
For the better part of two years, we've been hearing about how officials in New Jersey's largest city finally listened to the weary public and got tough on crime.
Now, we might be treated to the unfortunate story of how Newark's cops really pulled it off.
With allegations of rampant misconduct and lots of excessive force used during arrests by Newark's police officers, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is asking the feds for oversight of the 1,300-officer department.
At this point, there are only accusations, but they appear to have some merit. The ACLU found 407 cases of misconduct, including seven deaths tied to officers who either shot victims or ignored urgent health complaints.
The city has paid $4.8 million over the past 36 months to settle 38 cases brought against police, and, according to the ACLU, more than 30 others are pending.
City officials say the ACLU numbers are inaccurate and add that the civil liberties group has been working with police on how to lower citizen-brutality complaints.
At this point, it's hard to know who is right, and without some context provided for the ACLU figures, such as how those numbers stack up against other U.S. cities with a similar size and population, it's impossible to know whether Newark officers are brutalizing the citizenry.
More than 20 U.S. police departments are already under federal oversight, including ones in Los Angeles, Austin, Texas, and Detroit, according to the ACLU.
I do know, however, whether any part of the ACLU allegations are true, or if they stem from a plan implemented by officials more than two years ago, when the city was rocked by the execution-style murders of three students in a school playground.
At the time, the story being spun by city officials was that citizen-advocacy groups -- spurred by the brutal murder -- demanded safer streets. Officials responded with a series of anti-crime initiatives that worked in lowering crime rates over the following year or so.
The reduced crime in Newark helped Mayor Cory Booker retain his office during the last election.
If the ACLU allegations are true, though, we will get a fuller explanation of how Newark police used the tool of police brutality to reduce crime in the city.
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Comments: (7)
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By: Michael on 9/10/2010 2:03PM
I don't believe the people realize that the TransAtlantic Slave Trade followed by 350 yrs of govt-statute-enforced, barbaric treatment directed ONLY at black people - REALLY DID HAPPEN. There's a thing called acceptance that's critical if progress is to be achieved. Do we not understand at all how structural, AUTOMATIC, systemic traditions are created? Are we blind to these structural traditions within our system?
So when you consider appx 1630 - 1965 and then consider 1965 to present - (and then consider the fatherlessness, unemployment, poor health, incarceration, poor educational attainment, etc of today's blacks) - one can clearly see where it comes from. All the surprise at the govt (& societal) attacks on black people, especially from black people, is troubling and telling. It tells me these blacks are helpless because they've analyzed incorrectly, what they're dealing with. They must not have the info because I do and the diagnose is very clear to me. Hey everyone, if you can't diagnose the problem correctly, you might as well pack in it (and I do mean genocide cause it's a more more complicated world than 30 yrs ago). I think it's life/death that we blacks see the big picture. Trust me folks in the weeds are being played every which way but loose against yourselves. You don't know the damage you do. My motto is Ignorance is Deadly. Yall know it's true.
What I know is reparations are definitely owed and required. It's blacks responsibility to make them happen (and to understand it's not charity, it's payment of $$$ owed). This will take excellent communicators with an expert grasp of the facts. The rest of yall - please be quiet when it happens. Trust me, you're wrong. And you're scared (ignorance is fear of unknown) - and therefore are UNABLE to help (but you hurt the cause automatically, cause you're ignorant). Black people evidently don't know historical precedent exists and can aid in our dilemma. At least our anti-black white supremast capitalist system has a LEGAL subsystem. We were barred from getting justice from this system (by law) from appx 1630 to as late as 1965. That's just yesterday in the overall scheme. It's gonna take real intellect and soul to explain what happened (BRING CLARITY/TRUTH/CORRECT ANALYSIS) the last 400 yrs and how it impacts today (I can do it or give a good try) - but that's what must be done. Structural, systemic forces are REAL people. It's just realizing our system is composed of many subsystems that all work together like a machine. Black people are the key to this machine - and it's always been about economic exploitation and oppression/violence/barbarity. Still is.
So, I'm saying come on everybody. Why are you so surprised about the difficulty blacks are contending with with police in Newark. Last Time: we're at bottom of ALL quality-of-life stats tracked by govt. Anyone with knowledge of math realizes that CANT happen organically. It's being done to you - AND IT'S TIME TO FACE IT AND DEAL WITH IT. No perspective? It's simple math.
To tie it all together: This ACLU action strikes me as knowingly-piecemeal (it's clearly SYSTEMWIDE, so why the slow and (intentionally) less effective tact to such a serious problem. It makes the ACLU look more interested in self promotion (ACLU & US media (same Khazars & they do stick together) than freedom fighting. The ACLU is pro illegal alien and pro GAY marriage (I'm no homophobe - I just see it as gay people rudely attacking a religious concept and attacking a word (marriage) central to a concept that's existed 1000s of yrs on end. That's rude and tacky and foolhardy (says alot about em), especially because civil unions provide the exact benefits. Being pro-Illegal is clearly an anti-black stance.
You folks better understand the Khazars who run the progressive wing of the DP and all these Lawyer-Organizations: They're sworn, as followers of Judaism (Talmud), to destroy Christianity. That's the true aim. They're attacking Christmas aren't they. Don't you know their Talmud states "nothing pleases God more than to kill a christian. They say Jesus was a bastard born of a prostitute. DID YOU KNOW SO-CALLED JEWS BELIEVED THIS? Did you know they have a Day of Atonement where the abolve themselves from any oathe they take? What is Kagan/Ginsburg and rest doing on the Supreme Court?
