Politics
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Ferguson, Mo., Activists Are Dying and It’s Time to Ask Questions
The most iconic photo of the Ferguson, Mo., protests, if not the entire Black Lives Matter movement, is of Edward Crawford defiantly throwing a tear gas canister back at riot police. And now he’s dead. Crawford was found shot to death Thursday night in his car, just like activist Darren Seals in 2016 and protester…
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Edward Crawford: Ferguson, Mo., Activist in Iconic Photo Found Dead From Gunshot Wound
Edward Crawford, 27, a Ferguson, Mo., protester and activist, was found in his car dead from a gunshot wound. Reports are not clear on whether the shooting took place Thursday night or early Friday morning. Police investigators are calling it self-inflicted, but they say they have not yet determined whether they believe it to have…
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Roy Oliver, the Texas Cop Who Killed 15-Year-Old Jordan Edwards, Was Previously Suspended for Aggressive Behavior: Report
As the investigation continues into the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was shot and killed by then-Balch Springs, Texas, Police Officer Roy Oliver, more and more details are coming to light. Recently, it was discovered that the prosecutor’s office had once filed a complaint about what it called Oliver’s aggressive behavior. According to personnel…
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Activist Convicted on Criminal Charges for Laughing at Jeff Sessions During His Confirmation Hearings
While the police officers responsible for killing Alton Sterling can rest easy tonight knowing that they will not face criminal charges for murder, an activist was convicted on criminal misdemeanor charges Wednesday for laughing during the confirmation hearings for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. On Jan. 10, 61-year-old Desiree Fairooz, Tighe Barry and Lenny Bianchi,…
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Police Officer Roy Oliver Fired for Fatally Shooting 15-Year-Old Jordan Edwards
Balch Springs, Texas, Police Officer Roy Oliver was fired Tuesday after fatally shooting 15-year-old Jordan Edwards Saturday night as the teen was leaving a party, the Dallas News reports. Jordan’s family released the following statement: We are grateful the decision has been made to terminate the officer responsible for Jordan’s murder. Over the past 24…
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Former SC Cop Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Fatal Shooting of Walter Scott
Updated Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 6:52 p.m. EDT: Michael Slager pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating Walter Scott’s civil rights. “We hope that Michael’s acceptance of responsibility will help the Scott family as they continue to grieve their loss,” said Andrew Savage, Slager’s defense attorney. There’s only one thing: Slager has not accepted responsibility. NPR reports…
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Baton Rouge, La., Police Officers Will Not Be Charged in Alton Sterling’s Death: Report
The Justice Department has decided not to charge the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, according to the Washington Post. Sterling was shot July 5, 2016, after someone called to complain that Sterling was selling CDs out of a car in the parking lot of the Triple S Food Mart and had…
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Jordan Edwards’ Family Releases Statement: ‘Jordan’s Brothers Lost Their Best Friend’
The family of Jordan Edwards, the 15-year-old fatally shot Saturday night by a Balch Springs, Texas, police officer wielding a rifle, have released a statement to The Root via their attorney, S. Lee Merritt. Read the Edwards family’s full statement below: We would first like to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts, prayers, and…
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Texas High School Football Team Mourns Loss of Jordan Edwards, 15-Year-Old Killed by Police
Monday morning was meant to be the first day of spring football practice at Mesquite (Texas) High School. Instead, a group of grieving high school athletes gathered in the hour before classes were scheduled to begin, mourning the loss of one of their very own, who lost his life in a police shooting. According to…