SCLC Protest Taser-Killing of Derrick Humbert

The powers-that-be in Bradenton want us to believe that 38-year old Derrick Humbert's death was 'accidental'. One moment Humbert is riding his bicycle home from a trip to the neighborhood store. The next moment he is pounced on by two undercover police officers in an unmarked car ... they chase him ... taser him with 50,000 volts of electricity ... and he dies. Where is the accident in this scenario?

That is one of the questions raised by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during their weekend march in downtown Bradenton to protest the Taser death of Humbert and to raise awareness of the Bradenton Police Department's "quality of life" policies.

The chairman of the SCLC Florida chapter, Arthur Rocker, met with Police Chief Michael Radzilowski to discuss Humbert's death.

"The chief of police says it's 'quality of life.' He stops people for small crimes so they don't commit bigger crimes, such as riding a bicycle without lights or walking on the wrong side of the road," Rocker said.

"We talked with him yesterday and asked, 'If a person in one of these communities was wearing a suit, would he be stopped for riding a bicycle or walking?' We believe these things are happening in low income communities and the reason that people walk and ride bicycles is because they have no other way to get around," Rocker said.

More than 60 people took part in the weekend protest march. "We all feel that it was an unfortunate situation but it gives us the opportunity to make some changes," Rocker said.

Rocker would like the Bradenton Police Department to start sensitivity training for its officers. "We must respect people's cultures and allow them the opportunity to understand them more," Rocker said.

The department of Justice is investigating Humbert's death. Rocker said there is no timetable set. "We're not in a hurry. We just want a quality and thorough investigation."

This blog joins with SCLC leadership around the country whenever they stand up to protest taser-related deaths. These deaths are happening on a weekly basis in America. More of us need to stand side-by-side with SCLC.

SCLC President Kyev Tatum Seeks Dignity and Respect in Fort Worth

Villagers are fully aware of the taser-related outrages in Ft. Worth TX that were brought to our attention by the death of 24-year old Michael Jacobs. Pastor Kyev Tatum is the president of the SCLC chapter in Ft. Worth. He shared his thoughts on these matters in the following open letter:

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To whom it may concern:

On yesterday I met with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner Dr. N. Peewani in what I consider to be a candid conversation on the cause of the taser shock death of mentally challenged Michael Patrick Jacobs, Jr., a 24 year-old African American man who lived in east Fort Worth on April 18, 2009.

The reason I met with him was because I wanted a copy of the "complete" medical report he submitted to the Tarrant County District Attorney justifying his homicide ruling as the cause of death with a taser and at the hands of Fort Worth Police Officer Stephanie A. Phillips, a white female with 17 years of experience as a FW police officer.

My concerns of a "Cowtown Cover Up" was confirmed when the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board published the details of a portion of Dr. Peewani's report that was "suppressed" by the District Attorney Joe Shannon in an effort to "keep the public peace" and to not taint the grand jury process.

What is of great concern is that Mr. Shannon and Fort Worth City leaders in August decided to keep this information away from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference leadership and the local media. In fact, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has to sue in District Court in order to get the report released. District Judge Mike Thomas should be commended for his wise judgment in ordering the release of the complete report last Friday, November 20, 2009.

While the Southern Christian Leadership Conference still awaits a complete copy of the report, I found reason to pause when it was mentioned in my conversation with the Medical Examiner that the two barbs from the taser torture tool hit Michael Patrick Jacobs, Jr., inches from his juggler in his neck and heart.

I can not imagine what pain and torture he experienced with "54 Seconds" of 50,000 volts of painful electricity flowing through his body as Stephanie Phillips executed him in from of his mother and father.

Yet Mayor Mike Moncrief, the City Council and Police Chief have found no fault in Ms. Phillips' actions. The tainted grand jury refused to indict because Taser International was allowed to purchase testimony before the grand jury. Now the entire community is ordered by the Mayor and Police Chief to shut up and sit down because, "this case is closed."

As president of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, I am outraged, insulted and offended by the actions of the leadership in my hometown.

Fort Worth, in my humble opinion, is one of the most dangerous cities in America if you are an African American male, especially if you have mental health and wellness issues.

Our civil rights are completely ignored and our right to dignity and justice are disregarded. What should be handled as a medical issues have been handled as a criminal justice issue and many young black men and boys are forced to live a life of second class citizenship without hope or directions.

