by rank-and-file cops. (The only recent calm on Ferguson’s streets came after state cops started walking through the crowds in blue uniforms, behaving like police instead of storm troopers.)"
White supremacy’s latest round in Missouri
Retracing the real history of Ferguson (Falguni Seth) from Salon
"The Ferguson nightmare is just another reminder of a world exemplified by slavery, Jim Crow and "stop and frisk"."
"The Ferguson nightmare is just another reminder of a world exemplified by slavery, Jim Crow and "stop and frisk"."
How Ferguson Police Ran their Town
The Day Ferguson Cops Were Caught in a Bloody Lie (Michael Daley) from the Daily Beast
"The officers got the wrong man, but charged him anyway—with getting his blood on their uniforms. How the Ferguson PD ran the town where Michael Brown was gunned down."
It is remarkable how ridiculously implausible the police's story sounds -- now that the Ferguson authorities have absolutely, positively ZERO credibility any longer.
"The officers got the wrong man, but charged him anyway—with getting his blood on their uniforms. How the Ferguson PD ran the town where Michael Brown was gunned down."
It is remarkable how ridiculously implausible the police's story sounds -- now that the Ferguson authorities have absolutely, positively ZERO credibility any longer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)