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Rights and Liberties

Legislators Say Sean Bell Shooting Case not Closed

By Chris Nolan, Majikthise. Posted April 27, 2008.


They want to take it to the feds.
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A coalition of New York legislators vows to seek redress for Sean Bell at the federal level, according to a statement released by Rep. Gregory Meeks on Saturday:

"We do not accept that this is the end of this case.  We have joined with the families and their attorneys in filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice requesting an investigation of violations of the civil rights of Sean Bell, Joseph Guzman, and Trent Benefield.  Indeed, this afternoon the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it's Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Division will conduct an independent review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the Nov. 25, 2006, shooting of Sean Bell and two of his friends.



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Lindsay Beyerstein a New York writer blogging at Majikthise.

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Rights and Liberties » Story Tools: email EMAILprint PRINT 36 COMMENTS

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Justice prevails
[Report this comment]
Posted by: carbon-based on Apr 27, 2008 6:26 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Amazing, considering the details of the story, that this is being brought up to the federal level. While it truly is a shame when anyone is killed, Bell did ram the police vehicle. This combined with the officers getting a report that Bell and his friends threatened someone in the bar with getting a gun paints a pretty solid defense and the verdict seems just.

There are many other cops that should be brought up on charges for lord knows what offenses.. this isnt one of those cases!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Justice prevails Posted by: aonghus36
» RE: Justice prevails Posted by: carbon-based
» RE: Justice prevails Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Justice prevails Posted by: carbon-based
» RE: Justice prevails Posted by: Quannah
» pfft! boy did you misunderstand me Posted by: KaptainSpiffy
» 'i'm just doing my job' Posted by: KaptainSpiffy
Good.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Longdream on Apr 27, 2008 7:16 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Now what about Abner L. Hunt, Ron Pettaway, III, Amadou Diallo, Malcolm Ferguson, Patrick Bailey, Tyrone Hawkins, Nathaniel Jones, Timothy Thomas, Marquise Hudspeth, dozens, hundreds more, all across the country?

"If there is no justice for African-Americans in this country, there is no justice for anyone, anywhere." Mark Thompson

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Good. Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: Good. Posted by: Longdream
» RE: Good. Posted by: Quannah
» RE: Good. Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: Good. Posted by: Longdream
ENCOURAGING
[Report this comment]
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Apr 27, 2008 7:49 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While there was much confusion and chaos, there was evidence to be considered by the judge. One dead man and one who took 16 bullets. Not one defendant took the stand. So the prosecution based everything on evidence that didn't match word for word. Reasonable doubt? The defendants were not required to give individual accounts of what happened. The results would also have varied. Panic and a dented police car are not reasons to fire 51 bullets. They were out of control. Thanks, ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: NCOURAGING Posted by: carbon-based
» RE: NCOURAGING Posted by: Quannah
» RE: NCOURAGING Posted by: carbon-based
» RE: NCOURAGING Posted by: Quannah
» RE: NCOURAGING Posted by: EncinoM
Waiting To Exhale
[Report this comment]
Posted by: QQOblivion on Apr 27, 2008 9:29 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So, let me get this straight. The US Department of "Justice" is going to look into this. Yeah, THAT "investigation" will be impartial and untainted by Right-Wing political influence and be done in a timely manner. Let me hold my breath.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Waiting To Exhale Posted by: VZEQICVA
» RE: Waiting To Exhale Posted by: Quannah
Imaginary Excuses
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Wayne A Schneider on Apr 27, 2008 10:39 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
One of the problems at the core of police shootings like this is that we allow the police to "shoot to kill" based on a "belief" that they are in danger, rather than a "fact" that they are in danger. Consequently, as soon as a cop sees something that frightens him and causes him to imagine he is in danger, he has carte blanche to murder someone who was never an actual danger to him.

Also, what happened to "shooting to wound" a suspect? Must every person who doesn't follow police instructions to the letter be executed? You are welcome to read my other thoughts on this on my blog. (See story regarding the police should not use deadly force for imaginary reasons; the link was too long)

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Imaginary Excuses Posted by: Longdream
» RE: Imaginary Excuses Posted by: Wayne A Schneider
» RE: Imaginary Excuses Posted by: VZEQICVA
» RE: Imaginary Excuses Posted by: Longdream
no longer protect and serve
[Report this comment]
Posted by: cwilsondrum on Apr 27, 2008 7:53 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
it's enforce the law. apparently the law says that they can kill anyone they think is a threat. slugging pregnant women,tazering pregnant women,shooting unarmed people to death. nobody cares, because it isn't them. till it is them. then it's too late for your ass. when in doubt, shoot first, ask questions later. (you'll)* live longer. *interpretation up to you.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

He Bumped My Car, Plus I Thought
[Report this comment]
Posted by: bc430 on Apr 27, 2008 9:54 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
one of them had a WMD.

Why waste tax dollars sending such rational thinkers to police academy?

Children are taught to exercise better judgement and more self control on a playground.

"He bumped my tricycle so I killed him."
"I felt like my life was in danger."
"I was afraid."

Why were the THREE cops at the strip joint?

Carbon B and likeminded hurting souls, I hope and pray that you or someone you care about have an encounter with a cop like the aquitted ones in this case. I hope the encounter occurs on a day when the crazy cop does not care what you look like. There are some equal opportunity out of control crazy cops out there. Your female family member and he just might find each other...or maybe you will be the fortunate one to insure that he gets home to his family.

I'm sure your family will understand.

Why were the THREE cops at the strip joint?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]