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.
by Laghe Andrews | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Social Justice |
WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun her Russian prison sentence after a judge ruled, she will face nine years behind bars. The decision came in August after the athlete was caught traveling with cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. Griner is reportedly facing racism, homophobia and grueling work days in prison. She is said to be working 12-hour shifts in the prison factory and is not allowed to have any contact with the outside world.
According to The Athletic, she is one of only two African-American inmates at the prison, and she has been subjected to racist slurs from both inmates and guards. Griner is also said to be facing homophobic abuse from both inmates and guards. Griner is reportedly struggling to adjust to the conditions and is feeling isolated and alone. Despite the difficult situation, Griner remains positive and is hopeful that she will be released early.
Griner has been outspoken about her sexual orientation and has been an advocate for the LGBT community. She will now be forced to serve her sentence in a country that is notoriously anti-gay Griner’s case highlights the harsh reality of drug laws in many parts of the world. While possession of small amounts of cannabis is often treated lightly in the West, it can still lead to lengthy prison sentences in other parts of the globe.
by Jesse Swindell | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Social Justice |
Yesterday, local Maryland news station WLBT 3 shared that a Black Starbucks customer recently went through a troubling situation while visiting the popular coffee chain. Monique Pugh, was waiting for her coffee at a Starbucks when she noticed the word “monkey” written on her cup. She said that she asked the barista why her drink had that word on it, and the employee explained that it was because her name is Monique.
Monique said that she was immediately upset and felt disrespected by the barista who had written the word on her cup. She confronted the employee, who reportedly responded by saying that “monkey” is a common nickname for people with names like Monique. Starbucks has since issued an apology to Monique and has suspended the employee involved. They are also investigating the incident to make sure that something like this doesn’t happen again in the future. The customer said she is still considering whether or not to pursue legal action against Starbucks
Hopefully, this latest incident will prompt Starbucks to take even stronger action to ensure that all of its customers feel safe and respected when they visit one of its. This is just one example of the racism that Black people face on a daily basis. It’s sad that in 2022, we’re still having to deal with such blatant disregard and disrespect. Hopefully, incidents like these will help to show people that change is still needed in our society.
by Jesse Swindell | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Social Justice |
On Monday (Nov. 28), five Connecticut police officers were charged with misdemeanors after a person in their custody became paralyzed during a transport. Officers searched him and found a small amount of marijuana, leading to his arrest. Randy Cox was then placed in the back of a police cruiser, where he was allegedly beaten by the officers.
He was later taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had suffered a spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. The five officers – Darrin Spaulding, Patrick Moynahan, Robert Lawrence, Joshua Lawler and Craig Chandler – have now been charged with misdemeanor counts of second-degree assault and falsifying evidence.
This is yet another example of police brutality against a black person resulting in serious injuries or death. In recent years, there have been many high-profile cases of black people being killed by police. Police brutality against black people is a major problem in the United States, and these latest charges against the Connecticut officers are a step in the right direction towards bringing justice to those who have been harmed by such brutality.
” The state’s attorney’s office released a statement on Monday announcing the charges against the officers, which include negligent homicide, excessive use of force, and reckless endangerment. If convicted, the officers could face up to one year in prison.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Dec 8, 2022 | Latest, Music News, New Music Alert |
Life is never about where you’re from, but what you become.
Sixteen thousand five hundred forty-three people reside in Stuart, Florida, as of 2019. The city of Stuart, Florida, is known for a lot of things, but not for Hip-Hop.
Major Recording Artist Cris Cray is driven to become a Hip-Hop Icon & open doors for future Generation Z music creators coming “Straight Outta Stuart.” The childhood of Cris Cray was influenced heavily by music, crime, drugs, economic struggles, rage, passion, & love. As a child, his parents encouraged his musical vision and inner desire to create music. Having watched the Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac rap videos as a child, he started writing lyrics from them.
They inspired Cris Cray to dream of being an Icon of Hip-Hop due to their lyrical delivery & swag. Cris Cray’s lyrics always centered around his passion for life, self-empowerment, defining your purpose, & spiritual healing.
When Cris Cray was just 18, he experienced the harsh realities of incarceration. As a result of his imprisonment, Cris reflected on his life, mistakes, and associates and discovered a new purpose for his music.
Cris Cray is cut from a rare musical cloth in life.
For Cris Cray, crafting lyrics that uplift & motivate youth culture became his new mission. Cris Cray understood the power of God & how he was able to save himself during the darkest moments of his incarceration due to his divine intervention.
It is rare for a person in this world to be able to understand how blessings from the highest force in the universe should be interpreted. Cris Cray can extract raw emotions from his soul and convey them through music as spiritual, inspirational poems.
In 2018, Cris Cray launched his own Multimedia Company, which includes a record label, a clothing line, T.V./Film & global merchandising. Since 2018, Cris Cray has dropped multiple radio singles to critical acclaim from upper-echelon music executives.
The lead track, “Spiritual,” has become a favorite among fans on Instagram and Spotify. ‘Spiritual’ lyrics express people’s deepest desires, faith, and perspectives. ‘Spiritual’ is currently in heavy radio rotation on 99.7 DA HEAT MIAMI powered by iHeartRadio.
Cris Cray is a leading Generation Z voice in the NFT, Web3, and crypto markets. He’s currently integrating his music, message, and brand into the blockchain world.
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