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Cha

(297,029 posts)
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 01:57 AM Dec 2014

Our Beautiful Black Athletes Supporting #ICantBreathe.. Racists are Going to Run Out of Teams

to Support..



TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
Follow
Racists vowing to stop supporting teams whose players support #ICantBreathe movement?

You're running out of teams
.
4:20 PM - 8 Dec 2014 306 Retweets 154 favorites


Michael Skolnik ✔ @MichaelSkolnik
Follow
Respect to Jay Z and the Brooklyn Nets for supporting the movement!!
#ICantBreathe #EricGarner
2:51 PM - 8 Dec 2014 3,349 Retweets 1,983 favorites


Jason Gay ✔ @jasonWSJ
Follow
LeBron James, Brooklyn, NY, USA, Dec. 8, 2014.
2:22 PM - 8 Dec 2014
866 Retweets 596 favorites
:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/08/they-tried-to-bury-us-they-didnt-know-we-were-seeds/

Derrick Rose discusses decision to wear 'I Can't Breathe' shirt

snip//

"I'm a parent now," Rose said. "I had a kid two years ago. It probably would have been different . I probably wouldn't have worn the shirt. But now that I'm a dad, it's just changed my outlook on life, period.

"I don't want my son growing up being scared of the police or having the thought that something like that could happen. I have a cousin, that easily could have been him (that was killed), or that easily could have been one of our relatives. It's sad that people lost their lives over that."

