diff --git a/us_atrocities.md b/us_atrocities.md index f3ff234..d80d45d 100644 --- a/us_atrocities.md +++ b/us_atrocities.md @@ -242,7 +242,8 @@ Notes : - The origins of US police lie in the [slave-catching patrols](https://medium.com/s/story/slavery-and-the-origins-of-the-american-police-state-ec318f5ff05b) of the 1700s. - The Obama era was one of the greatest decreases in working class and [black wealth](https://jacobinmag.com/2017/12/obama-foreclosure-crisis-wealth-inequality) in history: home equity decreased by ~$17k between 2007 and 2016. His housing policies led to millions losing their homes. While Wall street banks recieved $29 Trillion in bailouts, $75 Billion in relief was set aside for housing foreclosures and mortgage assistance. Instead of being paid to families, this was paid to mortgage servicers, and the services found ways to pocket the money and continue foreclosures: by the end of the program, less than 20% of the funds were used, and most had dropped out of the program due to foreclosures. The Obama administration refused to prosecute the fraud, or any of those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis. --- -- On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned George Floyd with his knee on Floyd's neck [for over 7 minutes](https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/05/26/george-floyd-man-dies-after-being-arrested-by-minneapolis-police-fbi-called-to-investigate/), killing him in a manner reminiscient of Eric Garner. Bystander Darnella Frazier [filmed the encounter](https://www.facebook.com/darnellareallprettymarie/posts/1425401580994277). During that time, Floyd moaned, sobbed, "Oh Mama, oh Mama," begged, "Please, please, I can't breathe, I can't breathe" at least 11 times. Other distressed witnesses joined in with "Bro, you've got him down, at least let him breathe, man," and, "He's not even resisting arrest ... he's human, bro." One of the cops responds, "This is why you don't do drugs, kids." After about four minutes, Floyd lost consciousness. Though a witness charged, "You just really killed that man, bro," Chavin kept his knee on Floyd's unmoving neck for another four minutes. Afterwards, protests erupted in dozens of US cities, [with over 50 cases of police brutality. ](https://nitter.net/i/status/1266751520055459847) Many police posed for US Media-friendly photo ops with protesters, then [immediately tear gassed, shot pepper balls, and cleared them from the area.](https://twitter.com/karaokecomputer/status/1267393445603115008?s=20) Over 11k people have been arrested, and several killed, including a 13 year old. +- On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned George Floyd with his knee on Floyd's neck [for over 7 minutes](https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/05/26/george-floyd-man-dies-after-being-arrested-by-minneapolis-police-fbi-called-to-investigate/), killing him in a manner reminiscient of Eric Garner. Bystander Darnella Frazier [filmed the encounter](https://www.facebook.com/darnellareallprettymarie/posts/1425401580994277). During that time, Floyd moaned, sobbed, "Oh Mama, oh Mama," begged, "Please, please, I can't breathe, I can't breathe" at least 11 times. Other distressed witnesses joined in with "Bro, you've got him down, at least let him breathe, man," and, "He's not even resisting arrest ... he's human, bro." One of the cops responds, "This is why you don't do drugs, kids." After about four minutes, Floyd lost consciousness. Though a witness charged, "You just really killed that man, bro," Chavin kept his knee on Floyd's unmoving neck for another four minutes. Afterwards, protests erupted in dozens of US cities, [with over 50 cases of police brutality. ](https://nitter.net/i/status/1266751520055459847) Many police posed for US Media-friendly photo ops with protesters, then [immediately tear gassed, shot pepper balls, and cleared them from the area.](https://twitter.com/karaokecomputer/status/1267393445603115008?s=20) Over 11k people have been arrested, and several killed, including a 13 year old. [Thread of US Police violating the geneva convention](https://twitter.com/roun_sa_ville/status/1269648060159864840?s=20). +- On May 11th, 2020, [27 year old EMT Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend were at their apartment in Louisville Kentucky, when police, doing a no-knock-no-announce raid, stormed in and blindly fired more than 20 shots, killing her.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/black-woman-shot-killed-after-kentucky-police-entered-her-home-n1205651) Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, returned fire, thinking they were intruders. The police were searching for [two drug suspects who were already in police custody, who lived more than 10 miles away from Taylor's house](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Breonna_Taylor). Kenneth Walker was charged with first degree assault and attempted murder, while the cops were placed on paid leave. Walker's case was brough to a grand jury, but after protests erupted, he was released by the judge, and the district attorney moved to dismiss all charges against him. No charges have been brought against the cops who murdered Breonna Taylor. - During the 2020 coravirus pandemic, it was found that a law that empowered police to arrest those for not social distancing, lead to [80% of those arrested being black and latino](https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/nyc-politicians-outraged-after-nypd-reveals-80-of-social-distancing-arrests-have-been-minorities/article_d7c6ff24-d527-50ca-9a52-643957422b32.html). - On October 12th, 2019, yet another police officer went into a home, and [shot and killed the inhabitant, 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson, in Fort Worth, TX.](https://www.fox4news.com/news/woman-fatally-shot-inside-her-home-by-fort-worth-officer) It began with a neighbor who called 911, after seeing a house with the door open - “When I made that non-emergency call, I didn’t say it was a burglary. I didn’t say it was people fighting. I didn’t say anything to make them have a gun. All they needed to do is ring the doorbell,” neighbor James Smith said. The officer has been placed on paid leave. - On June 12th, 2019, [US marshalls shot and killed 20 year old Brandon Webber](https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/5619/Chaos-erupts-following-officer-involved-shooting-in-Frayser-area), as he was getting into his vehicle outside his home. The police have alternately claimed that he rammed them with his car, and that he was carrying a weapon, but aren't releasing details or dashcams. The killing provoked a [strong protest from the community](https://apnews.com/c290fd44dace4fe7b836110de77c1894), police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, and arrested three people. 36 cops were injured from flying rocks and bricks thrown by protestors. Mayor Strickland stated: "Let me be clear, the aggression shown towards our officers and deputies (Wednesday night) was unwarranted." Memphis police have a history of killings of young black men, including Darrius Stewart, an unarmed 19 year old shot and killed in 2015.