Op-Ed
To Be Equal: Police Reform Needed Now

By Marc H. Morial
NNPA Columnist
“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” – Charles de Montesquieu, “The Spirit of the Laws,” 1748
A tragic déjà vu is playing out in communities all across America, particularly in the growingly skeptical streets of Black and Brown neighborhoods.
Once again, our nation is forced to grapple with fresh accounts of police misconduct in its deadliest incarnation. Once again, the victims are unarmed Black men and the perpetrators are the very public servants charged with keeping them – in fact, all of us – safe; it seems only the states and the circumstances change.
On April 4, Walter Scott was driving a Mercedes-Benz with a busted taillight through North Charleston, S.C. Officer Micheal Slager pulled Scott over. Said to be in fear of being arrested, the 50-year-old ran away from the car. A cellphone video shows Officer Slager chasing Scott and shooting at him with his stun gun, when that failed to stop him, he used his gun to fire eight shots at Scott’s back, killing him on the scene.
Weeks later, in a West Baltimore neighborhood, witnesses used cellphone video to capture parts of Freddie Gray’s arrest. Police say the 25-year-old was arrested after making eye contact with the police and then running away. Gray can be heard screaming in pain as he’s being dragged into a police van. While the mystery of what happened in the van has yet to be solved, we do know that his encounter with the police left him with serious spinal cord injuries. He died of those injuries a week later.
This unjust treatment of our nation’s Black and Brown citizens by law enforcement officials sworn to dispense justice should stir, if not shock, our collective conscious. These heavy-handed, sometimes fatal, police tactics should inspire outcry from all corners of our country – and the world.
But we can’t leave our frustrations – and our fight – at the doorstep of outrage. Our challenge is to make the Scotts and Grays of this nation the rarest of exceptions, not the fatal rule. Anger has its place, but it is in action – strategic, comprehensive action – that we will begin to attack the cancer of police misconduct.
In light of the most recent deaths, and our nation’s desperate need for solutions during this state of emergency that calls for action, and an action plan, I want to reintroduce the National Urban League’s 10-Point Justice Plan for police reform and accountability, calling for:
1 Widespread Use of Body Cameras and Dashboard Cameras
2 Broken Windows Reform and Implementation of 21st Century Community Policing Model
3 Review and Revision of Police Use of Deadly Force Policies
4 Comprehensive Retraining of All Police Officers
5 Comprehensive Review and Strengthening of Police Hiring Standards
6 Appointment of Special Prosecutors to Investigate Police Misconduct
7 Mandatory, Uniform FBI Reporting and Audit of Lethal Force Incidents Involving All Law Enforcement
8 Creation and Audit of National Database of Citizen Complaints against Police
9 Revision of National Police Accreditation System for Mandatory Use by Law Enforcement To Be Eligible for Federal Funds
10 National Comprehensive Anti-Racial Profiling Law
The rage that has spilled out onto so many of our streets since the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson last year makes it clear that the issue of police-involved killings is one that will not be easily swept under a rug of unawareness and indifference.
When we, as a nation, address the problem of police officers using deadly force, particularly against people in communities of color, we know that we are saving lives – perhaps our own – and shaping a more just system of justice for all. When officers are held accountable for using excessive force – as they have thankfully been held in the cases of Scott and Gray – we are encouraged and know that change is possible, but our work does not end there.
To deliver on the promise of fair treatment by law enforcement for every American, we: citizens, community stakeholders, policy-makers and politicians, must all commit to play our part for the long haul to right the historic wrong of the unequal treatment of people of color by police under the law.
Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
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Alameda County
Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors
Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.
By Y’Anad Burrell
Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.
At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.
Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.
The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.
Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.
Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.
While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.
Activism
Essay: Intentional Self Care and Community Connections Can Improve Our Wellbeing
At the deepest and also most expansive level of reality, we are all part of the same being, our bodies made from the minerals of the earth, our spirits infused by the spiritual breath that animates the universe. Willingness to move more deeply into fear and pain is the first step toward moving into a larger consciousness. Willingness to move beyond the delusion of our separateness can show us new ways of working and living together.
By Dr. Lorraine Bonner, Special to California Black Media Partners
I went to a medical school that was steeped in the principles of classical Western medicine. However, I also learned mindfulness meditation during that time, which opened me to the multifaceted relationship between illnesses and the interconnecting environmental, mental and emotional realities that can impact an individual’s health.
Therefore, when I began to practice medicine, I also pursued training in hypnosis, relaxation techniques, meditation, and guided imagery, to bring a mind-body focus to my work in medical care and prevention.