MOre..
JonLP24 http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5931009
137 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Our Beautiful Black Athletes Supporting #ICantBreathe.. Racists are Going to Run Out of Teams (Original Post) Cha Dec 2014 OP
.. Cha Dec 2014 #1
Kick! NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #2
Mahalo SKP~ Aloha #BlackLivesMatter from Hawaii. Cha Dec 2014 #3
Bravo! silverweb Dec 2014 #4
Neither am I, silverweb.. but, I support these Black Athletes standing up for #ICantBreathe! Cha Dec 2014 #5
Amen to that! silverweb Dec 2014 #12
I can imagine how proud their Mamas must be! Bursting! Cha Dec 2014 #13
Indeed. silverweb Dec 2014 #14
Vital point.. "More importantly, these athletes are heroes to a lot of young people, who emulate Cha Dec 2014 #15
.. Cha Dec 2014 #6
Hats off to a brave bunch of guys! ucrdem Dec 2014 #7
I'm so proud of these guys.. I can imagine how their Mamas must feel.. bursting! We're feeling it Cha Dec 2014 #8
Kick for Hawaii Cares! ucrdem Dec 2014 #107
Kick for California, too! Cha Dec 2014 #114
Oh well... Jamaal510 Dec 2014 #9
I love these Black Athletes standing up for Justice, Jamaal.. I'd like to see some Cha Dec 2014 #10
.. Cha Dec 2014 #11
.. Cha Dec 2014 #16
.. Cha Dec 2014 #17
.. Cha Dec 2014 #18
What does beauty have to do with this pmrotest? Jenoch Dec 2014 #19
If you don't see the beauty in these athletes supporting #ICantBreathe.. I'm sorry. Cha Dec 2014 #20
+1 Euphoria Dec 2014 #61
You did not answer my question.. Jenoch Dec 2014 #121
You just want to argue.. too bad you're being obtuse.. everyone else gets it. Cha Dec 2014 #122
I'm not being obtuse.. Jenoch Dec 2014 #134
It's not the outward appearance that is the beauty of these athletes. Cha Dec 2014 #137
.. Cha Dec 2014 #21
This really means a lot! montana_hazeleyes Dec 2014 #22
It's Monumental, montana_hazeleyes! Cha Dec 2014 #24
This is going to be short and sweet sheshe2 Dec 2014 #23
Their Mamas must be bursting with pride at their beautiful sons standing up for Justice, she..Hawaii Cha Dec 2014 #25
Love you! sheshe2 Dec 2014 #27
Mahalo she~ Cha Dec 2014 #28
.. Cha Dec 2014 #26
.. Cha Dec 2014 #29
nothing more beautiful than to see hopemountain Dec 2014 #30
I like the way you put that, hopemountain.. sweet.. Mahalo~ Cha Dec 2014 #32
Love seeing those pics napkinz Dec 2014 #31
.. Cha Dec 2014 #33
big kick and rec! nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #34
A Big Thank you to you, Steve! Really good role models for our younger generation watching all this Cha Dec 2014 #35
.. Cha Dec 2014 #36
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #37
Of course you don't.. being an idiot asshole it must be really hard to see anything worthwhile. Cha Dec 2014 #38
sigh steve2470 Dec 2014 #39
Oh, we definitely had a poor bumbling racist on this thread.. wanting to flame out.. obviously Cha Dec 2014 #40
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #47
ah..... steve2470 Dec 2014 #48
.. Cha Dec 2014 #41
.. Cha Dec 2014 #42
.. Cha Dec 2014 #43
.. Cha Dec 2014 #44
Are any white athletes supporting this? If not, wtf? Vattel Dec 2014 #45
crossed my mind also - would be a great statement rurallib Dec 2014 #90
Yes, if only I was a professional basketball player, I would join in solidarity Vattel Dec 2014 #102
I'd love to hear Harry Edwards comments on this moment malaise Dec 2014 #46
It was terrific to see he added his presence to the statement. Good for all of them. n/t Judi Lynn Dec 2014 #49
Hi Judi Lynn.. wanted you to see this too.. in case you didn't know.. quite sweet.. Cha Dec 2014 #51
Hi there sis malaise Dec 2014 #55
Yes, that would be interesting.. i just looked him up. Here's a musician and his wife standing up.. Cha Dec 2014 #50
That is lovely malaise Dec 2014 #56
I'm listening to the music vid now.. it's quite good.. it's got "Ferguson" in it.. written before Cha Dec 2014 #58
That is a beautiful song. logosoco Dec 2014 #66
Isn't it a beautiful song, logosoco?! I wish everyone could hear it.. yeah, that is too bad about Cha Dec 2014 #67
Take them out of their uniforms... Blue_Adept Dec 2014 #52
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #54
Just ask Jesse Owens - way too late for that malaise Dec 2014 #57
.. Cha Dec 2014 #53
.. Cha Dec 2014 #59
.. Cha Dec 2014 #60
.. Cha Dec 2014 #62
.. Cha Dec 2014 #63
K&R bump bump bump nt TBF Dec 2014 #64
Muchas Gracias, TBF~ Cha Dec 2014 #65
K&R ismnotwasm Dec 2014 #68
mahalo ismnotwasm Cha Dec 2014 #69
... Cha Dec 2014 #70
.. Cha Dec 2014 #71
.. Cha Dec 2014 #72
. Cha Dec 2014 #73
.. Cha Dec 2014 #74
.. Cha Dec 2014 #75
This is great! Gemini Cat Dec 2014 #76
You're Welcome Gemini Cat.. Mahalo for appreciating it so much! :) Cha Dec 2014 #77
. Cha Dec 2014 #78
It was wonderful to see, I was very happy to see the coverage on the news... Spazito Dec 2014 #79
Mahalo Spazito.. you're exactly right.. it's a movement with Protesters all across the country who Cha Dec 2014 #85
Watching coverage of all the protests night after night has been very encouraging... Spazito Dec 2014 #101
Thank you for that.. I don't have a tv.. hope it's on American TV, too.. probably not quite like Cha Dec 2014 #103
Great pics from Hawaii! Spazito Dec 2014 #105
Mahalo so much for this, Spazito! I'm in and out right now but looking forward to reading! Cha Dec 2014 #106
Never been a fan or professional sports TNNurse Dec 2014 #80
I love these guys, TNNurse! Not a sports person, either.. per se. Cha Dec 2014 #86
That top photograph would make an ideal model for a park statue. Baitball Blogger Dec 2014 #81
Indeed it would, BB~ Cha Dec 2014 #87
Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Dec 2014 #82
Thanks Enthusiast! Cha Dec 2014 #88
K&R. nt Zorra Dec 2014 #83
Mahalo Zorra Cha Dec 2014 #91
Here goes my long held idea - NoMoreRepugs Dec 2014 #84
Interesting.. I see what you mean.. thanks NoMoreRepugs Cha Dec 2014 #93
Nice to see mcar Dec 2014 #89
It's heartwarming, mcar.. after all the injustice to see People standing up against it! Cha Dec 2014 #94
May it continue and grow Cha mcar Dec 2014 #98
Yes! Our Best HOPE.. May it Continue to Grow! Cha Dec 2014 #100
They all have my support and admiration! K & R. mountain grammy Dec 2014 #92
Thank you so much, mountain grammy~ Cha Dec 2014 #96
Best sports racism story ever, from Chicago. KamaAina Dec 2014 #95
I had to read that twice.. to get it.. Mahalo, KamaAina! Cha Dec 2014 #97
If Lebron's #icantbreathe T-shirt bothers you, you are probably a racist Stellar Dec 2014 #99
Such whiners.. and yes they probably are racists.. we had a couple of vicious ones on here last Cha Dec 2014 #104
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #108
no, she talks about them like she belongs to the community. La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2014 #109
gorge. i want to see more allies do this too. La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2014 #110
Mahalo to you, La Lioness Priyanka~ Cha Dec 2014 #115
Just got home from work~ sheshe2 Dec 2014 #111
Muchas Gracias. she~ The Laker Team came out with #ICantBreathe Tees before their Game! Cha Dec 2014 #117
So cool~ sheshe2 Dec 2014 #118
buddy... Cha Dec 2014 #120
Entire Laker team came out with I can't Breathe shirts tonight taught_me_patience Dec 2014 #112
Thank you for that news, taught_me_patience Cha Dec 2014 #119
i can't stand lakers as a nuggets fan, but that's fantastic! certainot Dec 2014 #126
recccccc! flamingdem Dec 2014 #113
Muchas Gracias, flamingdem.. Cha Dec 2014 #123
kick nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #116
For years I hated the Lambs but then this happened... Dr. Xavier Dec 2014 #124
Wow.. that's so sad.. need to read this when I Cha Dec 2014 #128
ironically, 28% of rush limbaugh radio stations (170+) depend on athletes certainot Dec 2014 #125
I hear ya, certainot.. Protests need a broader basis.. thank you! Cha Dec 2014 #129
Thank you for this, Cha. marym625 Dec 2014 #127
And, they're doing it again, marym.. Thank Goodness! Cha Dec 2014 #132
yes, thank goodness! marym625 Dec 2014 #133
Fantastic...Donttorturedontshoot , what is that riot gear for, aint no riot here NoJusticeNoPeace Dec 2014 #130
NoJusticeNoPeace! Cha Dec 2014 #135
Yes we can... AuntPatsy Dec 2014 #131
Mahalo AuntPatsy~ Cha Dec 2014 #136

