Chicago Bernie

Taking the idea from Luminous Animal

I live on the north side. Anyone else around here?

Bernie said

Why I know it is possible that Freddie Gray's injury started with his arrest

First and foremost, BRAVA to Marilyn Mosby, Maryland state's attorney, for charging all 6 of the Officers in the death of Freddie Gray! One with 2nd degree murder



It has been said, repeatedly, that Freddie Gray's injury happened in the van. That he obviously wasn't injured during the arrest as he walked into the police van without issue.

Two people I loved, each had a broken spine that wasn't discovered immediately.

Back in the 60s, my father worked at sears. He was getting a hair dryer off a shelf when he fell off the ladder onto a table. He was taken to the hospital and x-rayed
He was sent home being told it was just muscle damage and to just "work it out " Almost a week later, as my dad was unable to walk and in excruciating pain, the hospital called. They told him to get back in to the hospital, his x-ray was read incorrectly and his back was broken.

He spent a while in the hospital and 6 months in a body cast. He had problems with his back the rest of his life. But he initially walked away without any problem but pain.

And old boyfriend of mine, decided to dive into an above ground pool. He hit his head on the bottom. He felt pain but kept playing in the pool. He even played "chicken" with a child on his shoulders. By nightfall, his hands had gone numb. He went to the hospital and ended up in intensive care. He had a "halo" screwed into his skull for months because his spinal cord was partially severed.

Amazingly, though he had problems with his neck the rest of his life, it was nothing more than arthritis.

Both of these men were told that the only reason they were walking was how strong the muscles were.

It is very possible that the injury that killed Freddie Gray was caused during the arrest. He was a young, strong man.

In closing, I want to again, congratulate Mosby on her quick action that is courageous both professionally and personally, in charging all six officers in the death of Freddie Gray!

It's called civil disobedience

And it is what works.

But the Mayor is out there saying it's the media that is at fault.

Yeah, it's never the cops or all the officials, including the medical examiner who are blaming Freddie Gray for his horrendous death

While the "rich" aka white areas have no curfew. Man, if that isn't racist bullshit ,nothing is

Shame on every part of the Baltimore and Maryland government

Shut it down!

Baltimore protester kidnapped by National Guard

A college student who was featured during the Ferguson protests in Baltimore is snatched up by National Guard. It's caught on CNN live and he's nowhere to be found.

Baltimore police, enforcing the mandatory curfew that went into effect Tuesday night, are dizzyingly efficient.

Like this arrest, caught on CNN cameras: now you see the protester, now you don’t. Where did he go? No comment.

Video at link

http://gawker.com/watch-baltimore-police-make-a-protester-disappear-1700856531

He has featured prominently in civil action before, and was credited with organising Baltimore's local protests against the Ferguson shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, according to a report on Heavy.com.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/where_is_joseph_kent_baltimore.html

Edit - found YouTube video. However, the video at the above link shows it better

"VIDEO - Baltimore Police Make a Protester Disappear - APRIL 28, 2015"

This is supposed to be the USA. Since when are people arrested like this?

This is becoming way too scary and out of control. The amount of fire power, tear gas used on peaceful protesters, curfews and now snatching people up and hiding them. This must end

Al Jazeera America is actually reporting on Baltimore

The history. The facts. The racism. Even the fact that kids in the area that the unrest occurred, children have 7% more lead poisoning than the rest of Baltimore.
They are not concentrating on "riots" and the 15 cops that were hurt.

When the National Guard and/or federal assistance is sent in when a cop kills a black man

And when the police department, union, etc excuse it and the prosecutor fails to indict, I will give a shit what happens to a corporate store or police vehicles.

Rubber bullets, tear gas, deployment of militarized police instead of stopping the systematic violence by police across America, is inexcusable and just asking for problems.

So fuck that noise.

There is absolutely no excuse for the continued, systematic racism and murder of young black men, the poor and the mentally ill. The incarceration of so very many people for so very long is part of the corpocracy we now live in.

Something has to happen to wake people and the government up. Peaceful protest has gotten us nowhere. Time after time after time we see atrocities, murders, on video and nothing is done. Even in the rare case that someone is charged, just turn around and tomorrow you'll see it again. 

So just fuck the noise that we should be upset that poor CVS was looted and burned. Fuck that noise that we should be angry with protesters that a poor money grubbing "banking" check cashing company that basically rapes a neighborhood is destroyed

I do not advocate destroying a neighborhood, a small, mom and pop business, or anyone being physically harmed. But if this shit keeps up, it will be much worse than what we have seen in decades. Maybe ever.

As Al Jeezera reporters just said, this is war. The reporter that was beaten by the police, for no reason, in Baltimore is on the ground for Al Jeezera.

The first billionaire, a Republican, came out as a trans woman in 2013

Cross post from GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026574492

The first billionaire, a Republican, who came out as a trans woman in 2013

Colonial Jennifer Natalya Pritzker had the following press release on August 16, 2013:


"As of August 16, 2013, J. N. Pritzker will undergo an official legal name change, will now be known as Jennifer Natalya Pritzker. This change will reflect the beliefs of her true identity that she has held privately and will now share publicly. Pritzker now identifies herself as a woman for all business and personal undertakings.:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Evanston-Billionaire-James-Pritzker-Changes-Name-to-Jennifer-Pritzker-221011621.html#

I actually knew Jennifer Pritzker. I worked for a very small company that she owned with a partner back in the mid 80s. It was originally owned by my aunt and uncle and they sold it to Sam Manto and, at the time, Jimmy Pritzker. Unlike a huge corporation, there were only 6 of us in the office. So, though the Pritzkers were not often in, I did actually interact with them.

I can't imagine how difficult this journey was for her. At that time, it was a big secret that, then Jimmy, was a cross dresser. This very public figure, with an incredibly conservative, bigoted family, must have suffered greatly with the real secret.

I am not a fan of the Pritzker family. While they are truly philanthropic, they also have taken advantage of the public on more than one occasion. The elder Pritzker's and my aunt and uncle (different aunt and uncle) ran in the same circles. Without going into detail, I know that they were shamelessly bigoted.

But in 2013, Jennifer Pritzker found the courage to come out publicly. A life long member of the military, she has been working hard to change law and perception when it comes to transgender people in the military.

Question to you smart people in this group re: Nepal earthquake

Is it at all possible that this could be linked to global warming? I don't know enough about how earthquakes and global warming are related or if anything that does cause them is happening in Nepal.

Thank you for any response

To everyone that responded, thank you so very much! This is now my favorite post ever! You have all taught me something. Whether or not you agree with each other, you gave reason for your beliefs. Facts.

This has been like a discussion in a classroom where you could somehow link a source. Love it!

Thanks again