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Mike Brown Mike Brown Shooting Politics Racism

FERGUSON: RACISM AND INJUSTICE ALIVE AND WELL

As seen on America The Not So Beautiful

August 18, 2014

By Mike Caccioppoli

I was one of the first people to call the killing of Mike Brown an execution. This was based on the several eye witnesses who told the same story. A story of an 18 year old boy who was shot multiple times, most said 5-7 or 6-8 times in the arms and head. They also said he was falling down and on his knees when he was shot again in the head. Now we get an autopsy that corroborates that testimony from those eye witnesses.

Tiffany Mitchell

“Michael and the officer wrestling through the [car] window.” Brown, she said, was struggling to get away while the officer continued to try to pull him closer. Concerned, Mitchell pulled out her phone, at which point she said the first shot was fired “through the window.” Mitchell then saw Brown break away from the officer’s grip and run down the street from the police vehicle.

“The officer gets out of his vehicle,” Mitchell said, “and he pursues him,” continuing to shoot at Brown. “Michael’s body jerks as if he was hit,” Mitchell explained, “and then he put his hands up,” and the officer continued to shoot at Brown until the teenager collapsed “all the way down to the ground.”

Philip Walker

Brown “was giving up in the sense of raising his arms and being subdued,” Walker said Monday, AP reported. He also reportedly said that the officer “had his gun raised and started shooting the individual in the chest multiple times.” He then “stood over him and shot him,” he added.

Dorian Johnson

“He shot again, and once my friend felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands in the air, and he started to get down,” Johnson said, according to AP. “But the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots.”

The fatal shot was a shot in the top of Michael Brown’s head. Unless Darren Wilson was seven feet tall or Brown was shot by a sniper this wound shows that Brown was down on his knees/falling down, not a threat, in a submissive position when he was killed by Wilson. This is an execution, pure and simple. If you don’t like that word too fucking bad. It is what it is.

Several witnesses with the same story that aligns with the autopsy yet we don’t even have a simple arrest. Let me make this very clear. If you are opposed to an arrest and a charge you are a racist. That is the reason. You can try to disguise your racism with bullshit excuses and your supposed knowledge of the law, but you can’t fool me. There is NO DOUBT, NO FUCKING DOUBT that if Michael Brown or any other black man, hell any other person including myself, were to have killed a cop or anyone in the same fashion as Wilson killed Brown, with the amount of evidence we have, there would have been an arrest and most likely no bail based on the gruesomeness of the crime.

If you disagree with this assessment you can give me reasons till you turn blue in the face, but what you are is a racist, reaching for legitimate reasons to not be labeled one. The sneaky excuses don’t fool me at all. If Michael Brown were white you wouldn’t be bullshitting that there is no cause for an arrest, you would probably be silent. You know that. I know that.

I have received so many tweets from disgusting racists. All of them from this country of course,  trying to disparage Michael Brown the same way the Ferguson PD has tried to do.

“He was a thug, he deserved it.”

“Come on Mike, you know Wilson was justified in killing a felon.”

“He was a thief and he got what he deserved, the officer is a hero.”

This is the shit I deal with on a daily basis. Many of these people don’t think they are racists. They actually believe the law backs them up. Brown may have stolen some shit so the officer was justified in carrying out his execution. That is the penalty for shop lifting. If that is the case then half of Brooklyn. N.Y. where I come from should be dead. Including all of those nice Italian boys who may have stolen a slice of pizza or some soda when they were 15 or 18.. Correct?

Probable Cause n. sufficient reason based upon known facts to believe a crime has been committed or that certain property is connected with a crime.

That is it. That is what you need to make an arrest. Unlike some of the nonsense you have heard from talking heads who it would seem purposely confuse an ARREST with a TRIAL, you don’t need overwhelming evidence that can lead to a conviction in order to make a simple arrest. Now I believe there is plenty of evidence for a conviction but that’s not what the people in Ferguson are asking for. Make an arrest and then allow due process. And after an arrest the collection of evidence can continue.

