The not guilty verdict that the jury came to is not only unsurprising, it was planned from the start. In the most traumatic moment of her life, Diamond Reynolds had the presence of mind to grab her cell phone. Her boyfriend, Philando Castile, had just been fatally shot by Officer Yanez when Reynolds started streaming...
Tag: philando castile
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We Need Valerie Castile’s Righteous Black Rage
Valerie Castile’s words of anger and mourning mix into a strong potion of Black rage, one that is holy in its justification and righteous in its power. By Devyn Springer TW// Police Brutality, Violence, Death A little under a year ago on July 6th, Philando Castile was shot and killed by officer Jeronimo Yanez while...
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On Philando Castile, Akai Gurley, and Non-Black People of Color’s Complicity in Anti-Blackness
Non-Black people of color, along with white people, are benefiting from and perpetuating state-sanctioned terrorism against the Black community. The term “people of color,” once an umbrella term used to encompass all people who identify as non-white, has become increasingly unuseful. Particularly when it comes to state-sanctioned violence — specifically police violence — statistics show time...
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Where Was Facebook’s “Global Community” When a Girl Was Assaulted on Facebook Live?
Do people who witness crimes on Facebook Live have an obligation to report what they’ve seen to the police? And if they won’t, can Mark Zuckerberg create the “global community” he dreams of? by Danielle Dorsey (Content warning: discussion of sexual assault) Since the launch of Facebook Live, users have live streamed suicides, police brutality, bullying,...
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Police Shooting of Korryn Gaines Has White Privilege Written All Over It
Korryn Gaines becomes another victim and hashtag in the movement for Black Lives. Yesterday, I reported on a case of police brutality coming out of San Francisco involving BART police. The incident occurred this past Sunday. The victim in question is said to have warranted the brutal tactics inflicted on him — wrestled to the...
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Here’s Why Nick Cannon Boycotted Trump At Black Lives Matter Rally
“Lack of representation” brings Nick Cannon to anti-Trump rally during RNC in Cleveland. Actor and rapper Nick Cannon joined Black Lives Matters protestors in Cleveland, Ohio, this week, where conservatives are holding the Republican National Convention. Although Cannon’s presence with BLM activists was meant to highlight the GOP’s unwillingness to take a principled, firm stand...
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How Much Of An Activist For Black Lives Is LeBron James?
Unless Lebron James plans to risk his career and get arrested in the streets during a live Cavs game, public statements and court symbolism are as far as he can go under white supremacist capitalism. It’s never been easy being a Black athlete. First, at the outset of birth of national leagues, Blacks with any...
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North Carolina’s Ban on Body Cam Footage Should Make You Worried
North Carolina’s body-cam bill proves that even small change is too much for a country that fetishizes police and white supremacy. Systemic change can take years to implement. It’s a sobering, if not disquieting, thought. But doing long-term social justice movement work means aligning our hopes and ambitions with this edict. In the immediate aftermath of...
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Black People Have A Right To Feel Conflicted About Mourning Dallas Police Shooting
Feeling Conflicted About Dallas Shooting Doesn’t Make Black People Less Moral Or Decent. It Makes Us Human. Was Micah Johnson wrong for shooting police officers in Dallas? On the surface, this question seems rather simple. Of course, he was wrong, is the immediate, knee-jerk response, for all the obvious reasons. He killed five police officers....
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Finding the Space to Mourn Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in a Post-Colonial Nigeria
by Chi-Chi Okonkwo The first and only person to contact me about Alton Sterling’s death was my younger sister. “They killed another black guy,” her Facebook message read with a sense of dread and urgency. “I’m so angry. This is too much! Write about it.” I knew that if my younger sister was this riled up,...