Wordless Wednesday: Muhammad Ali and Pele (The Greatest of All Times, Squared)

SOURCE: Pinterest, 'Let The Games Begin'

Lawsuit Settlement in the Taser-Killing of Edmund Gutierrez

Edmund "Bubba" Gutierrez was an unarmed 22-year old man killed by the excessive taser use of Imperial (CA) police officers on July 5, 2010. His death was ruled a homicide ... but, no criminal charges were brought against Imperial police Officer Eric Granado and now-retired Officer Joe Garibaldi. These were two taser-happy officers that made a traffic stop on Gutierrez ... a stop from which young Edmund didn't survive.

This blog is happy to note that the Gutierrez family was able to get justice in civil court. The family and the city of Imperial settled on a payment of $600,000 recently. Edmund Gutierrez Sr., Bubba’s father, and his wife, Lydia made the following statement:

“As parents, we never imagined that the life of our beloved son, Bubba, would be taken by those sworn to protect him. The sole purpose of the initiation of this lawsuit for his wrongful death and the resolution of our claims for his wrongful death was to demonstrate to those police officers who were the instruments of his death, and to a city government complicit in that death, the full measure of the consequences for the refusal to recognize, acknowledge and address the issue of abuse of power and authority by some members of the city of Imperial law enforcement community.

“We pray that the affirmation of the city’s blame and its substantial cost will encourage the residents and the officials of the city of Imperial to more closely and critically examine the conduct of those empowered by them to enforce the law,” the statement continued.

All communities need to take a close look at their taser policies so that fewer unarmed young men are killed.

Obama's Weekly Address: Helping Protect Our Kids by Reducing Gun Violence

Three months after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama says that the Senate has taken important steps forward to help protect our kids by reducing gun violence.

The American people made their voices heard, and the Senate made progress to make it harder for criminals and people with serious mental illnesses to get guns, to crack down on anyone trying to funnel guns to criminals, and to reinstate and strengthen a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons. Each of these ideas deserves a vote. The President urges Congress to pass these commonsense measures while affirming our nation’s tradition of responsible gun ownership. [Transcript / Video]

NJ Gov. Chris Christie Calls a Black Man 'Boy' During Town Hall Meeting

Chris Christie (R-NJ) is the toast of the town in many circles. There is hope that he will change the fortunes of the Republican Party by running in the 2016 presidential election cycle. If so, he is going to need to find a better way to communicate with Black men. Calling us 'boy' while on stage with a microphone in his hands ain't a good political move.

In his response to a constituent at a town hall meeting, here is what Christie said,

“You can yell all you want about ‘fix the public schools.’ Yeah, I hear ya, boy, I hear ya. I hear what you’re saying, but let me tell you something else. What I hear is the despair, I hear the despair of folks all over this state.”

I don't see any justification for Gov. Christie to call a grown man by the name, 'boy'. It is a racial code word that shines a light into the character of the man. Do you agree?

Now They're Killing 6-Month Old Babies in Chicago ... RIP Jonylah Watkins

Chicago used to be known for being the home of our current First Family as well as its professional sports, Miracle Mile shopping and windy weather. No more. Chicago is now known as the place to go if you want to get shot.

Gun violence seems to carry a Chicago byline more often than not. This week we learn that 6-month old Jonylah Watkins was shot multiple times ... and died as a result of those gunshot wounds. I hope that our politicians in Washington DC take a moment to think about Jonylah as they look at various gun reform proposals.

Some cowardly fool woke up this week ... put a gun in his pocket ... and ended his day by taking the life of a young angel named Jonylah. Jonylah’s father, Jonathan Watkins, had been changing her diaper in the front passenger seat of a Chevy mini-van when a gunman approached the vehicle and starting shooting. The cowardly killer then fled in a waiting car.

Jonylah's mother, Judy Watkins, visited the Cook County medical examiner’s office yesterday to identify the body of her six-month-old daughter. Jonathan is currently at a local hospital recovering from several gunshot wounds he endured during the incident as well.

Facing the hard truth about her baby’s death, Judy Watkins cried silently Wednesday night as she identified the body of her daughter. She viewed the body through a closed circuit television feed at the Cook County medical examiner’s office, according to Rev. Corey Brooks, who is the Watkins family spokesman.

“She stood there for about 30 seconds or a minute,” he said. “But I could tell she would have stayed there all day. I told them that was enough.”

A police source said Watkins may have been the victim of retaliation for alleged links to an earlier robbery and shooting.

Wordless Wednesday: Muhammad Ali

SOURCE: Pinterest, 'Let The Games Begin'

Obama's Weekly Address: End the Sequester to Keep Growing the Economy

In his weekly address, President Obama says that businesses have created jobs every month for three years straight – nearly 6.4 million altogether, and have added 246,000 new jobs in February. We must keep this momentum going, and that’s why the President recently met with Republican leaders to discuss how we can replace the harmful, arbitrary budget cuts, called the “sequester,” with balanced deficit reduction. [VIDEO]

Obama's Weekly Address: 'Congress Must Compromise to Stop the Impact of the Sequester'

In his weekly address, President Obama tells the American people that a series of harmful budget cuts ... called the sequester ... have taken effect because Congress failed to act.

Because Republicans in Congress refused to compromise to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans, hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their jobs or see their paycheck reduced, and middle class families will be hurt. Congress must join the President now to replace these cuts with a balanced approach that reduces our deficit while also making smart investments in areas that help our economy grow.

Watch this week's Weekly Address.