- Social:
American University
Professor of Criminal Law at American University and author of Arbitrary Justice: The Power of the American Prosecutor
PROFILE
Angela J. Davis
Guest
FROM Angela J. Davis
To the Point
Freddie Gray: Prosecutor Charges Officers with Murder, Assault There was cheering on the streets of Baltimore today after Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced she's charging six police officers in the case of Freddie Gray, the young black man who died in police custody. Charges range from assault to second-degree murder. The medical examiner has ruled Gray's death a homicide as a direct result of having been unrestrained in a police wagon. This comes after nearly two weeks of protests in Baltimore and in cities around the country. Mosby told the crowd, "To those that are angry, hurt or have their own experiences of injustice at the hands of police officers, I urge you to channel this energy peacefully as we prosecute this case. I've heard your calls for no justice no peace, however your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice for Freddie Gray."
To the Point
Fear and Bias from the Streets to the Courtroom Since white police officers recently killed unarmed black men and boys in New York, Cleveland and Ferguson, Missouri, street protests have continued around the country and put America’s justice system on trial. There’s unequal treatment not just in the use of force but also the power of prosecutors to racially profile criminal suspects. Overt racism may be on the decline, but fear, unconscious bias and stereotyping are harder to recognize and overcome. Will sharing experiences on social media help close the gaps? Will training programs lead to reforms?
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To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.