There's only one word to explain their history with black people - GENOCIDE.
Black people don't exist until these prog-orgs need some media attention. They ignore it's system-wide problem and don't implement a system-wide approach to the problem. A very slow, ineffective approach won't help black people much at all (but alot of $$$$ will be generated, won't it?). I'm sure AOL is Khazar-controlled (directors and higher) like all US companies so this article in the final analysis is purely intended to harm black people. And it's done with a very subtle, death by a thousand papercuts approach. It's about word association (hypnosis, brainwashing, planting impressions). You gotta have a complete understanding of the English language.
I guess what I wanted to say is I do not trust the ACLU. And don't know why black people would. What, did slavery take from black people an understanding of the quid pro quo principle?
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By: You Know Who on 9/10/2010 9:36PM
ACLU, WAS CREATED BY THE WHITE -MAN TO MAKE MONEY,do you have any idea where their money comes from, its a business.They have no intentions of solving anything, attorneys are professional thugs, and the Judge is an attorney also,wise up brothers and sisters thats the way they want it.All moneys are made from poor people, taxes, fees, drugs,prostitution,gambling, con games.I am a retired gangster,went to school with John Cochran.Never spent one day in jail, thats for small time chumps,the players run the world, criminals are costantly improving their skills,the wealthy people hire specialist to do their dirt, experts,small time punks always get caught. Have a great week-end.Los Angeles, foreigners screwed it up royal,3rd world , slum.Not fit for dogs.
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By: poetrysez on 9/11/2010 12:24PM
Isn't that the city where Mayor Cory Booker is supposed to be cleaning up? Didn't he get recognition or some type of award for lowering Brick City's crime rate? If so, does that not include the police force? Why the heck does it take the ACLU to step in?
That pic from the 60's is horrible...is someone trying to say " either we remember our histry or repeat it?
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By: Big Rob on 9/13/2010 12:17PM
A couple of years ago I had a car accident where as I got T-boned by another car that ran the red-light. My friend and I had just come from having an after work drink at a local bar in the area. I was dropping him home when the accident occurred. Strange occurences transpired afterward that eventually led to my arrest and suspension of my drivers license. I was arrested by a white cop after being slammed in the side of my car by a drunk off-duty police seargent, who was also white, and I get arrested and he gets send home to sleep it off. I only found out he was a cop when the tow truck driver who picked my car up, came to the hospital and told me after attempting to assist him, subsequently being told to back off with the flash of his badge. The turn of events spiraled downward from there. I was released from my job and also had to hire a lawyer. I wrote a letter that I was to deliver to the IAB as well as the CCRB and was told by my lawyer not to do it. I wouldn't want the trouble that would come my way. I was convicted of DWAI, a violation, that led to me having to come out of my pocket with money that I didn't have but had to find a way of paying. Meanwhile, this alcoholic cop is still out there policing the streets of New York while I'm still paying for lack of knowledge. I like to read and have read a lot of books on black culture and our history. I read these two(2) books that really give a haunting look at the reality of how our lives as African-Americans have been shaped and formed so as to not allow we as a people to move forward, to strive for things in life. There is asystem that was put into place, I really couldn't believe it until I read it myself, that will keep our lives turned upside down for the rest of our existence on this earth, IF WE ALLOW IT. We all know how our ancestory was erased from our minds during the first part of our slavery/trade ageement. Well there's alot more to be learned from picking up a book and reading. Not just any book, but a book that will tell the real deal on the plight of Afican-Americans brought here by the Tranatlantic slave/trade agreement. I was legally lynched by the law that is supposed to be protecting my rights as a human being on this face of the earth. Breaking the curse of Willie Lynch and The Isis Papers are a couple of books that you can start with, if you can find them. There are plenty more also. Read people read. It's said, " We don't have to worry about hurting Black People by writing laws, they'll never pick up a book and read it anyway"! You won't never ever know where you're going if you don't know where you came from! PEACE!
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By: JUDY LYNN CLARK FERGUSON on 9/13/2010 1:02PM
THE ALCL, JESSE JACKSON, AL SHARPTON, NAACP, EEOC, SCLC, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ALL CAME OUT OF THE SAME GARBAGE CAN, PHOTO SHOTS AND CORPORATE AMERICA RACE HUSTLERS.
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By: Jeannette on 9/13/2010 11:11PM
It's your garbage can that stinks, and no matter what lid you put on it, you can not cover the smell. It's people like you, that keep racsim alive and well. You are as racist as they come. Day after day, you are on this site spewing all of your nonsense, claiming that all blacks do is pull the race card. Well Judy, you have proven to all that read this post that your sheets are white and you dress your bed and your self in them. Your desendents were slave masters, and we all know that the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Do you know how bad you sound? Please go away
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By: One who knows on 9/13/2010 11:41PM
The scene depicted is not Newark, NJ. The police are not NEWARK officers,Newark has never used dogs and the location in the picture is not in Newark. Editor, please check the facts and make your readers aware that the picture is not relevant to the article which is grossly misleading.
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