by Jonathan P-Wright | Sep 13, 2023 | Latest, POLITICS, Social Justice |
Image Credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
In a shocking revelation, five former officers of the British police force have publicly admitted to circulating racist messages about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This unsettling news has once again brought to the forefront the issue of racism that has been a longstanding concern within the British establishment.
The Guilty Officers and Their Charges
The five officers – Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall, and Trevor Lewton – confessed their guilt at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Their charges included sending grossly offensive racist messages via public communication.
A sixth officer, Michael Chadwell, declined the identical charge and is expected to return to court on November 6. The rest are scheduled for sentencing on the same day.
These officers were previously part of London’s Metropolitan Police Force, serving in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch, responsible for safeguarding politicians and diplomats.
The Incriminating Messages
The officers were arrested and charged following a BBC investigation last year that uncovered their clandestine activities. These included the circulation of offensive and racist messages in a closed WhatsApp group. Their derogatory comments targeted not only the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but also other members of the royal family, such as Prince William, Kate, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and her late husband, Prince Philip. High-profile political figures like U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former interior minister Priti Patel, and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid were also victims of their contemptuous remarks.
The messages were circulated between 2020 and 2022, a period during which none of the accused were serving as officers. According to Newsweek, their conversations also included discussions about the U.K. government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and the floods in Pakistan.
A Not-So-Isolated Incident
This incident is not an isolated one. In 2022, two active officers were discharged from service when their racist conversations on WhatsApp were revealed publicly. Shockingly, one of these messages was even circulated during the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
The Impact of Racism on the Royal Couple
These racist incidents significantly contributed to the decision of the royal couple to relocate to America in 2020. They stepped away from the monarchy, citing the high tension between members of the royal family, the royal institution, and the British tabloid press.
In the 2021 documentary series, The Me You Can’t See, Prince Harry revealed to Oprah Winfrey that the media played a significant role in fostering racial hatred against his wife. He expressed regret over not taking a firm stand against racism earlier in his relationship with Meghan.
by Derrick T Lewis | Aug 24, 2023 | Latest, Social Justice |
Investigative work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the behavior of law enforcement officers in a Northern California precinct has resulted in a series of indictments. The probe, initiated one and a half years ago, scrutinized the officers’ use of force, examined their text messages, and considered complaints lodged by local residents.
On a specific Friday (18th of August), the US Attorney’s Office located in the Northern District of California made an announcement. It stated that a federal grand jury in San Francisco had returned four indictments. These charges were against ten individuals—both current and former officers and employees of the Antioch and Pittsburg precincts.
The Charges
The Antioch officers—Morteza Amiri, Eric Rombough, and Devon Wenger—were each slapped with several charges. These included conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, and the destruction/falsification of records related to federal investigations.
Their alleged misconduct involved discussions about their plans to employ excessive force against citizens. They also unnecessarily deployed K-9s, and other violent actions that were labeled “less lethal”. The indictment, in its 29 pages, also revealed that they shared photos of injured suspects via text. These images were accompanied by messages such as “Yeah buddy, good boy pursy” and “F**k that turd.”
Previous Reports
Earlier in May, REVOLT reported that over a dozen Antioch officers were identified in the FBI’s probe. This investigation was looking into a series of racist texts that dated back to 2019. The messages were described as abhorrent and reprehensible. They depicted an “entrenched culture of hatred, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and violence” within the department. Later in that month, a civil lawsuit was filed against the precinct. This was done on the behalf of five residents and a relative of a man who was fatally shot by an officer.
Mayor’s Response
The Mayor of Antioch, Lamar Thorpe, took to a press conference to discuss the grand jury’s decisions. “To those that have accused me and others of being anti-police for seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department, today’s arrests are demonstrative of the issues that have plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades,” Thorpe said, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
Other Indictments
Amiri is also one of five officers implicated in a college fund fraud indictment. This includes charges for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Wegner is one of two named in a steroid distribution indictment. This includes conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, and destruction, alteration, and falsification of records in federal investigations. A fourth obstruction indictment lists one officer, Timothy Manly Williams, along with deprivation of rights, obstruction of official proceedings, and the alteration, and falsification of records in federal investigations.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Jun 27, 2023 | Latest, Social Justice |
Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash
Atlanta, GA – A grand jury in Atlanta is set to review a high-profile investigation involving six former officers who were fired following the tragic death of Terry Lee Thurmond. The case has stirred public outrage, with allegations that the officers suffocated Thurmond during the incident. Thomas Reynolds, the legal representative for Thurmond’s family, expressed their deep concern, stating, “They suffocated him to death.”
