The Supreme Court decided important cases today on political bribery, abortion rights and gun rights. The highest court struck down a restrictive Texas abortion law and vacated former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell’s bribery conviction. It upheld a federal gun law that forbids gun ownership if convicted of domestic violence. The court ruled that Texas’ HB2 draconian abortion law is unconstitutional and struck down the abortion law which unduly interferes with the rights of women to obtain an abortion. In a decided ruling of 5-3, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas HB2 law which placed strict standards against abortion doctors, clinics and almost closed all access to abortion in Texas is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court rejected Texas’ argument that the law was intended to protect women’s safety. The law was written to block women’s access to abortions in the State of Texas. While Congress or the Senate has failed to pass any meaningful laws on gun control, the Supreme … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Sweeps in Final Week
Archives for June 2016
Freddie Gray Case Shows Need for Justice Department Oversight
As I sat through the three trials of Baltimore police officers charged with the death of Freddie Gray, it became apparent that the Baltimore police department needs serious independent oversight. Baltimore police cannot police their own police. Just like Freddie Gray, Dondi Johnson was another individual who sustained a fatal spine injury in a Baltimore police van. Johnson and others like Gray’s family received civil settlements. Since 2011, Baltimore City has paid over $13 million in police brutality cases, including alleged rough rides. These incidences, while difficult to prove a “rough ride” theory in a criminal court, should be the subject of Department of Justice oversight. The Department of Justice launched its investigation into the practices and patterns of the Baltimore police department in May, 2015. In the Freddie Gray trials, the state could not prove a rough ride existed, one where the van driver intentionally goes on a maniac driving pattern to rough up the prisoner … [Read more...] about Freddie Gray Case Shows Need for Justice Department Oversight
What Not Guilty for Baltimore Police Officer Means
On June 23, Caesar Goodson was acquitted of all charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray. The most serious charges including 2nd degree murder were facing Goodson, along with manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. The trial and verdict were watched in the U.S. and abroad as the issue of police brutality took center stage. Immediately following the verdict, I spoke from the Baltimore Court house to Fox 5 DC. Here's the segment on Fox 5 DC: … [Read more...] about What Not Guilty for Baltimore Police Officer Means
Gun Violence, Gun Control and Gutless GOP Politicians
A week following the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting and killing of 49 persons, it’s business as usual for many of our GOP politicians. Despite four Senate bills advanced by both parties, no gun control law passed this week. A homegrown terrorist living in the U.S. may still buy an assault weapon and hundreds of cartridges to kill innocent Americans. And many of our Republican lawmakers lack the guts to pass any common sense laws to protect innocent lives from being taken at the hands of a mentally ill or homegrown terrorist. Inaction means more lives will be taken. The bills voted down on Monday ranged from the tepid GOP bill to ban potential terrorists from buying a gun but here’s the caveat—only if, a judge found probable cause to determine the person is actually involved in terrorist activity. Of course, by then, the alleged terrorist would have sufficient time to buy guns and take multiple lives. Our lawmakers couldn’t even agree to bar persons already suspected of … [Read more...] about Gun Violence, Gun Control and Gutless GOP Politicians
Baltimore Police Officer Goodson Trial Recap before Verdict
Officer Caesar Goodson’s trial transcends beyond Baltimore in exposing difficulties in proving police brutality cases when relying on police to investigate other officers. Closing arguments begin on Monday, June 20, in the trial of Caesar Goodson, the van driver and third Baltimore officer, to go to trial for the death of Freddie Gray. Goodson’s trial exposed the heart of the problems with proving these officers guilty of the various crimes for which they are charged in Gray’s death. And Goodson’s trial transcends beyond Baltimore in exposing difficulties in proving police brutality cases when relying on police to investigate other officers. Gray died on April 19, 2015 after being placed in police custody in a police van without a seat belt on April 12, 2015. The state alleges he was given a “rough ride” by van driver officer Goodson, which ultimately resulted in his spinal injuries and death, along with a failure to seat belt Gray, to avoid injury. Goodson faces the most serious … [Read more...] about Baltimore Police Officer Goodson Trial Recap before Verdict
Hillary Clinton Owes a Debt to Shirley Chisholm
Hillary Clinton made history on June 7, 2016 in becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for President. Since the passage of the 19th amendment legally giving women the right to vote, we’ve seen the first woman run for democratic nomination as president of the U.S. No, it was not Hillary Clinton. It was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D. NY) in 1972. It has taken another 44 years for a woman to accomplish the goal that Shirley Chisholm set out to accomplish. History often erases the accomplishments of women and particularly African American and other minority women. And that's why I want Hillary Clinton to unequivocally and repeatedly acknowledge her debt owed to Shirley Chisholm. Congresswoman Chisholm (D. NY) was the first woman to run for the democratic nomination as President of the US. She was also the first African American woman elected to Congress. In 1972, Chisholm became the first African American candidate for president. In doing so, she blazed … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Owes a Debt to Shirley Chisholm