Am I Not Human: Stand For Troy Davis

How is it possible that in a country that claims to fight for freedom and justice, a man that is likely innocent [after 7 out of 9 witnesses recanted their testimonies against him advising they were coerced by police to testify a certain way] sits on death row after rejected appeals to be seen in court to have new evidence looked over? And why would the state of Georgia refuse to allow the press to see him, though it is his right? It is a twisted rejection of justice that must be undone. I believe with enough of a spotlight upon the State of Georgia, the pressure will bring about the only satisfactory change- a true reexamining of Troy Davis' case and his subsequent and inevitable release.

The NAACP has joined this fight, launching an Iamtroy.com website to collect petition signatures and raise public awareness of his case, alongside Amnesty International who have been fighting for Troy for sometime now. Please take time to familiarize yourself with this case if you haven't already and add your voice to the growing number of voices demanding justice for Troy Davis and others like him who do not belong behind bars for a crime they did not commit.

On behalf of Troy Davis we ask:

We hope to see Troy speaking with the press very soon about his pardon, and release from an 18 yr. imprisonment that was exacted against him without any physical evidence, and with the testimonies of witnesses who recanted in large when they were no longer under the pressure of renegade officers forcing them to make untrue statements against him. It seems to me there are fraudulent law enforcers on several levels that should be locked away for their criminal behavior against the innocent. Hopefully when this is cleared up, they will be made to atone for their crimes.

Help Prevent Child Marriage

Children as young as eight years of age have been forced into marriage too many times to count. They are more susceptible to being victims of domestic violence, and we can't forget that childbearing when too performed at too young an age actually causes death more often in youth than it does for a women of a more appropriate age (from 20 yrs and older).

The voices of the youth have too often been ignored until unspeakable acts can no longer remain in the dark. It doesn't have to go that far. Concerned adults can stand for the rights of children now. We can make enough noise to make a difference.


Click the image to take action to prevent Child marriage.


Note:
If you're interested in blogging for human rights on Roots of Humanity contact: RootsofHumanity at gmail.com

Shine your light.

Am I Not Human: Human Trafficking

The silent, vicious underbelly of world society has supported the slave trade of women, and children for the purposes of forced prostitution and unpaid labor to and unforgivable degree of depravity and length of time, but it's voice has been largely ignored by a media that would rather give coverage to under-garment revealing mishaps of famous personalities, and propaganda designed to generate political support for various profit-generating efforts and/or smear campaigns aimed at political parties that completely distract and direct mass attention away from important issues impacting our world.

While we enjoy the fruits of our labors -- though admittedly many of us struggle to enjoy even that, there are voiceless people who have been reduced to slaves, hidden by a corrupt secret market that exploits the innocence of those who have found themselves alone and vulnerable, or who have even been sold to it by their own families.

Fortunately there are voices who refuse to be silenced, and share vital information with the masses who think for themselves and seek news that informs rather than brainwashes, or dumbs down the intellect.

A film documentary entitled 'Call and Response' has been created to bring to light the devastating effects of the evils in this hidden slavery system that has found itself widespread from the West to the East. Created by a musician who happened upon the horrors of sexual slavery during a celebratory weekend, this film is intended to wake us up to the realities that very real, very innocent children and individuals in general are facing in society --even in the 'Free World'.

The trailer for the film certainly may be shocking for some. Please watch this before deciding whether or not to share this footage with the youth in your home.

We hope you'll spread the word about this film, join the mailing lists of sites that focus on undoing this harmful system so you can participate in action alerts, and pray/meditate for a world that holds precious: 'the right to exist' peacefully.

On behalf of the children and individuals subjected to Modern Day Slavery we ask:

Here are some sites you can visit to be place on mailing lists, and inform yourself about actions you can take to help undo this epidemic:


www.EndHumanTrafficking.org
www.NotForSaleCampaign.org
http://www.humantrafficking.org/



Related intel:

PA court champions children by upholding that viewing child pornography is illegal.

Am I Not Human: Police Brutality Am I Not Human

It bears repeating, as the the number of police brutality incidents seems to be rising. Unchecked, one has to wonder how far police brutality will go? How safe are we as civilians? As a child I was always directed to wave to officers, and feel safe with them in the community. I'm aware there are plenty of good officers who are dedicated to protecting and serving the community, but what of the renegades who endanger innocent civilians through various forms of bullying that on too many occasions have resulted in severe injury and death?

The recent Day of blogging for justice focused on putting a stop to pre-trial electrocution, and measures are being taken by the NAACP to see that police brutality is taken seriously. It lends hope that through the raising of our voices, awareness, and the insistence of our actions we can ensure our communities are served by those who are able to restrain individuals when necessary, without the danger of death becoming a factor, due to negligence or plain malice.

Please raise your voice in this stand for the safety of our communities. Blog your views. Share links to blogs focusing on raising awareness about police brutality. Spread the word persistently.




Was Oscar Grant not human? Was the 16 year male tasered to death recently after a routine traffic stop not human? Was the elderly wheelchair bound woman tased to death (10 times) not human?

There must be a stronger regard for human life, and a respect for the force continuum put in place to ensure tasers are used by law enforcement correctly and safely. Severe consequences need to be a factor put in place to dissuade renegade behavior, and ensure safety for innocent civilians.

Please sign this petition requesting Congressional investigation into brutal police-inflicted Taser torture: http://www.petition2congress.com/2/1822/taser-torture-in-america-call-congressional-hearings/


Thankyou to everyone participating in the Am I Not Human campaign. Your voices are appreciated. I applaud you stand.

