Rania Khalek Dispatches from the Underclass
/ December 7, 2012 / 8 Comments

Unarmed black couple shot 137 times by police after high-speed chase

Last week, 13 Cleveland police officers fired 137 bullets at an unarmed black couple following a high-speed car chase.  The bodies of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30, were riddled with two dozen bullet holes each and their families are demanding answers. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation led by none other than the Cleveland Police Department.

So far, the police version of events has raised even more questions as to what prompted the 13 officers (12 white and one hispanic according to Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath) to shoot in the first place. Cleveland’s Fox affiliate reports:

The November 29 chase was prompted by one officer’s belief that one of the occupants in the suspects’ car fired a shot at them near the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland.

During the pursuit, several patrolmen reported seeing the driver or passenger with what they believed to be a gun in their hands.

This alleged gunshot led 30 police cruisers to embark on a 22-mile long car chase lasting 25 minutes. But so far, no guns or shell casings have been recovered from the car or along the chase route. But Jeff Folmer, President of the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association, hasn’t lost hope, saying “Right now, we can’t find a gun, and I hope that gun shows up someday, but the officers believe that there was a gun in there.” There is some speculation that the sound police identified as gunfire was actually the victim’s car backfiring, which his minister says happened often due to a faulty muffler. Still, Police seem optimistic that gunshot-residue tests being performed  by the coroner’s office, will prove them right. Read More

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/ December 6, 2012 / Leave a comment

Propaganda Deja Vu? Media uncritically echoes unnamed US officials on Syria's chemical weapons

“All governments lie.” — I.F. Stone

The mainstream media is at it again, uncritically regurgitating the vague and unverified claims of anonymous American intelligence officials who say that Syria’s Bashar al-Assad has readied chemical weapons to use on his people.

There’s no doubt that Assad, whose family has passed down authoritarian rule of Syria like an heirloom, appears to have committed war crimes for which there is no excuse.

That being said, the mainstream media is so invested in villainizing the Assad regime, they have neglected to report accurately on certain factions of the armed opposition who have committed atrocities as well. This is partly due to the brutal escalation in violence that has made it unsafe for journalists to report from inside Syria (even the United Nations was forced to pull out its staff), leaving media outlets reliant on information from people on the ground. Since Syria has long been designated as “evil” by the west (an arbitrary label that need not apply to the repressive government’s of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain), the media has followed suit, unquestioningly publishing rebel claims as fact, a trend meticulously documented in an October article by the media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.

In this context, the media’s willingness to parrot unverified claims by unnamed officials about Assad’s alleged plans to use chemical weapons should come as no surprise. That doesn’t mean it can’t be true. After all, Assad is no angel and has track record of unleashing indiscriminate violence. But so did Saddam Hussein when anonymous American officials (better known as Dick Cheney) deliberately spread the lie that he had acquired weapons of mass destruction. Media outlets were happy to take the bait, setting the stage for a war that should have never happened.

That’s not to say that present-day Syria is identical to Iraq 2002, but the mainstream media certainly hasn’t changed, sticking to their preferred and simplistic narrative (Assad is bad, rebels are good, west is a benevolent savior) no matter the cost, which brings us to the latest round of journalist malpractice (re: chemical weapons).

It all started on December 1, when the New York Times reported, “Western intelligence officials say they are picking up new signs of activity at sites in Syria that are used to store chemical weapons. The officials are uncertain whether Syrian forces might be preparing to use the weapons in a last-ditch effort to save the government, or simply sending a warning to the West about the implications of providing more help to the Syrian rebels.” Read More

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/ December 5, 2012 / Leave a comment

Dispatch from poor, black America: "I'm scared of being mistaken for another black person and arrested, shot"

I came across some very moving comments this morning while listening to my favorite podcast, Citizen Radio, hosted by my friends Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny. Jamie read a listener’s email out loud and it went something like this:

The Dallas police, who are notorious for their racism, seem to be a lot more up front about it and are getting less coverage. I’ve been picked up by cops twice in one week for “suspicious behavior”, which I’m still wondering if that’s a real crime. It’s almost like they sense how tired my community and its really easy to keep a weak unit down. Hearing about the shootings of unarmed black teens is getting too frequent. I’m seeing me and my friends questioned and stopped more than ever and even though no one in the community wants to admit, I’m scared. I’m scared of leaving my apartment and being shot, I’m scared of being mistaken for another black person and arrested. I’m scared because it seems to be acceptable by people of all races.

This is the heartbreaking reality of what poor black communities in America have been facing since the intentional formation of inner city ghettos in the 1960s and 1970s, communities that more closely resemble militarily occupied regions of the world than the stereotypical American neighborhood. And the majority of Americans, particularly white Americans, have no idea.

The individual who I quoted above is not exaggerating. Most people probably picture Dallas as an embodiment of Texas culture as portrayed by television and movies (rich oil tycoons, lots of churches, big hair, white men in cowboy hats, you get the picture). But poor minority neighborhoods in South Dallas are much different.