Cops arrest people for many things based on the thinnest of probable causes like the smell of pot or residue that might be cocaine. Yet six gunshots to an unarmed teenager with several witnesses doesn’t warrant an arrest?  Are you kidding me or are you just a racist?

This is what the people of Ferguson want. A simple fucking arrest would make most of the unrest stop. A simple arrest! Yet “Tricky” Jay Nixon calls in the National Guard? Utilizing more oppressive force and tax payer money (where are the conservatives?!)   Hell what could go wrong with the National Guard? 

The Ferguson PD agitated the peaceful protesters, the world screams about the militarization of the police, yet Nixon calls in the military. We see how successful his unconstitutional curfew was. Meanwhile the FBI has to be called in to interview witnesses because the Ferguson PD refused to do so. They release a video of something totally unrelated to the case yet when it comes to things directly related to the case there is no information released. How in the fuck can people expect the same police department that showered with Wilson, the same 50 or so guys (mostly white) who whipped a towel on his ass after a long day’s work, to collect evidence that might lead to his conviction of murder? Are you kidding me??

It took them six days to just release his name. We know he is on a paid vacation while Michael Brown’s body lies cold in the morgue. We know the Ferguson PD has not interviewed any witnesses and has withheld any evidence or information they might have. We know police are arresting peaceful protesters, hitting kids with tear gas and also arresting reporters. Chris Hayes and other reporters were threatened with getting maced if they dare pass the police. Even the local clergy have witnessed the police shooting tear gas unprovoked.

So cops have “probable cause” to arrest journalists but not Darren Wilson? 

We are not only seeing blatant racism and injustice but oppression as well. Who the fuck do these cops think they are? There should be hundreds of First Amendment violations filed by the justice department against these cops.

You see how mad I am? You can only imagine what the people of Ferguson are feeling. Their disgust and hate and distrust will and SHOULD continue. The protests, the screaming, the marching SHOULD continue. It must all continue until there is justice. Until someone takes the lead and arrests Darren Wilson for murder.

Until the justice system prevails over the racists (the KKK is raining money for Wilson) all of the unrest will continue.

Any further bloodshed is on the hands of those in charge, those obstructing justice.

Mike.Caccioppoli@yahoo.com

@Caccioppolimike

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Categories
Mike Brown Mike Brown Shooting

In The Wake of Mike Brown’s Murder, This Concerned Mother Wonders…

It’s a sentiment countless parents are struggling with these days… who will protect our children?

Categories
Mike Brown Shooting Politics

‘Anonymous’ Releases Audio from St Louis Dispatch The Day Mike Brown Was Killed

Mother Jones reported on this, saying  that this audio was posted by @theanonmessage, a twitter account affiliated with Anonymous’ Operation Ferguson, a member of which I interviewed last night.

According to @theanonmessage, this recording contains audio excerpts from St. Louis County police dispatch over several hours on August 9, 2014, the day Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer. The dispatcher starts talking about the Brown shooting around the 10-minute mark, while intermittently handling other calls. See below the recording for an updating list of interesting moments, with time stamps included.

9:35: “Ferguson is asking for assistance with crowd control . . .”

10:58: “Now they have a large group gathering there, she doesn’t know any further. . .”

11:20: “We just got another call stating it was an officer-involved shooting . . .”

11:30: “Be advised, this information came from the news . . .”

11:55: “We’re just getting information from the news and we just called Ferguson back again and they don’t know anything about it . . .”

20:00: “. . .destruction of property . . .”

21:55: “They are requesting more cars. Do you want me to send more of your cars?”

43:55: “Attention all cars, be advised that in reference to the call 2947 Canfield Drive, we are switching over to the riot channel at this time . . .”

Update, 4:40 p.m. ET: I tried to verify the dispatch recordings with St. Louis County Police but their media contact, Brian Shelman, did not answer the phone and his voicemail was full.

Update 2, 5:05 p.m. ET: Mashable is confirming that the St. Louis County Police Department is “aware of this and currently investigating.”

