Dallas remembers Sandra Bland and demands justice

[ckaihatsu]

Dallas remembers Sandra Bland and demands justice

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/Sandraedit.jpg

By staff

Dallas, TX - About 60 people gathered at Belo Park here, July 22, to remember Sandra Bland, the young African American woman who died in police custody in Waller County, Texas, and to demand justice for her. The activists listened to a number of speeches and a few prayers, before marching through downtown chanting "What's her name? Sandra Bland," and other slogans.

Olinka Green, the principal organizer of the event, grew emotional while speaking about Bland's death. "She could have been me. I was arrested for my activism, too. I was mistreated by police. I was taken to jail. And I could have ended up like her, except for the people who looked in on me."

Protesters did not accept the police claim that Bland's death was a suicide. "We have seen from the video tapes that they are lying about her assaulting the officer. If they are lying about her assaulting the officer, why should we believe them about the suicide?" one protester asked.

John Fullinwider, president of the Dallas Peace Center, pointed out the racist discrimination involved in the case, stating, “My wife's name is Sandra, but she's white. If she had driven through this town and she had failed to signal a turn, would this have happened to her? No, it wouldn't have. She would not even have been stopped."

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]ghtbacknews.org

[willowtooth]

if she punched and kicked a cop, than why did the cop spend 5 minutes asking his supervisor what he can charge her with? wouldn't he have known too charge her with assault? instead she was "arrested for resisting arrest" how does that make one bit of fucking sense?

where did she get this plastic trash bag she apparently hung herself with, ive been arrested before there are no trashcans in holding cells, so where did she get it? They don't even let you keep anything in your pockets, they don't even let you keep your belt, for fuck's sake

I have no doubt she was killed by police officers in her cell, she had no reason to kill herself, she had just posted bond, and was talking about suing the police department, she just got a new job, and just moved too a new town, although to be fair it was a town with a history severe racial prejudice apparently they even still have segregated funeral parlors, cemeteries, etc. But regardless she just filled her house with groceries suicidal people don't buy groceries before killing themselves

last known words of Sandra Bland according to her cellmate:

"I know what my purpose is, my purpose is to go back to Texas and stop all social injustice in the South."

[VivalaCuarta]

KB-7KdTrBZ0

On July 10, Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old African American activist and education worker, was driving from Illinois to her new job at the historically black Prairie View A&M University in Texas, her alma mater. Sandra was pulled over by a Texas Ranger, supposedly for changing lanes without signaling. The trooper abusively demanded she get out of the car, threatening to use a Taser electric shock on her. After having her head slammed on the ground, Sandra was arrested for supposed “assault on a public servant,” for insisting on her rights. Three days later, she was found dead in her cell in Waller County, Texas. The authorities claim she committed suicide. We say the police are guilty. Sandra was lynched by the cops. On July 22, hundreds gathered in New York City's Union Square to protest the police murder of Sandra Bland. Class Struggle Education Workers, CUNY Internationalist Clubs and the Internationalist Group joined in.

[Sewer Socialist]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/07/22/assassination-sandra-bland-and-struggle-against-state-repression



However, as interesting as the individualized analysis and expressions of the psychopathology of white supremacy might be, the murder of Sandra Bland has to be contextualized politically as part of the intensifying war being waged on black communities and peoples’ across the country.
And because the state is waging war against us and will be targeting our organizations, as an activist, organizer and popular educator, Sandra’s murder must be seen a political murder and receive sustain focus as such.



The struggle in the U.S. must be placed in an anti-colonial context or we will find ourselves begging for the colonial state to violate the logic of its existence by pretending that it will end something called police brutality and state killings. The settler-state is serious about protecting white capitalist/colonialist power while we are still trapped in the language of liberal reformism demanding "justice" and accountability. Those demands are fine as transitional demands if we understand that those demands are just that - transitional. Authentic justice and liberation will only come when there is authentic de-colonization and revolutionary power in the hands of self-determinate peoples' and oppressed classes and social groups.


