Operation Reach B.L.A.C.K. - Legal News

Days before execution, doubts still exist in Troy Davis case

2011-09-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

On his show Politics Nation, MSNBC's Al Sharpton discussed the Troy Davis case and concerns raised in a case that some feel will result in the death of an innocent man. Mr. Davis was convicted for the 1989 killing of police officer Mark Allen MacPhail. As the following clip demonstrates, questions and doubts surrounding the credibility of witness testimony has led some to believe that executing Mr. Davis would be a tragic injustice.

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WNYC report investigates increased arrests due to stop-and-frisk, potential for illegal search

2011-04-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

New York - WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show" discusses an increase in marijuana arrests and delves into the City's stop-and-frisk policy. In this interview, WNYC addresses whether there is an increase in illegal searches as well.

(image via WNYC.org and Google Maps)

Stop-and-frisk refers to the authority police officers have to conduct a weapon's search of an individual's outer clothing in the event that officer reasonably believes he is dealing with a person who is presently armed and dangerous.

The stop-and-frisk policy stems from a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968). In that case, the court held that there is no violation the 4th Amendment protection against illegal searches and seizures where an officer, acting under a reasonable suspicion that there may be criminal activity and that the individual involved is presently armed and dangerous, conducts a limited search of the outer clothing for weapons.

Despite the stated purpose of a weapons search, the WNYC report suggests that the most common arrests stemming from stop-and-frisk searches are actually low level marijuana offenses, not unlawful weapons possession. So why the disconnect?

The Brian Lehrer Show discusses this in the following interview. Here it is in its entirety, reported by WNYC's Alisa Chang:

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

Trucking companies to pay $10 million in racial harassment settlement

2010-09-16T02:39:00.000-07:00

A large settlement is being reported in a discrimination case out of Chicago. The case involves two trucking companies that are accused of harboring a hostile working environment against its African-American employees.

The settlement will reportedly not include any admission of truth to the allegations or failure to respond to complaints. The parent company of both trucking firms will be monitored for the next five years.

Chicago Sun-Times:

by Mike Nolan

The owner of trucking companies Roadway and Yellow will pay $10 million to settle federal allegations that African-American workers at two Chicago area terminals were subjected to racial harassment that included hangman's nooses and death threats.

About 300 current and former black employees at facilities in Sauk Village and Elk Grove Village will be eligible to claim a portion of that money. YRC Inc., the parent of the trucking firms, will be under the watchful eye of a court-approved monitor for the next five years, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which on Wednesday announced a settlement of two federal lawsuits against the trucking giant.

Read the rest of the article here.

DOJ indicts female PA resident in conspiracy terror plot

2010-03-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

A recent indictment from the Department of Justice challenges presumptions regarding the assumed profile of international terrorism. The suspect, "Jihad Jane," is not a young Arab male from the Middle East, but a middle-aged White American female from Pennsylvania.

Department of Justice press release:

David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Michael L. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, together with Janice K. Fedarcyk, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI in Philadelphia, today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Colleen R. LaRose, aka "Fatima LaRose," aka "Jihad Jane," with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, making false statements to a government official and attempted identity theft.

The indictment charges that LaRose (an American citizen born in 1963 who resides in Montgomery County, Pa.) and five unindicted co-conspirators (located in South Asia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the United States) recruited men on the Internet to wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe, and recruited women on the Internet who had passports and the ability to travel to and around Europe in support of violent jihad.

The indictment further charges that LaRose and her unindicted co-conspirators used the Internet to establish relationships with one another and to communicate regarding their plans, which included martyring themselves, soliciting funds for terrorists, soliciting passports and avoiding travel restrictions (through the collection of passports and through marriage) in order to wage violent jihad. The indictment further charges that LaRose stole another individual’s U.S. passport and transferred or attempted to transfer it in an effort to facilitate an act of international terrorism.

You can read the rest of the press release here.

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EEOC sues North Carolina company for racial harassment

2010-03-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suit against a North Carolina party rental company on allegations of racial harassment of African-American employees. The company is accused of ignoring complaints that African-American employees were subjected to a hostile working environment, which included racial taunts, epithets and the use of the "N-word."

The Commission claims that the company has violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It will be seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

The EEOC website reports the following:

According to the EEOC’s complaint, for six years, Benjamin Henderson, a driver and warehouse employee, and other African American employees were repeatedly subjected to unwelcome derogatory racial comments and slurs. These epithets included the “N-word,” as well as racial jokes by one of Pinnacle’s owners, who was also the company's owner / vice president. According to the EEOC’s complaint, Henderson complained about the racial harassment, but the owner / vice president ignored his complaints, telling Henderson that he was “just joking,” or that Henderson was a “tough guy” and could handle the racial slurs and comments. Henderson also complained to Pinnacle Amusement's co-owner, who is the company's president. Despite Henderson’s complaints, the racial harassment continued, the EEOC said.

You can read the rest of the press release here.

Supreme Court ruling expected to have major impact on U.S. elections

2010-01-24T04:32:00.000-08:00

In a 5-4 ideologically split decision, the United States Supreme Court found free speech protections for corporate financing in electoral politics. The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has sent shockwaves through the nation as many critics feel the decision will ultimately undermine democratic principles and give corporations too much influence in elections.

via USA Today:

by Fredreka Schouten and Joan Biskupic

Top Democrats who have backed campaign-finance limits, including Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, moved Thursday on legislation to curb spending in advance of this fall's midterm elections. Democrats' proposals included a bill that would bar companies with federal contracts from tapping their corporate treasuries to defeat or elect federal candidates.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hailed the court's ruling as a restoration of free speech in campaigns. "The government was picking winners and losers" under the campaign-finance limits, the Kentucky Republican said.

You can read the rest of the article here.

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/23/10)

2010-01-23T05:01:00.000-08:00

President decries Supreme Court ruling, vows legislative response

This week, the United States Supreme Court issued its controversial ruling on corporate financing in the landmark decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Read more