Keepingitreal

320 complaints of racial profiling and not one had merit, LAPD says

Los Angeles Police Department officials announced Tuesday that they investigated more than 300 complaints of racial profiling against officers last year and found that none had merit -- a conclusion that left members of the department's oversight commission incredulous. It is at least the sixth consecutive year that all allegations of racial profiling against LAPD officers have been dismissed, according to department documents reviewed by The Times. In 2007, the LAPD's Internal Affairs Group closed 320 investigations into allegations that officers stopped, questioned or otherwise confronted someone solely because of the person's race. Nearly 80% of the time -- 252 of the cases -- the claims were dismissed outright as "unfounded," according to an annual complaint report presented Tuesday to the civilian Police Commission. In the remaining cases, there was either insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion or no misconduct was uncovered. "A big, fat zero," said a visibly flummoxed Commissioner John Mack, who is African American and the former president of the Los Angeles Urban League. "In my mind, there is no such thing as a perfect institution . . . I find it baffling that we have these zeros." His disbelief, echoed by other commissioners, drew a quick response from Police Chief William J. Bratton. Unsolicited, he told the commission he would have his staff conduct a survey of other large, urban police departments, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, to back up his belief that the findings in the LAPD are similar elsewhere. SOURCE:LATIMES

Whites tricked blacks into consuming urine, university says

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- White students at a South African university tricked black residence hall workers into eating stew containing urine, prompting a march Wednesday in which five people were arrested, university officials said.The white students made a video of the incident, which they staged in reaction to the university's efforts to integrate its residences, according to a statement from the University of the Free State.The protesters on Wednesday included black and white students who later marched to the residence where the video was made and demanded that it be shut down, witnesses said.The video surfaced on Tuesday but was made in September, the university said.In the video, white male students at Reitz Residence are seen encouraging at least three black female housekeepers to participate in what the students call the "Reitz Fear Factor," an apparent reference to the television show in which contestants eat live worms or compete in other feats. Watch excerpts of video that sparked outrage » In one scene from the video, a student mixes what looks like a beef stew in a plastic bowl and adds garlic and other items. Then he tells the camera he will add the "special ingredient."The student then urinates into the mixture, which he later stirs up and puts in a microwave. Other students can be heard laughing on the tape. he next scene shows a different student urging at least three housekeepers to drink cups full of the stew, saying, "This is our dorm's 'Fear Factor.' We want to see who has the best 'Fear Factor.'"On the video, the student does not tell the women that there is urine in the mixture.The women, on their knees, spit the stew into buckets after tasting it. Some appeared to vomit, but the women also laughed during the incident as the student urged them on. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

Tank's People Release A Statement

R&B artist Tank (Durrell Babbs) was a victim of police brutality in New Orleans on Sunday, February 17, 2008. The incident is under investigation and more detailed information is forthcoming.Around 1:30 am on Sunday night a cheerful Tank departed from The House of Blues in search for his driver. Unfamiliar with the area of New Orleans, the Los Angeles resident asked security for directions to Iberville; where his driver was parked. Tank and a business associate, Ira Dewitt, followed the directions given. Briskly walking down the cold streets, Tank proceeded to turn the corner as directed by the previous officer. As he identified the whereabouts of his car he was halted by a New Orleans Police Officer who demanded he turn around and go a different direction to get to his car.In an attempt to gain understanding and calm the tension, Tank assured the officer that they were not a threat; they only wanted to get to the car. With the vehicle in plain sight and one block away, Tank attempted to negotiate clearance for him and his business colleague to quickly walk to their driver. A snappy black Police officer told Tank he didn’t owe him any explanation and that he made himself clear. In an effort to find an alternate route to get to the vehicle, three white officers re-approached Tank questioning his actions. In disbelief, Tank asked them to explain in detail what they wanted. He was immediately pushed up against the wall with one arm on the wall and one arm bent behind his back, being held by the white officer, an aggravated officer repeatedly asked for Tank to put his other arm up on the wall as well. Repeatedly Tank told the officer he could not release his other arm pinned behind his back. The officer then proceeded to shoot Tank at point blank range with a taser gun. Thrust to the ground with pain, the officers warned Tank to never mess with the law in New Orleans. Tank was taken to the University Hospital; after being discharged the victim was immediately then taken to jail by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and charged with disturbing the peace, public drunkenness and resisting and obstructing an officer. “Tank has engaged the services of the Law Office of Bernard L. Charbonnet, Jr. in connection with the incident that occurred in New Orleans during the most recent NBA All Star activities. As this matter is currently under investigation, we are unable to comment as to the circumstances surrounding this representation at this time. However, my firm intends to vigorously protect his interest as we do for all of our clients,” confirmed Attorney Benard Charbonnet.In an effort to celebrate the rebuilding efforts of New Orleans and join the annual celebration of NBA All-Star, this was the last thing the R&B star expected. “The most frustrating part of the entire incident is knowing that I did not do anything to pose a threat but was treated like a criminal. With a clean-cut image and a lady by my side, the law took matters into their own hands and chose to endanger my safety and those accompanying me. It’s 2008 and New Orleans is still very much in trouble beyond the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I’m a living witness,” says a disgruntle Tank. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

F1 Racing to Organize Anti-Racism Campaign Due to Lewis Hamilton Incident

Earlier this month British Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, the first Black racer to compete in Formula One racing, was taunted by fans in who came in blackface and yelled racial insults toward him as he practiced and tested out the race track at Circuit de Catalunya. Because of the incident, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the governing body of Formula One Racing, is organizing a campaign "Racing Against Racism," to be launched in April for the Spanish Grand Prix. The FIA warned Spanish authorities that if there are any other racist incidents that they will pull the two races being held in Spain this year. "The FIA was appalled by the scenes of racist abuse targeted at Lewis Hamilton," the spokesman said according to ESPN. "Such behavior runs counter to the fundamental principles of equality enshrined in the FIA's statutes. Formula One is a global, multi-cultural sport and has never encountered such scenes before and will not tolerate them in future. International motor sport can reach a huge global audience to send out positive messages of racial and sporting equality. We will be encouraging all those involved in motor sport to support our new campaign, from recent world champions to the next generation of potential champions at the grass roots of our sport."Hamilton's racing team, McClaren applauded the FIA for their efforts and will support the campaign heavily. SOURCE OF THIS STORY

Racial harassment cases rise sharply

Cases of racial harassment filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased 24% last year, a time of racial turmoil that included the Jena Six controversy and an outbreak of noose displays.At the same time, state and city lawmakers have stepped up efforts to make it a crime to intimidate someone with a noose. And the Justice Department, which set up a network to link investigators reviewing noose incidents, has indicted a Louisiana teen on hate crime charges for dangling a noose from his pickup and driving past demonstrators after a protest in Jena, La., in September."Nooses are more prevalent," says EEOC chair Naomi Earp. "The noose has replaced the N-word … as the choice if you want to threaten or intimidate someone."The number of racial harassment filings at the commission, which investigates workplace incidents, increased from 5,646 in 2006 to 6,977 in 2007. The annual figure has more than doubled since 1991. The EEOC does not break out charges involving nooses.Earp says the EEOC has not studied why the spike occurred, but she thinks the Jena case, in which six black teens were charged with beating a white classmate, contributed.FIND MORE STORIES IN: Louisiana | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | Protesters The case began when white students hung nooses from a schoolyard tree. A few months later, the six black students were charged with attempted murder, leading to a civil rights protest of about 20,000 marchers in the rural town. The charges were later reduced. SOURCE OF THIS STORY