- 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
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?