White Prosecutors Clear Security Guards in 2000 mall death-

Prosecutors plan to drop the involuntary  manslaughter case today against a  security  guard charged four years agoin the racially tinged  death of  Frederick  Finley in the parking lot of Fairlane Town  Center in Dearborn."I'm  speechless," guardDennis Richardson said  late Thursday. "I'm  in shock.I have no ideawhat to say." [more]

Jury frees cops. Lawyer says testimony ignored

"It's  a  sad day for all Detroiters. Surely the city will suffer greatly, and there will be more people,  mostly African-American, framed up by these  deviant cops if they are allowed back on the force." [more]

Denver Family Receives Money From City

THE   FAMILIY  OF A DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED TEENAGER WHO WAS  SHOT AND KILLED  BY A  DENVER  POLICE OFFICER RECEIVES A SETTLEMENT  FROM THE CITY. [more]

Modesto Copwatch a Success

DAAA Collective conducted it's first Copwatch in downtown Modesto this Friday.  It was done in response to continued police harassment,abuse, and attacks against youth, people of color, and homeless. Police continue to harass homeless people in Tower Park, long seen as the "homeless park".  Driving up and yelling through amplification that all people in the park must leave it in 30 minutes after they finish whatever meal they are eating. Of course if this were in any of the other parks happened by largely  middle and upper class people, this would not be an issue. [more]

Deal hasn't cooled Denver police-reform effort

Activists welcome Childs settlement, but "changes are just beginning"
The  settlement of the Paul Childs case should help foster efforts to change the Denver Police Department's use-of-force policy and how shootings involving  officers are investigated, said several people  active inthere  form  process. Denver officials said Tuesday that the  city  will pay  more than $1.3 million to the family of the developmentally  disabled  teen killed by a cop last summer. [more]

In Austin Police shootings highlight city's racial divide

Early one  morning last June, a white police officer  fatally shot an  unarmed blackman as the officer tried to arrest him for driving astolen car.JessieLee Owens, 20, was the second of three young black  persons killed  in  Austin by white law enforcement officers  over a 13-month period in 2002  and 2003. Many community leaders say the shootings, and  the fact  that  the three officers kept their jobs,reflect a pattern of racism  withinthe police force and throughout the city. [more]

Judge refuses to move murder trial of police officer who shot black teenager

A  judge  on Tuesday refused to move the murder trial of a fired white  police officer charged with fatally shooting a black teenager in the back.McKenzie Mattingly's attorney argued that he could not receive  a  fair  trial inLouisville because of intense media coverage of the case. Prosecutors opposed the request to move the proceedings. [more]

CopWatch Explosion in the U.S.

It is now a phenomenon. CopWatch organizations are being set up all over America, by ordinary citizens, driven to police the police,in grass roots community efforts. Portland (portlandcopwatch.org,rosecitycopwatch.org),  Austin(http://geocities.com/austincopwatch ), NYC (http://mediafilter.org/MFF/CopWatch.html ). . . And CopWatch groups are networking and training each other. [more]

Republicans and Democrats Clash on New York Drug Laws

 93 percent of the inmates serving time on drug charges are Black or Hispanic
One of the enduring mysteries here in recent years is  why the state has been unable to overhaul the Rockefeller drug laws, which force judges to sentence drug offenders to lengthy prison terms that the three most powerful state officials, Gov.  George E. Pataki and the leaders of both houses of  the Legislature, agree are draconian. [more]

Questions Linger in Roy Veal Hanging Death

Authorities said toxicology reports from the body of a Washington state resident who was found hanging froma tree in Wilkinson County could be available by Monday evening. Officials have refrained from releasing a cause of death until the test results are studied.[more]