In July of this year, a Dallas police officer chased down and shot dead an unarmed black resident, 31-year-old James Harper, in his South Dallas neighborhood, marking the 14th Dallas police officer-involved shooting in 2012. Harper’s death made headlines, not because another unarmed man of color was killed, but because the surrounding community flooded the street in protest. They were met by police from at least seven Dallas substations decked out in riot gear and backed up by at least three dozen officers from the department’s SWAT team.

It’s no wonder the Citizen Radio listener quoted above lives in constant fear.

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/ December 4, 2012 / Leave a comment

'If you're a young, black man, who you are is threat enough'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_E9vvC2K0

On her MSBC show Sunday morning, Melissa Harris-Perry spoke about the murder of Jordan Davis, an unarmed black 17-year-old in Jacksonville, Florida. She was clear that Davis’s murder was different than Trayvon Martin’s because the shooter, Michael Dunn, was arrested the following day. Still, Harris-Perry went on to address the undeniable similarities between the two cases and I applaud her for doing so because it’s a subject that doesn’t receive nearly enough attention.

In the American consciousness, black men are synonymous with criminality, which explains why our prisons are overflowing with a disproportionate number of black men. It also explains why unarmed black men, like Trayvon and Jordan, are so frequently shot by police and self-appointed vigilantes for appearing “suspicious” or “threatening”.

Harris-Perry had some important and heartfelt words about this: Read More

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/ December 4, 2012 / Leave a comment

Is the US the world's obstacle to addressing climate change?

It’s 70 degrees and sunny outside. The only problem is that it’s December and I live in Northern Virginia, where it’s supposed to be winter not spring. That’s why no matter how beautiful the weather is, I can’t enjoy it because it’s a stark reminder that climate change is here and now.

Yet, on the other side of the globe, the US government is once again derailing climate negotiations at the United Nations Climate Conference, this time in Doha, Qatar. I’m not savvy enough on climate change to lay out the details myself, so here’s a great summary from Greenpeace about US intransigence so far at the climate talks:

The US stands out as a culprit against progress on most issues and the self-righteous claims rattle hopes. The US delegation continues to argue US commitments on finance and pollution reductions are both sufficient and being met. On climate finance, the US continues to block debate on how to fill the Green Climate Fund, which is meant to support developing country efforts. We have seen an aversion to even agreeing to discuss how to increase ambition on emissions targets.

On issues where the US needs to invest little political capital at home, the US has blocked debate, for example, on how to establish common rules to account for pollution reductions. Common accounting rules are vital to understanding if collective efforts are enough. The US also remains a top blocker on negotiations to provide additional short-term financing for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). REDD stands to address 20% of global emissions.

It is not in the national interest of any country to allow catastrophic climate disruption. The hard bargaining, the specious evaluations of domestic progress, and the foot-dragging must stop. Read More

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/ November 29, 2012 / Leave a comment

US, UK terrified Palestinians will use UN status to prosecute Israeli war crimes

Update: The Palestinian Authority won their bid for UN nonmember observer status with 138 UN member states voting yes, 41 abstaining and only 9 voting no (you can probably guess who those 9 states were). Israel and Canada made very angry speeches about how awful Palestinians are for having the audacity to request recognition as a state of deserving human beings. After the historic result, Susan Rice spoke briefly about the US position, calling the vote “unfortunate and counterproductive”  and “a distraction” that creates “further obstacles for peace.”  While its certainly  a positive step, it remains to be seen what, if any, impact this vote will have on Palestinians beyond symbolic theatrics. The Palestinian Authority can now potentially take Israel to the International Criminal Court. The question is whether or not they’ll actually do it. Given their past collusion with Israel, it’s hard to see that happening, but it’s certainly not an impossibility. 

The US has been hard at work in the international arena trying to sabotage the Palestinian Authority’s latest bid at the United Nations. Though the UN upgrade of Palestine from observer to nonmember observer status is largely symbolic, the US and Israel have gone out of their way to stop it from happening. Why? Because, reports the New York Times:

A major concern for the Americans is that the Palestinians might use their new status to try to join the International Criminal Court. That prospect particularly worries the Israelis, who fear that the Palestinians might press for an investigation of their practices in the occupied territories.

The purpose of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, is “to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.”

After Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in 2008/2009, which killed 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza, including 400 children, the Palestinian Authority went to ICC to have Israel’s conduct investigated. But the ICC rejected the bid because “the current status granted to Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly is that of ‘observer’, not as a ‘Non‐member State'”, explained the ICC. Read More

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/ November 28, 2012 / Leave a comment

Shooting of unarmed Florida teen is totally different than Trayvon Martin, says killer's attorney

Michael Dunn’s attorney has assured the media that this case bears no resemblance to Trayvon Martin. CNN reports:

Her client, Michael Dunn, is no “vigilante” but did feel threatened and shot out of “self defense,” the attorney said.

