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Alton Sterling : Will they come through for you?

The recent assassination of Alton Sterling, is yet, another example of what Jesse Williams speaking about when it comes to systemic racism and oppression.

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Alton Sterling
Alton Sterling

Alton Sterling, will they come through for you?

I am angry that yet again I have to write a story about a Black man being killed by police.

I will not negate the fact that 532 people have been killed by police so far in 2016. But of those 532, 114 have been Black men. We simply cannot ignore the systematic cards that are dealt to people of color, especially men.

Conservatives, in particular, were up in arms about the recent speech at the BET Awards made by actor and activist Jesse Williams on systematic oppression.

Their argument is that Williams was promoting racism. Because after all, you must be racist for calling out racism? What Republicans failed to see Jesse Williams underlying message about systematic racism and oppression. It is no coincidence there is educational and financial gaps between Black people and their white counterparts. It is no coincidence there is an epidemic of mass incarceration of black and brown people. It is not because black and brown people are more prone to commit crime. And arguing with those saying “do good and you will be fine”, is simply not enough for people of color in America. Because being good, and doing good is no longer safe. And last night, we were reminded of that.

The recent assassination of Alton Sterling, is yet, another example of what Jesse Williams speaking about when it comes to systemic racism and oppression in America.

“Now, what we’ve been doing is looking at the data and we know that police somehow manage to deescalate, disarm and not kill white people everyday”

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I’m sure by now you have seen the video of Alton Sterling being pinned to the ground by officers while they shot him in the chest mercilessly. “He has a gun” and resisting they say. And yet, the video tells a different sentiment. Within 36 hours of the shooting, the Department of Justice quickly moved in to investigate. This has been the fasted they have done so in a highly publicized police killing. But will they come through?

Various reports say Sterling was not resisting. There have been two videos that have confirmed he wasn’t. But even evidence of a cold blooded assassination is still sometimes, simply not enough. Unfortunately, as history has shown us, it isn’t good enough.

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Sterling was a 37-year-old man from Baton Rouge, LA who was minding his business and was a regular presence at the convenience store he was killed at. That night Sterling was selling cd’s.

Mainstream media has already tried to vilify Sterling by posting an old mug shot from a conviction from over 10 years ago. Friends and family have described Alton Sterling as “respectable and nice”. Sterling was the father of five children. One of them, 15-year-old Cameron Sterling, broke down in tears during a family news conference while standing by his mother, Quinyetta McMillan.

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His conviction has spread throughout the news like wildlife in attempts to somehow justify his killing. It is not the conviction that matters, what matters is what happened that night.

An anonymous 911 caller and an officer in the video said a man was carrying a gun and threatened someone before he was killed outside the Triple S Food Mart.

Sowner Abdullah Muflahi, owner of the convenience store, told the Daily News he didn’t see Sterling get into a confrontation or pull out a gun.

Family and friends said Sterling was on probation when he died and would not be allowed to carry a gun.

We’ve seen countless people killed by police without provocation. It seems now America is starting to wake up to the atrocities done to people of color in America. There was no conviction for Michael Brown, Eric Gardner, Rekia Boyd, Tamir Rice, Sean Bell, Jonathan Ferrell, and so many more.

Alton Sterling, brotha, I hope they come through for you. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.


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Politics

Lil Scrappy, Big Freedia, Mia X, Cookie Nasty, and more artists partner with Hip Hop Caucus for a Political Rap Cypher

Released just under one week before the most important presidential election of our time, these rappers focused on issue advocacy and dropped powerful bars on the importance of voting, voting rights and democracy, civil rights, economic justice, and environmental justice – all issues that affect people of color the most and some of the pressing issues and deciding factors in this year’s election.

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Hip hop political Cypher
Photo Source: Hip-Hop Caucus

Some of hip hop’s most influential voices, Lil Scrappy, Big Freedia Mia X, Lee Merritt, Cookie Nasty, and Trae Crockett have joined musical forces to partner with Hip Hop Caucus to release a powerful political cypher as a final push to encourage people to head to polls and vote.

Hip Hop political cypher

Released just under one week before the most important presidential election of our time, these rappers focused on issue advocacy and dropped powerful bars on the importance of voting, voting rights and democracy, civil rights, economic justice, and environmental justice – all issues that affect people of color the most and some of the pressing issues and deciding factors in this year’s election.

The power of voting

Hip Hop Caucus is no stranger to leveraging the power of music, celebrity, and activism, launching their Respect My Vote! Campaign and Tour earlier this year, which included activists to reach and educate communities of color about political and social issues, and mobilize people to vote for the change they want to see on November 5.

