"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
UCLA cop in taser incident had history of excessive force complaints
Topic: Activism
9:08 pm EST, Nov 23, 2006
Terrence Duren was a LAPD 2001 Officer of the year.
The UCLA police officer videotaped last week using a Taser gun on a student also shot a homeless man at a campus study hall room three years ago and was earlier recommended for dismissal in connection with an alleged assault on fraternity row, authorities said.
UCLA police confirmed late Monday that the officer who fired the Taser gun was Terrence Duren, who has served in the university's Police Department for 18 years.
She lived alone - plainclothes officers went to the wrong house and kicked in her door. She had a gun and started shooting - they shot back, and killed her.
I really wonder if they are thinking of the occult practice of sexual magic in doing this? Just first thought that popped into my head when I saw that. Whatever - maybe it will work, but I don't think the world is ready for peace yet - too many really mean, ignorant people that think they know the right way for all of us around.
The police should NOT be the ones to investigate this.
This video terrified me. The guy is heard saying he has a medical condition! Now, as some of you know, I have a severe neurological condition. I look healthy most days, sometimes though I cannot walk. It varies, but anyway, I look ok a lot of days. No one could tell that there is no myelin on a lot of my stupid nerves.
Now, I had a nerve conduction test where they used LOW level shocks on me to test my nerves. They had to crank it up to get a response - my nerves are either NOTHING, or they overload. I didn't feel it - then it was over the top painful. Yet, I am sure that is less than being tazed.
Anyway, with that medically supervised test that involved getting shocks - I could not walk at all for 2 days. I still have nightmares from that.
So, I have argued repeatedly that they should be illegal. I am scared terribly of those things. I am perhaps more scared of them than a gun, as the police seem to think that they are 'safe' and a gun 'dangerous.' Maybe for some people...
Now, I thought that they were an ALTERNATIVE to a gun. Would you shoot someone for studying?
Houston Police Run Over Striking Janitors With Horses
Topic: Activism
10:13 pm EST, Nov 18, 2006
Video on youtube linked from site
"Houston police trampled on striking janitors with horses last night. The janitors make on average $20 a day with no health insurance. The companies responsible? Chevron. And Hines Interest, the city's largest hometown building owner.
These people make on average $5.35 an hour. With no health insurance. That is frakking ridiculous. It is wrong. And when these workers protested peacefully, the Houston police department rode into a crowd with horses to intimidate and injure the workers. It worked, as they arrested 44 workers and hurt 4 of them, including an 83 year old janitor."
UCLA Students Demonstrate Against Police Tasering Student
Topic: Activism
2:48 pm EST, Nov 18, 2006
(pictures at link) "It’s beginning to feel a lot like a UC again on campus. For the first time in years, UCLA students threw down their books and returned to their activist roots by staging a major demonstration this afternoon. Students have been shocked and frustrated by the recent tasering of a UCLA student by UCPD officers at the student library, and it has grown to the point where many are feeling the need to voice their frustration to the masses. There have been many student demonstrations here in the past couple of years, but not many on this scale.
Students descended upon Kerchoff Hall in droves today at 12pm chanting against excessive force, and the need to police the police. Protest leaders demanded that an independent investigation take place instead of one by the campus authorities, and also that the officers in question be suspended during the investigation. Every major news outlet was there to witness the protests taking place."