The NAACP is investigating Excessive use of tasers by police

According to Electronic Village:

"The NAACP Frederick County Branch is seeking information and testimony from people about alleged excessive use of Tasers by police. NAACP has been looking into the use of tasers after the death of Jarrel Gray in November 2007 by Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputy Corp. Rudy Torres."


Thought to be involved in an altercation that included at least 4 or 5 people, in a parking lot in the Gresham Court East housing complex on November 18, 2007, Jarrel Gray, a hearing impaired man was shocked twice by taser and killed.
The supposed justification for this is connected to Officer Rudy Torres' order to four people to show their hands. When Jarrel Gray did not respond by showing his hands he was tasered.
Jarrel was intoxicated, a fact backed up by witness testimonies, but this does not negate the fact that the officers were warned that Jarrel was far too incapacitated to do well with direction. After the first taser shock, there was no sign of movement from Gray, but he was tasered again for no apparent reason 23 seconds later. Gray's hands were beneath him during this time. Officers claimed they thought Gray had 'passed out', but officers didn't check his pulse after attacking him with the taser. His pulse was only checked when emergency personnel arrived on the scene and discovered Gray had gone into cardiac arrest. They proceeded to do CPR on him to no avail, as he died 3 hours later. The cause of death was determined to be a combination of the method of restraint chosen by police on the scene, alchohol intoxication, and Gray's anatomical makeup.

Officer Torres was somehow cleared of wrongdoing, but it won't stand. An innocent life has again been taken by an officer who took an oath to protect and serve. That cannot be discounted. An oath and duty of that magnitude are not made of hollow words. They have to mean something. Gray's family filed a $145 million federal lawsuit against Frederick County, and rightly so.

Is it necessary to taser someone who isn't posing a threat? No. It isn't. Why wasn't Mr. Gray simply handcuffed and brought to the station? Why was electrocution necessary in this situation. I truly do not see a cause for the taser to have been pulled out at all, in this instance.

What of the rules associated with Force continuum?

Officers that act as renegades and do not follow the rules create a major problem in society, to put it mildly. I'm relieved the NAACP is finally taking action. Many, many innocent lives have been taken by renegade officers. It's long been time to find a solution to this dilemma, as it absolutely cannot go on. It is a problem that has plagued the United States and countries abroad.

Tasing Violations of Human Rights

SARA BENNETT
Amnesty International, USA
5 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-4160
sbennett@aiusa.org

RE: Tasing Violations of Human Rights

Dear Sara Bennett:

Please convey to our friends at Amnesty International that on Friday, April 24, the AfroSpear will declare this, “A Day of Blogging for Justice - Standing up against the pre-trial electrocution”, internationally.

It coincide the latest taser death of Michael Jacobs, a mentally ill black man, in my home town of Fort Worth, Texas.

We have a strong local base of support. On today, I had a chance to meet with the Fort Worth Chief of Police Jeffrey Halstead, and community activists representing the African-American community and the family.

We have waged a battle against Taser International, Inc., which started out an unregulated weapons manufacturer. Finally, after the rising sales of taser weapons and rising number of casualties, and numerous court defenses against lawsuits, Taser International finally conceded to issue some Product Warnings.

The warnings are adequate enough to immunize the company against wrongful death liabilities. If police departments around the country use the weapon, as it was designed to be used, in theory, there should be no fatalities.

There has been video footage upon footage of taser abuse and death. The AfroSpear has documented the history in the movement to stop the use and abuse of tasers, and the recordings of actual deaths, where subjects were tasered repeatedly until they expired.

The taser death of Michael Jacobs fit the profile of “Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome”, one of the product label warnings. Because Jacobs’ mental illness, he was more susceptible to dying after a taser shot and retrained.

Signs of Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome include: extreme agitation, bizarre behavior, inappropriate nudity, imperviousness to pain, paranoia, exhaustive exertion, “superhuman” strength, hallucinations, sweating profusely, etc.

The Product Warning label includes, among other things:

Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome Awareness. If a subject is exhibiting signs or behaviors that are associated with Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome, consider combining use of a TASER device with immediate physical restraint techniques and medical assistance. Signs of Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome include: extreme agitation, bizarre behavior, inappropriate nudity, imperviousness to pain, paranoia, exhaustive exertion, “superhuman” strength, hallucinations, sweating profusely, etc.

Muscle Contraction-Related Risks. The TASER device can cause strong muscle contractions that may result in physical exertion or athletic-type injuries. In certain instances this may be serious for some people, such as those with pre-existing conditions and/or special susceptibilities. This may also occur in instances Sudden in-custody death results from a complex set of physiological and psychological conditions characterized by irrational behavior, extreme exertion, and potentially fatal changes in blood chemistry.

The description of Michael Jacobs’ death is classic to the definition above of Sudden In-Custody Death Syndrome.

Product Safety should be an integral part of every police department’s policy on training and deployment of tasers. And when the product safety instructions are ignored, who is liable? And when training is inadequate, who bears the responsibility of a wrongful death?

In the case above, the liability stops at the City of Fort Worth. For wrongful death, they must pay, and pay dearly. Of course, the City holds the Chief of Police responsible, and so does the community.

We are watching and we are blogging.

Prison Reform Becoming A Reality

Senator John Webb from Virginia has proposed a new law that examines our prison system with sweeping reforms. He will need our help to ensure the reforms actually take place. Would you take a moment to thank him for making this bold and necessary move? There is a quick auto-form you can use through Color of Change.

Click here to participate: http://colorofchange.org/webb/?id=1829-227923