Families Protest Death of 3 Unarmed Black men at Police Hands

Houston-
Families of three Unarmed Black men shot and killed by Harris County Sheriff's deputies protest
The families of three men shot and killed by Harris County Sheriff's deputies protested today, decrying the number of unarmed black men killed by deputies. "I want to say today, gameover," said Pastor ChrisWright of Grace Temple Ministries. "The game of killing our young black brothers and sweeping it under the rug is  over." [more]

Oakland Police are tripping! Report cites a spike in strip-searches

Although the police department has made substantial progress with the reforms mandated by the Riders misconduct  case settlement, a new report also  raises alarms about a pattern of  potentially illegal street  strip-searches and long delays in reviewing officer-involved shootings. [more]

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]