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newmodelminority:

thepeoplesrecord:

Alan DeWayne Blueford Murdered by Oakland Police Department 
At or about midnight, May 6, 2012, Alan and 2 friends were standing on the corner of 90 th and Birch Street waiting for “some girls in a white chevy,” Alan described to his father, Alan Blueford, during a phone call. After the phone call, police officers approached Alan and his friends, with guns drawn. The police officers had been called to respond to another incident, but decided to stop Alan and his friends when they saw them because they “believed the young men had a concealed weapon.”
Alan ran down Birch Street, away from the police officers.
Approximately two blocks down Birch Street on the 9200 Block the officer chasing Alan murdered him by shooting him 3 times. The officer also shot himself.
Although, Alan had his brown wallet with his ID, Oakland Police Department never called to tell his parents he was shot and killed.
Alan’s two friends were detained for over 6 hours. After their release, one of the young men had the traumatic task of calling Alan’s parents and telling them Alan was shot and killed by an Oakland Police Officer.
Initial reports put out by OPD, stated that “a suspect” (Alan) and a police officer exchanged gun fire and the officer was shot in the stomach by the suspect and the suspect was shot by the officer. Both were said to have been rushed to Highland Hospital where Alan died and the police officer was expected to recover. OPD also included in their reports witness statements who said they saw Alan shooting. OPD reported that they retrieved Alan’s firearm at the scene.
Later OPD changed their story to state that the officer was shot in the leg and an investigation was in process to determine whether the officer was wounded by “friendly fire.”
Only one of the officers chased Alan.
What we now know is that Alan Blueford never shot the police officer, at the police officer, or anyone else. OPD changed their story yet again, admitting and confirming that THE OFFICER SHOT HIMSELF.
We also know that Alan was never rushed to Highland Hospital. Only the police officer. Alan’s body lied in the streets for approximately 4 hours.
Alan was shot multiple times by the police officer.
The family has reason to believe that Alan never had a firearm.The family has reason to believe that Alan never caused the officer to be threatened. Alan’s body can be described as a shorter stature (approximately 5 ft 6 ½ inches) and thin built (140 lbs).
•
When Alan’s family learned of the claimed circumstances surrounding Alan’s death, we all knew that the facts were not true! Additionally, because they never called to confirm his death, we were sadly left with hope that the unnamed “suspect” was not Alan. He was joy to many people. We are suffering from a great loss.
Now OPD claims that the “victim” (no longer suspect) was a convicted felon on probation. His family will simply respond by saying felony probation does not describe Alan’s character. To describe Alan, you have to share that he 1] was a Christian; 2] worked with the disabled children at Skyline, one of whom described “Al” as his “bestfriend”; 3] began his mornings at Skyline High School by praying with his Godmother and Supervisor; 4] passed out candy at hisgrandmother’s every Halloween; and 5] was well known by his family and friends as a respectful young man. But even more important is the fact that when the police officers decided not to respond to the call, but rather to bother Alan and his friends, all they knew is that they were 3 African-American young men. That’s why Alan was murdered.
Alan’s family is seeking justice for his death. We are determined to have this “incident” thoroughly investigated and all wrongful parties prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We ask that all of you support us by calling the City Councilman for District 7, Larry Reid, at 510-238-7007.
Via Occupy Oakland

He looks like a boy I grew up with name Alonzo.

newmodelminority:

thepeoplesrecord:

Alan DeWayne Blueford Murdered by Oakland Police Department

At or about midnight, May 6, 2012, Alan and 2 friends were standing on the corner of 90 th and Birch Street waiting for “some girls in a white chevy,” Alan described to his father, Alan Blueford, during a phone call. After the phone call, police officers approached Alan and his friends, with guns drawn. The police officers had been called to respond to another incident, but decided to stop Alan and his friends when they saw them because they “believed the young men had a concealed weapon.”

Alan ran down Birch Street, away from the police officers.

Approximately two blocks down Birch Street on the 9200 Block the officer chasing Alan murdered him by shooting him 3 times. The officer also shot himself.

Although, Alan had his brown wallet with his ID, Oakland Police Department never called to tell his parents he was shot and killed.

Alan’s two friends were detained for over 6 hours. After their release, one of the young men had the traumatic task of calling Alan’s parents and telling them Alan was shot and killed by an Oakland Police Officer.

Initial reports put out by OPD, stated that “a suspect” (Alan) and a police officer exchanged gun fire and the officer was shot in the stomach by the suspect and the suspect was shot by the officer. Both were said to have been rushed to Highland Hospital where Alan died and the police officer was expected to recover. OPD also included in their reports witness statements who said they saw Alan shooting. OPD reported that they retrieved Alan’s firearm at the scene.

Later OPD changed their story to state that the officer was shot in the leg and an investigation was in process to determine whether the officer was wounded by “friendly fire.”

Only one of the officers chased Alan.

What we now know is that Alan Blueford never shot the police officer, at the police officer, or anyone else. OPD changed their story yet again, admitting and confirming that THE OFFICER SHOT HIMSELF.

We also know that Alan was never rushed to Highland Hospital. Only the police officer. Alan’s body lied in the streets for approximately 4 hours.

Alan was shot multiple times by the police officer.

The family has reason to believe that Alan never had a firearm.
The family has reason to believe that Alan never caused the officer to be threatened. Alan’s body can be described as a shorter stature (approximately 5 ft 6 ½ inches) and thin built (140 lbs).

When Alan’s family learned of the claimed circumstances surrounding Alan’s death, we all knew that the facts were not true! Additionally, because they never called to confirm his death, we were sadly left with hope that the unnamed “suspect” was not Alan. He was joy to many people. We are suffering from a great loss.

