Many are up in arms over the death of 25 year-old Cary Ball Jr. , an honor student who was shot 25 times by St. Louis police.
Nina Buckhalter is on trial for manslaughter in Mississippi after having a stillborn child; traces if drugs were found in her system. The case sets a dangerous precedent, where unintentional pregnancy loss can be treated as a homicide.
Snoop Lion has partnered with MTV and Jewelry For A Cause for a gun buyback program. They’ve collaborated on limited edition “MTV x Caliber” bracelets made in part from guns turned into buyback programs; sales will be donated to buyback programs in Newark, NJ.
NY State Senator Eric Adams says police commissioner Ray Kelly wanted the Stop and Frisk program to “instill fear” in young black and Latino men “that every time they left their homes they could be targeted by police.”
After widespread outrage over Rick Ross’ rape lyrics, petitions have been launched demanding that the rapper take responsibility for his offensive words.
The Center for Constitutional Rights is calling their upcoming battle with the City of New York over the Stop and Frisk Policy “the trial of the century.” Their hoping the suit will result in an end to the controversial policy. The trial begins March 18th.
Chicago city treasurer Stephanie Neely has called for a version of New York’s “Stop and Frisk” program to combat the city’s gun violence crisis. This program denies our young people of their dignity and constitutional rights, and treats law-abiding people like criminals.
Cleopatra Cowley – mother of slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton – is featured in a new gun control ad; she specifically cites universal background checks as a necessary, commonsense reform. Do you agree? What other reforms would you like to see?
The President’s visit was one moment in a longer struggle to radically improve the lives of black and Latino youth. Now that the President has come and gone we all have work to do!
We urge the President to go further on Friday during his time in Chicago, and make a substantive speech that addresses the underlying factors that perpetuate violence in Black and Latino communities across the nation.
BYP is pleased to report that President Obama will visit Chicago this Friday to address a variety topics, but will shine a particular spotlight on Chicago’s gun violence crisis.
The government of Uruguay has remixed the gun buy back program. The new program, called Weapons for Life, allows Uruguayans to receive things like bicycles and computers in exchange for turning in their guns. Kind of an amazing idea, right?