With African American infant mortality rate in certain zip codes in Fort Worth the highest in the nation; the highest black failure rate in public schools and the highest incarceration rate of any social class within the City of Fort Worth, black men and boys are dying in Fort Worth and no one seems to care.

We need immediate relief and we are calling on Governor Rick Perry and President Barack Obama to put aside political positions and parties and come to Fort Worth and provide us with state and federal relief. Our civil rights are being violated without cause.

The criminalization of the black man in Fort Worth is out of control and is adding to the burden of society.

As a native son of this city and community, I know first hand how the governmental authority abuse, intimidated, punish, control, inflict fear, pain and even death in order to "keep us in our place."

On this Thanksgiving day, I send out this cry in faith and hope that someone will have enough compassion and courage to hear my plea and come offer us some relief.

We are not criminals but citizens of this great country. We do not want a hand out but a healthy hand up so that we can live our lives free from fear, threat and death.

Michael Jacobs, Jr., did not have to die in the most undignified barbaric way know to man. His mother cried out for medical help but witnessed his execution along with his father in their front yard at 6266 Ava Court Drive.

The City may have closed its case locally, but rest assure, the SCLC will continue to speak up and out until something is done about the unsafe, inhumane way Fort Worth treats its African American men and boys.

We need immediate relief.

In complete humility,
Rev. Kyev Tatum, Sr.
1333 East Magnolia Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76105
(817) 966-7625
kyevtatum@yahoo.com

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I plan to join Rev. Tatum and others on December 4th in a Day of Blogging for Justice: Stop Taser Torture. I hope you support this effort as well.

SCLC Protests Taser Death of Michael Jacobs (Ft. Worth)

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is calling for a march of 10,000 people or more to denounce the decision not to discipline the Stephanie Phillips, the Fort Worth police officer who murdered Michael Patrick Jacobs by Mayor Mike Moncrief and the City of Fort Worth.

"It is time for the nation to come together and denounce this kind of terrorist taser torture on American citizens by home grown terrorist who are supposed to protect and serve," says the Reverend Kyev Tatum, Fort Worth Chapter President of the SCLC. "We have had enough of this foolishness."

The March for Dignity is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 12 noon, starting at the Fort Worth City Hall and will end at the Tarrant County Courthouse on Main and Belknap Street.

"We are tired of the torture abuse by the police."

Founded by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1957, the SCLC first asked for a ban on taser electronic torture devices in 2005.

For more information contact (817) 966-7625 or sclctarrantcounty@yahoo.com

NAACP Shows No Cojones in Florida Taser Killing of Derrick Humbert

I truly want to give the NAACP the benefit of the doubt. I want them to be relevant at the national level and in each of their local branches around the country. However, the response of the NAACP Manatee County branch regarding the recent taser-killing down in Bradenton (FL) is very disappointing.

The NAACP issued a statement Thursday night:

“The branch looks forward to reviewing the results of the autopsy report so that we can make a well-informed decision on whether there was foul play or excessive force made by the arresting officer.”

A Black man is riding his bicycle at night. He is pulled over by Officer Del Shiflett because his bicycle doesn't have a light. In less than an hour, the Black man, Derrick Humbert, is dead. Humbert is the 41st person involved in a taser-related death this year. Over 40% of those taser killings involve a Black man.

In a telephone interview with a local newspaper, Manatee County NAACP President Ed Bailey, said,

“From what I understand, he was Tasered to be apprehended, and shorty after, he suffered from a medical condition that caused his death. Right now, we feel that’s something we don’t need to act on. If the autopsy doesn’t concur with the statement the police are making, then we will be looking into it further. Right now, we trust what the officers are saying is true.”

The police department has already exonerated Officer Shiflett ... saying that the killing of Humbert with the taser was within police department policy. And now the NAACP is co-signing that conclusion with a mealy-mouthed statement about "a medical condition that caused his death" and "we trust what the officers are saying is true."

Even President Ronald Reagan knew that you had to VERIFY if you were going to trust. That sage advice seems to be more than NAACP leaders in Manatee County can handle at this point.

On the other hand, the local Southern Christian Leadership Conference chapter accused Shifflet of using excessive force, and said it would be closely monitoring the investigation of Humbert’s death.

No wonder Ed Bailey's NAACP branch is losing members to the newly-formed SCLC chapter.

Perhaps NAACP national president Ben Jealous or some of the more progressive NAACP Branch members can give a call to the cojone-challenged Ed Bailey and let him know what the Black community expects from our leadership. If you are not going to protect our interests ... then just SHUT UP!