Update 3, 6:05 p.m. ET: A twitter follower of mine points out that the dispatch recording probably comes from Broadcastify, a database of public safety radio audio streams that’s available to anyone who pays for a subscription. It’s “far from a hack,” he says.

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Featured marijuana Mike Brown Shooting Weed

Republicans Found Their Talking Point – That Michael Brown Had Marijuana in His System

Republicans have looked for a narrative to defend the killing of Michael Brown since his lifeless body laid on a street in Ferguson, and now, with newly released information suggesting that Mike Brown had marijuana in his system, Republicans have found their talking-point.

Earlier today, I brought you a story of a rally that happened, not in Ferguson, but outside the area, where 125 people held a protest in support of the trigger happy police officer. Of the 125 people protesting, 124 of them were white. These people held their protest before the marijuana news broke, but now, Republicans like Rush Limbaugh and Bryan Fischer are ecstatic, hardly able to contain their enthusiasm in blaming Brown for his own death.

On his radio program today, Fischer happily proclaimed;

“We know now he did have marijuana in his system, and we’ve had stories, remember, we’ve had stories from Colorado, people going berserk on marijuana and killing people, hyped up on marijuana. So it’s more dangerous than people think”

Video

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Featured Rape sexual assault

Iowa Republican Representative Arrested for Raping His Mentally Challenged Wife

She was unable to give consent to the sexual act because of her mental state. A judge ruled that 78-year-old Donna Rayhons – wife of Iowa Republican Representative Henry Rayhons and who resided at an elderly care facility – lacked mental capacity to consent to sex but Henry apparently wasn’t listening.

According to Iowa Press-citizen’s reporting, Rep. Henry Rayhons, R-Garner, who represents House District 8, was charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony.

The charge stems from an alleged incident the evening of May 23 at the Concord Care Center in Garner, authorities said.

Rayhons, 78, is accused of having sex with his wife, Donna, who did not have the mental capacity to consent, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint said that Rayhons was told on May 15 that Donna Rayhons did not have the cognitive ability to give consent to any sexual activity. On May 23, Henry Rayhons went into his wife’s room and pulled the curtain closed, the complaint said. Donna Rayhon’s roommate told authorities that she “heard noises indicating to her that” Henry Rayhons was having sex with Donna Rayhons, the complaint said. Surveillance video showed Henry Rayhons leaving his wife’s room and discarding undergarments into a laundry bag, the complaint said.

In June, a Hancock County District Court judge issued an order that named Suzan Brunes, Donna Rayhons’ daughter, her mother’s temporary guardian, according to a story in the Mason City Globe Gazette.

Donna and Henry Rayhon were married in 2007.

Donna Rayhons, 78, died on Aug. 8.

Henry Rayhons was arrested today and taken to the Hancock County Jail.

An employee of the Hancock County Attorney’s Office on Friday said the case would be prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office. That office did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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Celebrities

LeBron James Accepts The Ice Bucket Challenge – Video

Before getting the bucket of ice water dumped on his head, Miami Cleveland NBA Star LeBron James nominated his son and the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Sidenote – The president has been nominated a few times already. Is he ever going to take this challenge? I’m on the case. Also, ALS has already collected over $4 million in ice bucket challenge donations.

via Instagram

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Featured Mike Brown Shooting Protest Racism

Caught on Tape – Ferguson Police Officer Threatens to Shoot Reporter – Video

Ferguson police are still trying to suppress the protesters and their constitutionally protected rights, and they are also trying to suppress the information about those protests.

On Sunday night, hours before a curfew went into effect, Ferguson police used tear gas in trying to break up ongoing protests. Streaming the events live was Mustafa Hussein, a student who works at a local all-volunteer music station, Argus Radio. The station is using video equipment it purchased to live-stream concerts to broadcast the protests in Ferguson.

Tonight, as tens of thousands of people around the world watched, Hussein was threatened by an officer wielding a weapon. “Get the fuck out of here! You get that light off or you’re getting shot with this!,” the man shouts. That portion of the live-stream was uploaded to YouTube. Undeterred, Hussein continued broadcasting. Subsequently, he can be heard reporting the incident to a different officer and other reporters. He then called his dad to tell him he loved him.