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The message is clear that we cannot afford not to cast our ballots this election, with Mia X stating, “Say it with my chest, imma step for my rights, 10 toes down …my choice, my freedoms my voice, my votes and “if you don’t vote you don’t matter”.

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Watch the cypher

 


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Health & Wellness

Amber Nicole Thurman died from delayed care due to Georgia’s abortion laws, says family

Thurman died after waiting 20 hours in pain for a hospital to treat a rare complication from taking an abortion pill, she had to obtain in North Carolina.

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Amber Nicole Thurman
Amber Nicole Thurman (Photo Source: GoFundMe)

Amber Nicole Thurman was a vibrant, healthy 28-year-old Georgia woman who tragically died due to abortion laws and medical neglect, her family says.

Amber Nicole Thurman’s life could have been preventable

According to reports, Thurman died after waiting 20 hours in pain for a hospital to treat a rare complication from taking an abortion pill that she had to obtain in North Carolina. She needed a routine procedure, a dilation and curettage (D&C), to clear residual tissue from her uterus.

Did abortion laws cause problems for the mother?

But she reportedly couldn’t get the help she needed. New abortion laws in Georgia made conducting this essential medical procedure a felony unless in an emergency situation.

Georgia’s LIFE Act took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in 2022 and banned abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, effectively prohibiting abortions beyond around six weeks of pregnancy, and criminalized performing one with limited exceptions.

Thurman had sought help at a local hospital in Stockbridge, Georgia. Even as Thurman developed sepsis, her family says doctors at the hospital did not evacuate the remaining fetal tissue in her uterus with the (D&C). Unfortunately, she later died on the operating table, reports ProPublica.

After Thurman’s death, a Fulton County Superior Court judge struck down the law, stating the law violates Georgia’s Constitution, reports NewsWeek.

ProPublica reported that Georgia’s maternal mortality committee also found that Thurman’s death was completely preventable. When her family learned this, they were devastated once again and their grief intensified affirming that Amber should not have died.

GoFundMe

As Thurman’s family struggles to cope with their grief and anger, they are striving to care for Amber’s son the way she wanted and have started a GoFundMe.

“The funds through this site will support Amber’s son for his immediate needs and for his future. This includes mental health and grief counseling for him and Amber’s family,” the GoFundMe reads.

According to the family, the funds will also support the family’s fight for justice for Amber and women’s rights over their own bodies.

“Amber was a devoted mother to her 6-year-old son and had dreams of becoming a nurse while she worked as a medical assistant. Amber hoped to provide a bright future for herself and her son, but that was stolen from her, and we cannot stand by as this happens to more women.”

Visit the GoFundMe to donate and for more information.


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Social Justice

Exonerated ‘Central Park Five’ sue Trump for defamation after debate comments

The lawsuit stems from Trump’s remarks during the presidential debate last month.

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Exonerated Five Trump lawsuit
Photo Source: BET Networks YouTube Creative commons license (https://youtu.be/1UF0LPJU-FM?si=PGm-NKtWqJuU2YHN)

The five men from the infamous Central Park case who call themselves the Exonerated Five have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump.

The lawsuit stems from his remarks during the presidential debate last month.

Exonerated Five lawsuit against Donald Trump

During the Sept. 10 debate in Pennsylvania, Trump said the five men, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise, pleaded guilty when they were tried in connection with the assault and rape of a woman who had been running in Central Park on April 19, 1989, and that the victim had died.

During the debate he said: “They admitted, they said, they pled guilty. And I said, well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately. And if they pled guilty, then they pled we’re not guilty.”

At the time of the trials, each men had actually pleaded not guilty, and the victim of the attack survived.

According to the complaint, Trump’s statements are “demonstrably false,” adding that “Plaintiffs never pled guilty to any crime and were subsequently cleared of all wrongdoing. Further the victims of the Central Park assaults were not killed.”

The complaint further added that the men, now in their 50s, have “suffered injuries as a result of Defendant Trump’s false and defamatory statements.”

Falsely accused

The Exonerated Five, who were just teenagers when they were indicted, had always maintained their innocence throughout their separate trials and incarceration.

Each were charged with the assault of the female jogger, as well as other assaults and robberies in Central Park.

They five spent years in prison before they were exonerated in 2002 after DNA evidence linked another man, a serial rapist, to the crime. The city agreed in a legal settlement to pay the exonerated men $41 million.

This happened during a time of heightened racial tensions coupled with the case dominating headlines. Trump, then a real estate mogul, had taken out large ads in newspapers referencing the case calling for New York to bring back the death penalty.

The defamation suit was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The complaint noted that Salaam, a New York City Council member representing District 9, was at the debate and in the room when Trump made the statements.

In the lawsuit the men did not specify damages and asked for a trial to determine the amount.


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