Page 40 - Florida Sentinel 5-14-21

National
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Derek Chauvin And 3 Other Ex-Cops On Civil Rights Violations
TOU THAO, DERRICK CHAUVIN, THOMAS LANE AND J. KUENG
Alaska Airlines Unveils ‘Commitment’ Aircraft In Support Of United Negro College Fund
Seeing actions actually have consequences for cops is a con- tinually bizarre experience. A federal grand jury has indicted Derek Chauvin and the three other officers involved in the death of George Floyd on U. S. civil rights charges.
According to the Star Trib- une, documents that were un- sealed on Friday reveal that former Minneapolis police of- ficers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao have been charged with violating Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure, with Chauvin also being charged with unreasonable force by a
police officer. All four offi- cers were also charged with failing to provide medical care for Floyd. Chauvin was also charged with an additional civil rights violation stemming from a 2017 incident where he put a 14-year-old boy in a neck restraint during an arrest.
Last May, Floyd was ar- rested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a Cup Foods in Minneapolis. A struggle ensued after Floyd was placed into custody that ended with Derek Chauvin placing his knee on Floyd’s neck and back for over 9 min- utes and 29 seconds, killing him.
Diversity, equity, and inclu- sion are now taking center stage from 30,000 feet.
As part of an ongoing rela- tionship with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), which helps fund historically Black colleges and universities, Alaska Airlines’ “Our Commit- ment” aircraft took to the skies as a symbol of the airline’s promise to create a place where everyone sees them- selves and belongs.
The aircraft, which made its inaugural flight from Seattle to Washington D. C., on Tuesday, April 27, was created by Alaska Air’s Black employee resource group to illustrate the airline’s belief in education as the great equalizer and as a critical com-
ponent of creating sustainable racial equity. The typography on the aircraft was created by Adé Hogue a Chicago-based artist and designer, who found inspiration in Civil Rights
Movement-era imagery. The aircraft features 14 profiles of the next generation of leaders: the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s em- ployees.
16-Year-Old Mikayla Miller
Pastors and denominational leaders representing tens of thousands of parishioners posted demands to the court- house door regarding the in- vestigation of the killing of Andrew Brown, Jr., an un- armed Black man who was shot in the back of the head by North Carolina deputies who wore tactical gear to serve war- rants.
Led by Bishop William J. Barber, II, president of Re- pairers of the Breach, and Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spear- man, former president of the
N.C. Council of Churches, about 100 pastors marched to the Pasquotank County Court- house on Saturday, then posted the demands on the courthouse door and signed them, along with members of the public.
The 42-year-old Brown, a father of seven, was killed April 21 by Pasquotank County deputies serving warrants for nonviolent drug crimes. No weapons or drugs were found on Brown, whose family and attorneys have described his killing as an execution.
Found Tied To Tree In
Boston Area Town
A 16-year-old named Mikayla Miller was found by a jogger tied to a tree on Sun- day, April 18, in Hopington, Massachusetts.
It is believed that the teen got into a dispute with a group of other teenagers the night be- fore. Her mother asked for her death to be investigated due to the suspicious circumstances, however, the DA claimed there was no foul play.
“My daughter was jumped by a group of kids on Saturday April 17th, 2021, and was then murdered hours later in Hop- kinton, tied to a tree and left,” read the statement allegedly left by Miller’s mother.
In related news, Hopkinton Schools closed early on Thurs- day as activists and a promi- nent congresswoman call for a new investigator to take over the case.
On Wednesday at noon, a group of pastors from local
ISAIAH BROWN
Deputy Killing Of Unarmed Black Man: Clergy March, Demand Body Cam Video
A Report Card On Race In The Music Industry To Be Released In June
MIKAYLA MILLER
Christian churches held a prayer service on Hopkinton Town Common.
“This can happen anywhere. We have to pray for the healing of our youth and community, especially in this,” said Pastor Sarah Watson of the Vine- yard Church.
Following last summer’s protests, fueled by the deaths of George Floyd and other African Americans killed at the hands of police across Amer- ica, an in-depth look was launched to see how Black artists and Black employees across the music industry were being treated.
Was there fairness across the board in how equitably money flows in the “billions of dollars” music industry?
To address such questions – and many others – the Black
GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS
Music Action Coalition was formed. The Coalition is com-
prised of managers, lawyers, and other stakeholders, tasked with the mission to hold the mammoth music industry ac- countable for its fairness.
To show transparency, major record labels, streaming services, and broadcasters pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in donations. Also, task forces were convened to look at multiple levels of the music industry, which made promises to the diversity of their ranks and correct any in- equities found.
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