The people I saw in my practice had a mix of problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and a variety of pain issues. I taught almost everyone relaxation breathing and made some general relaxation tapes. To anyone willing, I offered guided imagery.
“My work embraced an approach to wellness I call “Liberatory Health” — one that not only addresses the treatment and management of disease symptoms but also seeks to dismantle the conditions that make people sick in the first place.”
From my perspective, illness is only the outermost manifestation of our efforts to cope, often fueled by addictions such as sugar, tobacco, or alcohol, shackled by an individualistic cult belief that we have only ourselves to blame for our suffering.
At the deepest and also most expansive level of reality, we are all part of the same being, our bodies made from the minerals of the earth, our spirits infused by the spiritual breath that animates the universe. Willingness to move more deeply into fear and pain is the first step toward moving into a larger consciousness. Willingness to move beyond the delusion of our separateness can show us new ways of working and living together.
To put these ideas into practical form, I would quote the immortal Mr. Rogers: “Find the helpers.” There are already people in every community working for liberation. Some of them are running for office, others are giving food to those who need it. Some are volunteering in schools, libraries or hospitals. Some are studying liberation movements, or are working in urban or community gardens, or learning to practice restorative and transformative justice, or creating liberation art, music, dance, theater or writing. Some are mentoring high schoolers or apprenticing young people in a trade. There are many places where compassionate humans are finding other humans and working together for a better world.
A more compassionate world is possible, one in which we will all enjoy better health. Creating it will make us healthier, too.
In community, we are strong. Recognizing denial and overcoming the fragmenting effects of spiritual disorder offer us a path to liberation and true health.
Good health and well-being are the collective rights of all people!
About the Author
Dr. Lorraine Bonner is a retired physician. She is also a sculptor who works in clay, exploring issues of trust, trustworthiness and exploitation, as well as visions of a better world.
Activism
Opinion: Can Donald Trump Pole Dance?
Given all that is happening, if the presidency was more like pole dancing, you know Trump would be flat on his butt.
By Emil Guillermo
The news cycle has been buzzing the last few weeks. Xi, with Putin and Kim, the sweethearts of Trump carousing alone without him? The victims of the pedophile Epstein speaking out publicly in DC.
Then, there’s the release of that salacious letter Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said the letter didn’t exist. But it does.
Timing is everything.
Additionally, there are further concerns, such as the Supreme Court removing restrictions on ICE interactions. ICE Agents can stop anyone now. For any reason. And there’s the threat of the U.S. sending the military to fight crime in Chicago. Trump even posted a meme of himself as a character in “Apocalypse Now.”
All that with bad polls and bad economic numbers, and these topics are dominating the news cycle — Trump era chaos.
Given all that is happening, if the presidency was more like pole dancing, you know Trump would be flat on his butt.
The reality is the opposite. He keeps going strong like nothing’s happened. Inexplicably, Trump always seems to defy gravity.
That’s why to reassure myself with reality, I just think of Trump on a pole. Dancing. He was born on Flag Day, after all.
I’ve got pole dancing on my mind because I’m in Canada at the Vancouver Fringe Festival doing my show, “Emil Amok 69, Everything’s Flipped,” about how the current political situation gets very personal.
Get tickets here if you’re near:
I’ve performed at 16 fringe festivals, and I always look for unique performers. This year, in my same venue (the Revue Stage) I found her in a show, “The Pole Shebang.”
Andrea James Lui may look like a typical Asian American at first.
But she’s Asian Canadian, married to an Australian, who now lives down under.
At the Vancouver Fringe, she highlights her special identity.
Pole Dancer
Yes, pole dancing has come to the fringe. Leave your dollar bills at home, this is not that kind of pole dancing.
This is more Cirque Du Soleil-ish- acrobatic stuff, yet it’s hard to deny the sexiness when a woman flawlessly swings from a pole with her legs apart.
The show is more intriguing than it is titillating.
Lui has created a behind-the-scenes look at the “polar” experience.
“She could have been a physicist,” says her big sister Christina, who despite saying that, supports her sister 100 percent.
Lui touches on some of the emotional depth in the poled subculture. But there’s plenty more to mine in the future. “Polar Bare,” the Musical? I’d see it.
Trump on a Pole
So that’s how I’ve come to the polar metaphor.
As Trump flails in the news, I picture him on a pole.
The letter to Epstein is further proof of the character of the man.
Will he stay afloat?
Not if the presidency were more like pole dancing.
You can’t lie on the pole.
That’s one way all of us in the Trump era can get to the truth.
About the Author
Emil Amok is a veteran journalist, commentator, and stage monologist. He has written a weekly column on Asian Americans for more than 30 years.
Contact: www.amok.com
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