Cha

(297,029 posts)
3. Mahalo SKP~ Aloha #BlackLivesMatter from Hawaii.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:09 AM
Dec 2014


Roberto Blizzard @VeganYogaDude
Follow
RT@Bipartisanism: Hawaii says 'Aloha' #America &is shuttingdownstreets4 #EricGarner
#BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
5:58 PM - 8 Dec 2014

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/08/they-tried-to-bury-us-they-didnt-know-we-were-seeds/

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
4. Bravo!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:15 AM
Dec 2014

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And I'm not even much of a sports fan, except for "supporting the home team."

K&R!



Cha

(297,029 posts)
5. Neither am I, silverweb.. but, I support these Black Athletes standing up for #ICantBreathe!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:25 AM
Dec 2014

I am so proud of them.. Stepping right up for Justice.. may this be just the beginning.

Mahalo~

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
12. Amen to that!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:13 AM
Dec 2014

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]More importantly, these athletes are heroes to a lot of young people, who emulate them. I'm so proud and grateful that they're standing strong against injustice and violence.



silverweb

(16,402 posts)
14. Indeed.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:17 AM
Dec 2014

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And our young people. (See edited post above after you responded.)

Cha

(297,029 posts)
15. Vital point.. "More importantly, these athletes are heroes to a lot of young people, who emulate
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:22 AM
Dec 2014
them. I'm so proud and grateful that they're standing strong against injustice and violence."

Mahalo silverweb

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
7. Hats off to a brave bunch of guys!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:49 AM
Dec 2014

Won't be long until Adidas picks up the slogan but that's not necessarily a bad thing!