“There are no comparisons to the Trayvon Martin situation,” said Robin Lemonidis, Dunn’s attorney. “He is devastated and horrified by the death of the teen.”

She went on to say, “He’s a brilliant software developer. It was never his intention to kill anyone,” because apparently smart people in highly respected professions aren’t capable of racism and murder.

Michael Dunn, 45, shot and killed Jordan Davis, 17, outside of a gas station after Davis and his friends refused to turn down their music. The only difference between the murder of Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin is that the police arrested Jordan’s killer the following day whereas George Zimmerman’s arrest only came after massive protests had spread throughout the country.

Other than that, these cases are nearly identical. They both involve a white-middle-aged man initiating a confrontation with an unarmed black youth and then shooting and killing said youth out of supposed fear for their life, a fear that only makes sense if you view black boys as inherently criminal and violent.

Still, one could argue that Dunn behaved worse than Zimmerman because after shooting Davis he and his girlfriend fled the scene. At least Zimmerman stuck around for the cops to show up.

On top of that, more details have emerged suggesting that Jordan was shot while trying to drive away:

Ron Davis said his son didn’t own any guns, wasn’t part of a gang and was a good kid. When Dunn pulled out the gun, the teens’ initially thought it was a fake then frantically tried to back up the car before being caught in the gunfire, Ron Davis said.

The father said he talked to two of the teens who were in the car, and they are “really shaken.”

As I wrote in an earlier post, there is speculation that Dunn is likely to invoke “Stand Your Ground”. If that’s indeed the case, Dunn’s attorney will probably go after Davis’ character in the coming days, so don’t be surprised if Davis is suddenly painted as some sort of “thug” for any minor indiscretions Dunn’s defense happens come across.

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/ November 28, 2012 / Leave a comment

Another unarmed black teen shot and killed by a scared white man in Florida

Seventeen-year-old Jordan Davis. (Source: News4Jax.com)

If I had to guess, I would say that 17-year-old Jordan Davis, like most teens, was excited for the weekend on Friday when he and his friends pulled up to a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida. But thanks to the racist fears of an armed white man, Jordan didn’t make it past Friday night.

Michael Dunn, described as a 45-year-old businessman, pulled up to the same gas station and parked right next to Jordan and his friends whose music was too loud for Dunn’s taste. Dunn complained about the music while waiting for his girlfriend who had gone inside the gas station to make a purchase. Moments later, Dunn pulled out his gun and fired between eight and nine shots at the teens, two of which hit Jordan.

So, what did this kid do that was so terrible, Dunn felt gunshots were warranted? According to CNN:

Dunn told police he felt threatened by the response from the teens, the statement said.

Dunn’s attorney, Robin Lemonidis, told CNN Monday that Dunn told police that he reacted after having seen a gun barrel in the window of the teens’ car and after hearing a profanity-laced string of threats against him and his girlfriend while the teens motioned they were opening the door.

Lemonidis said that was when Dunn reached for his gun and opened fire on the vehicle. She added that, “When all the evidence has been flushed out, I believe that it will be extremely clear that Mr. Dunn acted as any responsible firearm-owner would have under the same circumstances.” Read More

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/ November 23, 2012 / Leave a comment

Local police disperse, arrest Black Friday protesters on behalf of Walmart

The treatment of peaceful protesters compared to the unruly and sometimes violent crowds of stampeding Black Friday shoppers couldn’t be more different. While the former is ostracized and forcibly removed by police, the latter is encouraged to come out for a competitive brawl over marked off goods. Nowhere is this contrast more clearly defined than in the police treatment of Walmart protesters over the last 24 hours.

On Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, at least 1,000 Walmart employees throughout the country have walked off the job to protest Walmart’s poor labor practices. While these historic developments are exciting, local police departments have been happy to disperse and even arrest strikers and their supporters on behalf of the world’s largest retailer.

At a Walmart store in Paramount, just outside of Los Angeles, some 1,500 people rallied against Walmart. Josh Eidelson, who is live-blogging about the Walmart strikes at The Nation, reports that “Nine people have been arrested for sitting in the street on Lakewood Boulevard, including three striking Walmart retail workers from area stores: Charlene Fletcher and William Fletcher from Duarte, and Martha Sellers from Paramount.”

Demonstrators are arrested by police after protesting outside a Walmart store Friday Nov. 23, 2012, in Paramount, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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/ November 23, 2012 / Leave a comment

Video: Dispatches from a Gaza hospital during Israel's assault

The following video was taken on the fifth straight day of Israel’s assault in the densely populated Gaza Strip. The scenes are from Al Shifa Hospital on Novemeber 18 and show victims, mostly children, of the Israeli bombardment. It was posted by Egyption activists who spent the night at the hospital. (Note: be sure to click the captions button, cc, at the bottom right for english subtitles.)

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