Video

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Featured Mike Brown Mike Brown Shooting Racism

And Now This – White People Supporting Darren Wilson – PIC

You just knew this was going to happen.

There is always a segment of society that willfully choose to stay on the wrong side of history. Most of the times, this segment is often called The Republican Party. Now we cannot be sure that these people are in fact Republicans, but if I had to bet, that is where I’ll put my money.

According to reports by The Guardian;

While the crowds protesting in Ferguson have been predominantly African American, all but one of the demonstrators showing their support for Wilson were white. A stack of dark blue t-shirts, onsale for $7 and bearing a police-style badge stating: “Officer Darren Wilson – I stand by you”, quickly sold out.

One was bought by Martin Baker, a consultant and former Republican congressional primary candidate and the only black member of the crowd. “People are too quick to play the race card,” said Baker, 44, on widespread claims by black residents Ferguson residents that they are subjected to institutional racism by the city’s almost unanimously white authorities. “Lawlessness knows no colour.”…

The demonstration grew out of a Facebook group dedicated to the support of Wilson, 28, who has been placed on paid leave and is in hiding for security. The group was created soon after his name was released to the public last Friday. By the time the demonstration began on Sunday, the group had attracted more than 12,500 “likes”.

“There is a great deal of support in the St Louis community, nationally, and internationally for officer Darren Wilson,” one of the organisers, who asked to be referred to as E M Baker, said in an email to the Guardian earlier on Sunday.

” We fully support officer Darren Wilson,” she said. “Our rally today is exclusively an opportunity for us to gather in ‘silence’ in a sea of blue to show officer Wilson, his family, the law enforcement community, and the world, that our support is strong and unwavering.”

Categories
Mike Brown Mike Brown Shooting News Racism

More Details of Michael Brown’s Autopsy – Shot At Least 6 Times

Michael Brown’s preliminary autopsy report, which was obtained by The New York Daily News, shows that trigger happy police officer, Darren Wilson was not trying to arrest or subdue the 18-year-old teenager, no, the officer was out to make sure that Brown die on the spot for the unthinkable crime of walking on the street.

Officer Darren Wilson

According to the report, Wilson pumped at least 6 bullets into Brown’s body, the fatal wound struck Brown near the top of his skull and suggested he was bent forward when it hit.

The autopsy, which was also reported by The Wall Street Journal and CNN, came on the same day that Attorney General Eric Holder ordered an additional autopsy to be performed as part of the federal investigation into Brown’s death.

“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,” DOJ spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement Sunday. “This independent examination will take place as soon as possible.”

Brown, an unarmed African-American 18-year-old, was fatally shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson last Saturday. The autopsy reported that there was no gunpowder on Brown’s body, suggesting that the bullets might not have been not fired at close range. The report said that determination could change depending on whether gunpowder is found on Brown’s clothing, which have not yet been examined.

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Michael Brown Mike Brown Shooting News Rev AL Sharpton

At The “Unity Rally for Justice for Michael Brown…”

In a packed congregation at the Greater Grace Church in Ferguson Missouri, Rev. AL Sharpton along with the parents of Michael Brown and other civil rights leaders, held a  “Unity Rally for Justice for Michael Brown” meeting, focused on getting justice for the slain 18 year old murdered by police officer Darren Wilson.

“These parents, they’re not going to cry alone … we have had enough,” he said. Brown’s shooting will be a “defining moment on how this country deals with policing,” Sharpton said. “Michael Brown’s going to change this town.”

“We need to thank him for the change he’s going to make,” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who has been put in charge of security in Ferguson, where nights of unrest, looting, and confrontations with police have broken out since Brown’s death. A curfew instated by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon would hold for a second night Sunday and last from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., according to the State Highway Patrol.

Before the rally closed, Sharpton had the crowd repeat after him as he said: “I pledge, with all that I am capable of, to do my duty to stand for justice and for peace, and let Michael Brown be a point in history where we stopped devaluing the lives of people.”

Video

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