Now OPD claims that the “victim” (no longer suspect) was a convicted felon on probation. His family will simply respond by saying felony probation does not describe Alan’s character. To describe Alan, you have to share that he 1] was a Christian; 2] worked with the disabled children at Skyline, one of whom described “Al” as his “bestfriend”; 3] began his mornings at Skyline High School by praying with his Godmother and Supervisor; 4] passed out candy at his
grandmother’s every Halloween; and 5] was well known by his family and friends as a respectful young man. But even more important is the fact that when the police officers decided not to respond to the call, but rather to bother Alan and his friends, all they knew is that they were 3 African-American young men. That’s why Alan was murdered.

Alan’s family is seeking justice for his death. We are determined to have this “incident” thoroughly investigated and all wrongful parties prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We ask that all of you support us by calling the City Councilman for District 7, Larry Reid, at 510-238-7007.

Via Occupy Oakland

He looks like a boy I grew up with name Alonzo.

Link

audaciaray:

blackgirldangerous:

by Mia McKenzie

President Obama just “endorsed” gay marriage. And guess what? I barely give a damn.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s okay. It’s fine. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it. Saying that gay people who want to get married to each other should be able to do so is basically a…

Are you celebrating Obama’s weak endorsement of marriage equality? You should be reading this instead. 

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"What does a youth led movement in Detroit look like?
How can you support that? Detroit Future Youth has been asking those questions for the past year. Our mission is to nurture a local youth social justice and media and to grow a youth led movement in Detroit. We are in partnership with 12 dynamic Detroit youth programs that focus on justice based education and multimedia creation across the city. We need your support to send a delegation of 60 youth and their adult allies from the DFY network to participate in the 2012 Allied Media Conference this June. The AMC is a dynamic three-day conference focusing on creating a more just and creative world by sharing tools and strategies that transform communities through media-based organizing. By attending we will gain additional training in media skills, connect with a national youth movement, and build stronger relationships with each other. The AMC will also be a platform to launch our curriculum mixtape that represents the media and workshops developed by youth from all 12 DFY organizations."

Detroit Future Youth: Road to the Allied Media Conference — Indiegogo

This is an incredibly important fundraiser. The Allied Media Conference is a digital justice based conference where youth (among others) from across the world come together to build movements, share skills, offer support, and just be together. For Detroit youth, this is a fantastic moment to network and make sure that their voices are heard and centralized in moments as diverse as food justice, environmental justice, transportation justice and digital justice.

spread the word, and support DETROIT YOUTH LEADERSHIP if you can!

(via marshmallowmegamama)

(via marshmallowmegamama)

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Dear Internet

redlightpolitics:

It is OK not to have an opinion about certain topics. It is OK to say “I do not have enough information or knowledge of this subject to have an informed opinion”. It is totally acceptable to not say anything on those occasions when people are discussing issues you might have never been exposed to before or have no experience with. Just because the option of leaving a comment is available, it doesn’t mean you need to exercise it.

Link

Privatization: ‘The Big Enchilada’

Jonathan Kozol, a well-known authority on public schools and author of the book “Death at an Early Age,” wrote an article entitled “The Big Enchilada” for Harper’s magazine of August 2007. It was about reading a stock market prospectus. Kozol wrote:

“A group…

(Source: lowwagecapitalism.com)

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sexartandpolitics:

People actually live in cities. They’re not just convenient places for suburbanites to commute to.

Audio
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

I tend to doubt the guys in The Chariot are especially politically involved, let alone inclined to participate in a “revolt” as described in this tune (which was released in 2010, for the record).  At least one internet commenter suggests the song has something to do with Jesus, which may well be true. 

In any event, I’m willing to confess that this song is on my Occupy playlist.  I mean, there’s a reference to using a mic right in there! 

Lyrics to the big ol’ ending bit:

Calm rose: violent wind
The only “surrender” tonight, shall not be our own
They cannot escape, one if by land, two if by sea
I saved my money, but it can’t save me
And maybe there is blood from the past, but that is not from me
They can take away one man, and they can take away his mic
But they cannot take us all
No, they can’t dig a hole the right size to fit all of our dreams
They can’t bury me, they can’t bury me
We can’t hope that somebody else take our place
No, we can’t hope that somebody else take our place

May the history book read of all of our names
Be it blood, be it ink, but at least we were free
This is only but a fraction of what I’ve got to say
It must be said, it must be sad
If I leave this earth tonight may it be said that I spoke my peace
I spoke with the wrath of his grace
Calm rose: come violent wind
Oh we stand hand in hand and we walk without fear
This is a revolution

Audio
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Happy Metal Monday, motherfuckers!

There’s a review over at Metal Sucks that describes Kvelertak quite accurately:

Kvelertak‘s self-titled debut is easy listening. I don’t mean it sounds like Lionel Richie or anything – I mean it’s easy to listen to. It’s like punk-metal’s answer to a beach book – it’s just good, fun entertainment that doesn’t require too much effort or thought. Of course, there’s cotton candy and there’s gourmet candy, and Kvelertak are definitely Godiva. It’s not pop and there’s no reason to feel guilty for liking it, but it’s still bound to put you in a pretty good mood.

I hope you enjoy them.

Link

MMM is on goddamn fire today.  Go read.

(Source: marshmallowmegamama)

Link

newmodelminority:

newmodelminority:

liquornspice:

That awkward moment when your Black woman professor holds up a pic of Nicki Minaj for everyone to scoff at…

( ._.)

When we were just talking about the lack of agency inherent in stereotypes of Jezebel and Mammy…

About Black women being exploitable…

I am sorry little bear. I am just real clear about parading Black women’s bodies out into academic spaces and not talking about the history of those bodies. It has been drilled into my head NOT to do it.


GIFSoup