Your Community Connection since 1994
20 Y EA RS
Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 23, No. 49
December 4, 2014
The Other Shoe Drops Another Police Officer Walks as President Announces Police Reform By Veronica Mackey
P
resident Barack Obama is asking Congress for $263 million to change the way community policing is done, in the wake of recent widespread racial tension and violence in Ferguson, MO. The shooting death of unarmed 18-yearold Michael Brown by a white police officer, and the officer’s acquittal by
a grand jury last week is symptomatic of what goes on in communities of color nationwide, Obama said. The president wants funding to buy 50,000 body cameras to record events like Brown’s shooting death and support for programs that will build greater trust, accountability and transparency of police. Police, clergy, civil rights
On The Inside: • News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business
Left: NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed Eric Garner in a chokehold, prior to his death. Right: protesters held a “die-in” at Grand Central Terminal. sor of Criminology Laurie Police maintained that Robinson. Garner’s weight was a facObama’s executive orders tor in his respiratory condifor police reform came just tion. two days before another A round of protests broke controversial grand jury de- out shortly after the decicision involving the killing sion. There was a massive of an unarmed black man by standoff between police a white policeman. and protestors and several leaders, and activists met On Wednesday, a New arrests made at 47th and with Obama at the White York City grand jury de- 6th Avenue. Demonstrators House to weigh in on racial clined to indict NYPD blocked the streets of Times profiling, abusive policing Officer Daniel Pantaleo, Square and held a “die-in” and the militarized tactics for the death of Eric Gar- at Grand Central Termithat put citizens at odds with ner, despite a video show- nal among other spontanethose sworn to protect them. ing Garner being placed in a ous events around the city. The president also announced chokehold by Pantaleo and Protesters laid down on the the creation of a task force to yelling “I can’t breathe!” ground, which is a gesture this end, co-chaired by Phila- and a medical examiner rul- symbolic of people dying in delphia Police Commissioner ing Garner’s death a homi- the street. Brown lay in the Charles Ramsey and George cide, caused in part by the street four-and-a-half hours (Continued on page 5) Mason University Profes- chokehold.
Class for Credit?
I
By Thomas Bunn
came across some shocking data that stated, according to the California Department of Education, last year less than 29% of our district’s seniors graduated eligible for entrance into a UC or CSU school although 97% of our students graduated. Not only does this speak to UC and CSU enrollment policies, it also shows these (Continued on page 2)
Inglewood Today Proudly Serving Inglewood for 20 Years
Black Friday Interrupted By Veronica Mackey
B
lack Friday backlash, combined with civil unrest in Ferguson, MO and other cities nationwide, created a firestorm of protests during Thanksgiving. In a nod to the Occupy Movement, thousands of workers showed up at retailers hoping to give Black Friday a black eye. Growing resentment over the economic gap, and disapproval of retailers turning the family-oriented Thanksgiving Day into a cash cow prompted economic boycotts nationwide. And with the ready-made audience of Black Friday shoppers,
protestors marched boldly through malls, chanting and holding signs, announcing the acquittal of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson..
Ferguson Won’t Rest The annual busiest shopping day of the year came on the heels of widespread violence when Wilson escaped grand jury indictment for shooting unarmed black teen Michael Brown. Angry crowds reacted to the verdict with lootings, fires, and gunshots, which were answered by police teargas. (Continued on page 11)
Happy Holidays
from Inglewood Today