Cha

(297,029 posts)
8. I'm so proud of these guys.. I can imagine how their Mamas must feel.. bursting! We're feeling it
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:56 AM
Dec 2014

in Hawaii, too, ucr~



Roberto Blizzard @VeganYogaDude
Follow
RT@Bipartisanism: Hawaii says 'Aloha' #America &is shuttingdownstreets4 #EricGarner
#BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
5:58 PM - 8 Dec 2014

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/08/they-tried-to-bury-us-they-didnt-know-we-were-seeds/

Yeah, you never know what's next.. may it keep going and spreading the force for Justice.

Jamaal510

(10,893 posts)
9. Oh well...
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 02:58 AM
Dec 2014

there's always hockey and soccer.
Oh wait--those sports are for Canadians and other non-Amurrikans and furrners.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
10. I love these Black Athletes standing up for Justice, Jamaal.. I'd like to see some
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:01 AM
Dec 2014

Caucasian bros standing up too.. that'd be great!

Thank you

 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
19. What does beauty have to do with this pmrotest?
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:40 AM
Dec 2014

Is an ugly arthlete not allowed to psrticipate?

 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
121. You did not answer my question..
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 12:55 AM
Dec 2014

Is an ugly athlete allowed to participate? Why is beauty even a part of this thread?

sheshe2

(83,710 posts)
23. This is going to be short and sweet
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 04:04 AM
Dec 2014

I had to log back in, I got cut off.

I can't breathe~





So many tears Cha.

I gotta go.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
25. Their Mamas must be bursting with pride at their beautiful sons standing up for Justice, she..Hawaii
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 04:12 AM
Dec 2014

Cares, too!



Roberto Blizzard @VeganYogaDude
Follow
RT@Bipartisanism: Hawaii says 'Aloha' #America &is shuttingdownstreets4 #EricGarner
#BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
5:58 PM - 8 Dec 2014

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/08/they-tried-to-bury-us-they-didnt-know-we-were-seeds/

hopemountain

(3,919 posts)
30. nothing more beautiful than to see
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 05:14 AM
Dec 2014

people standing proudly in their truth - speaking from their hearts.

mahalo, cha

Cha

(297,029 posts)
35. A Big Thank you to you, Steve! Really good role models for our younger generation watching all this
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 05:50 AM
Dec 2014

play out..

Response to Cha (Original post)

Cha

(297,029 posts)
40. Oh, we definitely had a poor bumbling racist on this thread.. wanting to flame out.. obviously
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 06:47 AM
Dec 2014

having nothing better to do in his life.

Response to steve2470 (Reply #39)

rurallib

(62,401 posts)
90. crossed my mind also - would be a great statement
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:36 PM
Dec 2014

if athletes of all colors and backgrounds stood in solidarity!

 

Vattel

(9,289 posts)
102. Yes, if only I was a professional basketball player, I would join in solidarity
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:45 PM
Dec 2014

(and I would be rich too!)

malaise

(268,845 posts)
46. I'd love to hear Harry Edwards comments on this moment
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:59 AM
Dec 2014

It is historical and significant.

Nice to see Jay Z in the middle of it. Time for the rest of musicians to wake up.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
51. Hi Judi Lynn.. wanted you to see this too.. in case you didn't know.. quite sweet..
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:30 AM
Dec 2014

VANITY FAIR Heavy check mark @VanityFair
Follow
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen hire food trucks to feed hungry protestors in New York. http://vnty.fr/1yYCq7G
12:30 PM - 7 Dec 2014 4,303 Retweets 4,708 favorites

Ashley Reynolds @Ashley_Reynolds Follow
Again. John Legend and Chrissy Tiegen provided huge dinners for thousands of protestors in NYC & Ferguson. I have so much respect for that!

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/07/the-president-delivers-remarks-at-the-kennedy-center-honors-reception/

Cha

(297,029 posts)
50. Yes, that would be interesting.. i just looked him up. Here's a musician and his wife standing up..
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:22 AM
Dec 2014

VANITY FAIR Heavy check mark @VanityFair
Follow
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen hire food trucks to feed hungry protestors in New York. http://vnty.fr/1yYCq7G
12:30 PM - 7 Dec 2014 4,303 Retweets 4,708 favorites

Ashley Reynolds @Ashley_Reynolds Follow
Again. John Legend and Chrissy Tiegen provided huge dinners for thousands of protestors in NYC & Ferguson. I have so much respect for that!



http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/07/the-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/

Mahalo malaise

Cha

(297,029 posts)
58. I'm listening to the music vid now.. it's quite good.. it's got "Ferguson" in it.. written before
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:47 AM
Dec 2014

#ICantBreathe I think.

logosoco

(3,208 posts)
66. That is a beautiful song.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 09:34 AM
Dec 2014

I am glad he is adding his voice here, and the athletes as well.
An old friend on FB has surprised me with his comments on this. He said he won't watch the Rams. Too bad for him. He missed two games in a row where the other team didn't score at all. I don't follow football, but my husband said that is pretty rare.

