KEY MOMENTS AND EVENTS
California bans grand juries in fatal shootings by police
By Tracey Kaplan, San Joe Mercury News 08/11/2015 Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday making California the first state in the nation to ban the use of grand juries to decide whether police officers should [...]
I Am the Black Woman Who Interrupted the Netroots Presidential Town Hall, and This Is Why
By Tia Oso, Black Alliance for Just Immigration. I did this to focus the attention of the nation's largest gathering of progressive leaders and presidential hopefuls on the death of Sandra Bland and other black women killed while in police custody, because the most important and urgent issue of our day is structural violence and systemic racism that is oppressing and killing black women, men and children.
Cuomo Appointed A Special Prosecutor For New York Killings Involving Police
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed an executive order Wednesday appointing a special prosecutor to handle cases involving civilians who die at the hands of police.
As We Mourn Charleston’s Victims, Philanthropy Must Act
By Nakisha M. Lewis, Tynesha McHarris, and Allen Kwabena Frimpong. But the systemic changes needed to end the violence won’t happen unless this movement gets the resources to build an infrastructure that harnesses a strong network of organizers and organizations.
#KeepItDown Confederate Flag Takedown
After the hate-fueled killing of nine black churchgoers and a week of debate about the Confederate flag’s presence at the South Carolina statehouse grounds, this 30-year-old woman took matters into her own hands. She woke up before dawn, strapped on climbing equipment and scaled a 30-foot flagpole. By the time the flag was in her hands, she knew she would be arrested.
Black Churches Are Burning Again in America
This week, there were fires in at least six predominantly African American churches. Arson at religious institutions has decreased significantly over the past two decades, but the symbolism remains haunting.