The Georgia grand jury, scheduled to convene in the coming weeks, will delve into the details of the investigation. CNN reported that a reliable source informed them about the prosecutors’ plan to present the case to a panel of their peers. The initiation of this probe stems from the fatal incident in 2022, where several former officers were allegedly involved.
The death of Terry Lee Thurmond, a 38-year-old individual, has raised significant questions about police conduct and accountability. The community has been anxiously awaiting the grand jury’s review to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. The review aims to determine the actions of the former officers and whether they bear responsibility for Thurmond’s untimely demise.
Public outcry and demands for justice have been intensifying since the news broke about the investigation. Social justice advocates and concerned citizens have rallied behind the Thurmond family, calling for transparency and accountability throughout the legal process. The fate of the officers who took his life is in the hands of the grand jury. They will determine if the officers broke the law or not. The victim’s family and friends are hoping for justice. The community is watching closely and wants to trust the law again.
The public eagerly anticipates the outcome of the investigation and hopes that it will provide the answers and accountability they seek.
As the Atlanta, grand jury prepares to embark on this significant undertaking, the focus remains on uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice prevails. We’re not going to let this go. We’re going to find out what really happened to Terry Lee Thurmond, who died in a horrible way. We’re going to look into everything that the ex-cops did, what led up to that awful night, and how they tried to cover it up.
by Tanyette McCoy Davis | Mar 9, 2023 | Latest, Social Justice |
On Wednesday, a video was released of a Black Memphis inmate Gershun Freeman being brutally beaten to death by a group of officers. The victim, identified as 33-year-old Gershun Freeman, can be seen in the video being punched and kicked repeatedly by the officers.
As a society, we have long struggled with issues of police brutality and systemic racism. Unfortunately, that struggle has once again come to the forefront in Memphis, where a group of officers was recently caught on camera brutally beating a Black inmate to death. The footage is horrifying and raises countless questions about the use of force by law enforcement officials.
This tragic incident occurred just one day after the decision was made to not indict the officers involved in the Breonna Taylor shooting. Once again, justice was not served and it sends a clear message that Black lives do not matter to law enforcement.
Gershun Freeman was a Black Memphis inmate who was beaten to death by a mob of officers. In the fall of 2022, Freeman was arrested after his girlfriend accused him of domestic violence and he was charged with domestic violence. The suspect has been taken into custody by the police and has been charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping. Afterward he was then restrained by officers and taken to an outdoor area, where he was repeatedly punched, kicked, and hit with a flashlight. One officer can be seen standing on Freeman’s chest while he is lying on the ground. The officers involved in the incident have not been charged.
In the United States, people of color have long been subjected to violence and discrimination at the hands of law enforcement. This history of racial injustice in law enforcement came to a head in 2020 with the high-profile killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans by police officers. The resulting nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism put a spotlight on the long-standing problem of racial injustice in law enforcement.
Racial injustice in law enforcement is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has its roots in the very origins of American policing. The first formal police force in the United States was established in 1838 in Boston, and it was modeled after British policing methods that were used to control slave rebellions in the West Indies. These methods were then adopted by southern slave patrols, which were created to catch escaped slaves and prevent slave uprisings.
When news of the incident broke, there was outrage among community members and bystanders. Many were shocked and appalled at the violence that was inflicted upon the inmate, and felt that it was unjustified. There were calls for the officers involved to be held accountable, and for justice to be served. The incident has also raised questions about the use of force by police officers and how it is often disproportionately used against people of color. This case is still ongoing, and the outcome will likely have a significant impact on the community.
by Tanyette McCoy Davis | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Social Justice |
On Wednesday (Nov. 23), prosecutors announced the Detroit police officers involved in the shooting death of 20-year-old Porter Burks would not face charges. Officers responded to a 911 call from Burks’ brother on Oct. 23, who said his brother was having a mental health crisis and was armed with a knife.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Kym Worthy: released a statement on Wednesday saying, “After a thorough review of the evidence, we have determined that there is insufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges against either officer in this case.” The footage contradicted the officers’ initial statements that Burks had lunged at them with the knife before they opened fire. The officers then shot him multiple times, and he later died at the hospital. Prosecutors said that while the footage showed Burks did not pose an immediate threat to the officers when he was shot, they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted unlawfully. The decision not to bring charges against the officers has sparked outrage in the community, with many people taking to social media to express their frustration.
The #JusticeforPorter hashtag has been trending on Twitter, with people calling for accountability and transparency in the case. This is yet another example of how the criminal justice system fails to protect Black lives. The family of Burks has since filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that the officers used excessive force and failed to provide medical attention after he was shot. Protesters have taken to the streets in recent days to demand justice for Burks, and his family has vowed to continue fighting for accountability.
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