I hope everyone in the public eye keeps this going. It is great to see the racists come out of the wood work and squirm! They have been dragging this country down for ages, and it's time for them to stop.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
67. Isn't it a beautiful song, logosoco?! I wish everyone could hear it.. yeah, that is too bad about
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 09:42 AM
Dec 2014

the racists hurting themselves and others because of their ignorance. We've had a couple of sick ones on tonight coming out of that woodwork.. wanting to flame out.. and they did.

These athletes and musicians standing up for Justice are so good for the younger generation who look up to them.. for all of us. So proud of them. I can imagine how their Mamas and Daddies feel.

Blue_Adept

(6,397 posts)
52. Take them out of their uniforms...
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:31 AM
Dec 2014

and all these racists see are thugs. They put their blinders on for the sport, but heaven forbid any of them have lives and experiences that reflect what practically all African Americans go through.

Response to Blue_Adept (Reply #52)

Spazito

(50,232 posts)
79. It was wonderful to see, I was very happy to see the coverage on the news...
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:13 AM
Dec 2014

this is a movement not merely a statement!

Cha

(297,029 posts)
85. Mahalo Spazito.. you're exactly right.. it's a movement with Protesters all across the country who
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 06:44 PM
Dec 2014

are feeling the injustice so strongly. These Black Athletes are people that kids look up to and to have them come out on the forefront of this is so important.

Spazito

(50,232 posts)
101. Watching coverage of all the protests night after night has been very encouraging...
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:41 PM
Dec 2014

all ages, all races, males and females united in the fight for justice!

Cha

(297,029 posts)
103. Thank you for that.. I don't have a tv.. hope it's on American TV, too.. probably not quite like
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:45 PM
Dec 2014

Canadian Broadcasting

Here's from Hawaii..



Roberto Blizzard @VeganYogaDude
Follow
RT@Bipartisanism: Hawaii says 'Aloha' #America &is shuttingdownstreets4 #EricGarner
#BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
5:58 PM - 8 Dec 2014

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/08/they-tried-to-bury-us-they-didnt-know-we-were-seeds/

Spazito

(50,232 posts)
105. Great pics from Hawaii!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 09:00 PM
Dec 2014

I watch CBC during the day and MSNBC in the evening, both have done some great coverage, imo. Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell have made it a point to do some coverage on the ongoing protests.

On CBC, they showed a young black woman standing in front of a line of NYPD and she was giving them a lecture, she was amazing. She laid it all out, how it is hard to trust police, how now she would think twice when she was in jeopardy whether to call them or not. She then went on to say she didn't think they were all racists or killers but she thought they were cowards because they don't speak out against the racists in their midst. It really was an astounding, wonderful moment and the crowd behind her loved it.

Edited to add link showing the amazing young woman:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nyc-protester-donysha-smith-calls-on-nypd-officers-to-speak-out-against-violence-1.2863701

NoMoreRepugs

(9,401 posts)
84. Here goes my long held idea -
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 12:45 PM
Dec 2014

want to eliminate voter suppression and the rollback of civil rights in America's South?
Figure out a way to have the top 100 HIGH SCHOOL athletes in football and basketball each year sign a pledge that will not accept a scholarship from a school residing in a state that practices obvious voter suppression/civil rights abuses - I 100% GUARANTEE that states like Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, etc. - will immediately reverse their horrid practices because the fervor with which they support and follow their college teams is something that is of tantamount importance to them.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
94. It's heartwarming, mcar.. after all the injustice to see People standing up against it!
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:51 PM
Dec 2014

Mahalo

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
95. Best sports racism story ever, from Chicago.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:59 PM
Dec 2014

Chicago holds its mayoral elections in April. One year, Harold Washington was bidding to become the Windy City's first African American mayor, in the face of massive white defection to repuke Bernie Epton. (Normally, Chi-town is as Blue as they come.)