:):star3::hammersickle::)

[ckaihatsu]

Jacksonville holds vigil for Sandra Bland


Jacksonville holds vigil for Sandra Bland

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/Chevara.jpg

By Fernando Figueroa

Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 activists and community members gathered here, July 26, to honor Sandra Bland. Bland, who supported the Black Lives Matter movement, became national news when she was found dead in her jail cell after being arrested for a minor traffic offense. Many doubt the official story that Bland committed suicide, especially after video evidence surfaced of Bland being handled roughly by the police.

A number of speeches were given from various organizations and individuals outraged after the death of Bland. Tefa Galvis spoke on behalf of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition about the ongoing campaign to stop police crimes and the abuse of Black women at the hands of the state. Several local artists played songs and sang hymns as the crowd listened and reflected.

Chevara Orrin, a local activist in Jacksonville, spoke about why she organized the rally and vigil. “It's important to show solidarity on a number of levels. We want to create space for Black and brown women and show that their lives matter. We want not only to create space, but to bear witness to our pain on a very basic level. We also gather people to create new strategies for stopping these incidents.” She added, “I'm not interested in this vigil being the final word on Sandra. I'm interested in sitting down with those in power and talking about why this happened.”

Activists vowed to continue the fight to stop police crimes and show that Black lives matter.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]

[ckaihatsu]

Militant Texas protest for Sandra Bland and victims of police brutality

https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/4cDMCorww2_48CggOcTQV4luqoNK2TZsA_sRipEkaphu9iSBV9 bQfNIX_XstRzWqESOoZpLd4gx35U2TyWzN5zdCVhzDcmQ6p5Rg lad6EIYalLDflE-wcqOgxJ2KAOq3snejcgShkGKpib372-f-=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/bland1.jpg

By Fabian Van Onzin and Adam Gann

Hempstead, TX - Over 300 people gathered on August 9 in front of Waller County Jail, where Sandra Bland was murdered last month. The large crowd rallied to protest racist police brutality and remember its victims. An hour northwest of Houston, people listened to inspiring speeches and uplifting poetry, and then marched around the Waller jailhouse.

Members of the National Black United Front (NBUF) lead the march, chanting, “No Justice, no fear. Sandra Bland lives here!” and “Down with racist police.” After marching for 20 minutes, the protesters entered the jailhouse to demand justice for Sandra Bland.

Suddenly, a line of cops charged at the activists with batons drawn, attempting to force people out of the lobby. The crowd resisted, so the police pulled in a few people, detaining them. Some protesters then began throwing soda cans and bottles at the cops, and showing no fear, protesters clashed with the police.

More police appeared from inside the jailhouse, again attempting to push people out. Their goal was to shut the door and arrest the detained protesters. Next, demonstrators formed a barrier to try to keep the doors open and free their detained comrades. Finally, the cops managed to push through the human barrier, also pushing and old African American man to the ground and banging his head on the concrete. The cops shut the jailhouse doors, locking the detained inside, while a group of activists rushed to help the older man and get him to an ambulance.

The militant protesters began banging on the door and threatening to break it down if the police did not release their fellow protesters immediately. Everyone chanted, “Shame on you!” and “Let them go!” Eventually demonstrators forced the jailhouse doors open, but just then the police sent the detained protesters out of a side door. As everyone was leaving the demonstration, hundreds of riot police showed up with shields, batons and huge police vans.

Treasjure, an organizer with Out of the Flames of Ferguson, said, “The energy here today was amazing and the people were willing to figuratively and literally fight for justice and ensure that Sandra still speaks. This is a good sign that the general public is waking up.”

Activists from Black Lives Matter Texas, Out of the Flames of Ferguson, National Black United Front, Truth 2 Power, and the Texas Organizing Project led the protest and march.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]

[ckaihatsu]

via wsws.org (http://www.wsws.org)

Special prosecutors dropped charges against officer Brian Encinia for falsifying reports of his confrontation with Bland, who was found dead days later in her Texas jail cell.

More... (http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/07/01/blan-j01.html)