So opening day at the old Comiskey Park rolls around, and the White Sox come to bat in the bottom of their first, with Harold Baines leading off. The crowd, as was their custom, started chanting "Ha-rold! Ha-rold!"

Then a hush fell over the crowd. They came back a few seconds later with "Ber-nie! Ber-nie!"

Washington eventually won.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
104. Such whiners.. and yes they probably are racists.. we had a couple of vicious ones on here last
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:49 PM
Dec 2014

night, Stellar.. they got promptly Zapped.

From your link.. Thank you!

"Yet, on sports talk radio all across the country, you'd think Lebron did so much more than this. White fans in droves are calling in with outrage and frustration that Lebron, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, and others are "ruining the experience," "abusing the privilege of being the NBA," "making sports political," and serving as a "distraction from what sports is really all about." If Lebron's T-shirt bothers you that much, you are probably a racist."

Mahalo Stellar

Response to Cha (Original post)

Cha

(297,029 posts)
117. Muchas Gracias. she~ The Laker Team came out with #ICantBreathe Tees before their Game!
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 12:40 AM
Dec 2014
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers wear 'I Can't Breathe' T-shirts before Kings game

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/kobe-bryant-lakers-i-cant-breathe-shirts-kings




Dr. Xavier

(278 posts)
124. For years I hated the Lambs but then this happened...
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:18 AM
Dec 2014


Once you look at that photo look at this URL: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/two-sfpd-officers-still-under-investigation-in-police-shooting-awarded-medals-of-valor/Content?oid=2913666




Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting award... http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/two-sfpd-officers-still-unde...
News » Crime & Courts
|
December 08, 2014
Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting awarded Medals of Valor
@Jonahowenlamb
By Jonah Owen Lamb
COURTESY PHOTO Freddy Martinez was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by an officer for brandishing
what looked like a gun. The alleged weapon was a toy gun. The two officers involved in the incident were recently awarded a Silver Medal of Valor by the Police Department despite two investigations into the incident that are still open.


Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting award...
In the early-morning hours of April 7, 2013, there was a fracas between two groups of men on Valencia Street a block away from the Mission Police Station.
The first officers on the scene -- Ryan Daugherty and officer-in-training Valerie Durkin -- encountered a man waving what looked like a pistol in front of the Good Vibrations sex shop. When Freddy Martinez refused to put down the weapon and waved it in the direction of the officers, Daugherty fired his weapon, wounding Martinez and a bystander, police reported.
Some 19 months after the incident, the Police Department on Nov. 12 honored both officers with Silver Medals of Valor for their actions in the incident.
However, the honors came while two investigations into the incident remain open.
The move, some say, puts a cloud over the medal recipients and creates the image in the public eye that the investigations following an officer-involved shooting don't really matter.
"It's especially appalling when the investigations have not been completed," said Xavier Baeza, Martinez's attorney, who argues that the police version of events diverges with that of some witnesses. Martinez, who was left paralyzed from the waist down, is suing The City in federal court for alleged civil-rights violations.
The investigations into the shooting remain open with several agencies.
As part of an ongoing series looking into police-involved shootings, The San Francisco Examiner analyzed all such recorded incidents since 2000 to gain an understanding of when and why police use lethal force.
Separate investigations by the District Attorney's Office and the Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit are ongoing.
The internal affairs probe, which acts as the administrative investigation for the Police Department, needs to be complete for police to rule on whether the shooting was in policy. That action is pending.
The District Attorney's Office investigation looks into whether there was criminal wrongdoing, which could lead to charges. It, too, remains open.
A third body that looks into such matters, the Office of Citizen Complaints, which was asked before a vote about the medals about any open matters pertaining to the case, said no investigation or complaint related to the 2013 incident is open now or was at the time of the awards approval.
While a Police Department spokesman said the administrative process is all but complete pending the district attorney's letter, which could take years due to a backlog for such documents, a final administrative ruling on the incident has yet to be made.
2 of 5 12/9/14 6:46 PM
Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting award... http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/two-sfpd-officers-still-unde...
Meanwhile, the District Attorney's Office said completion of its investigation rests on more than formalities. And internal affairs' own Aug. 13 report to the Police Commission lists the Martinez shooting as an open case.
The Police Department's official explanation does not sit well with Baeza.
Honoring the two police officers while investigations are open could impact his client's lawsuit against The City, Baeza said. A trial is scheduled for March.
"I think it's pathetic -- that it's an attempt to honor two officers whose actions were not up to the standards of an objective, reasonable police officer," Baeza said.
The Police Commission makes final approvals for the department's highest honors, and it is supposed to be informed when a nominee is under investigation, Commissioner Petra DeJesus said.
When the commission voted to approve the honors in August, DeJesus and her colleagues were told by then-President Thomas Mazzucco and Inspector John Monroe, the commission's clerk, that no investigations were open.
But those statements were false, as the commission knew the status of the investigations when it voted. Commissioners had a report by internal affairs from Aug. 13 on all open cases, including the Martinez incident.
DeJesus said a policy for such matters should be adopted so everyone can make "informed decisions."
Mazzucco has argued in the past that officers should not have to wait for honors on the DA, whose investigations can take years even when the department has completed its inquiry.
The commission does not have a rule baring approving medals for officers involved in incidents still under investigation, but DeJesus said at the August meeting that the commission should discuss creating such a rule.
"We have a commitment to ensure our process is comprehensive and thorough," current Police Commission President Suzy Loftus said. "We are always open to improvements and will review the standing procedures," she added in a statement, which did not speak to whether the commission plans on looking into changing the status quo.
This is not the first time officers were awarded medals under such circumstances, or the first time the commission seemingly failed to check on such matters.
In 2013, Officer Mary Godfrey was given a Silver Medal of Valor for a 2012 incident. At the time, Mazzucco said Godfrey had been vetted by the OCC and Police Department and had no issue with moving forward with approving her honor.
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Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting award... http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/two-sfpd-officers-still-unde...
Former Commissioner Angela Chan was the only commissioner who voted against the approval.
In 2000, the commission held off on awarding medals for two officers involved in a 1998 shooting incident that ended in the death of ad executive John Smart.
While the District Attorney's Office and internal affairs investigations were complete, the OCC's was not. After discovering the oversight, the medals, which had already been approved, were put on hold by Dennis Herrera, who was commission president at the time and is now the city attorney.
Herrera's office did not return a request for comment.
After the issue arose, then-Police Chief Fred Lau told The Examiner that the department's medal committee would start checking with all the relevant agencies before putting forward nominees.
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They are a valid response to police brutality The violence takes away from the message There should be no protest, cops are just doing their jobs They help bring attention to the issue of race in America
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jlamb@sfexaminer.com
How do you feel about the protests erupting over the two cases of black men killed by police?
4 of 5 12/9/14 6:46 PM
Two SFPD officers still under investigation in police shooting award... http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/two-sfpd-officers-still-unde...

Let me know what you think? I'll let you know how you can help.

Dr. X

 

certainot

(9,090 posts)
125. ironically, 28% of rush limbaugh radio stations (170+) depend on athletes
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:18 AM
Dec 2014

between 25 and 40% of all 1200 or so republican talk radio stations depend heavily on broadcasting sports for community cred and ad dollars. republican radio as a whole probably couldn't survive without it.

many pro and college teams are being used to sell excuses for the racism and make it more acceptable, and have been for decades, by the radio stations that rent their team logos. more than a few cops probably listen to republican talk radio. in places like mizzou it's the only free source for news weather sports traffic, and politics.

those republican radio stations have all been making excuses for police brutality and murderous cops, and many of them have been using racism for 25 years to divide the country and sell koch bros/ALEC style voter suppression. fox is small potatoes compares with talk radio.

the athletes can't do much about that but our communities can. i love seeing protests and expressions like that and shutting down highways, but maybe protestors can also include some radio stations and the universities that support them.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
127. Thank you for this, Cha.
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 01:26 AM
Dec 2014

These players are worshipped by so many, especially the young. It's important that they speak up against injustices. Sports has always been an important part of the fight for civil rights. To take the opportunity to become a hero to so many, comes with the responsibility to act like one in all arenas. These guys are doing that.

Thanks again, Cha.

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