Free Republic

...and the words 'should I do it?' Montrae Toliver, 17, was arrested on Monday for allegedly making a terroristic threat He posted a photo of a replica gun pointed at a police car in Fort Worth, Texas The message accompanying the photo read, 'Should I do it? They don't care for a black male anyways!' Someone saw the photo on Twitter, took a screenshot and submitted it to Fort Worth police's Facebook page Police in Texas have arrested a teen for posting a photo of a replica gun pointed at a police car along with a caption reading in part:...

A network of businesses, public officials and educators are partnering with the Trayvon Martin Foundation to present “Letters to Trayvon” a holistic campaign to address the plight of Black males and police brutality, next February. The campaign, initiated by the Germantown-based small business Mission Inc., has been in its planning stages for about a year and will include a social media component, youth outreach and a culminating fundraising reception, panel discussion, black art showcase and exhibit on Feb. 28. “Letters to Trayvon is a campaign to end the disrespect and racial profiling of black men and boys [and] it’s a...

GOSHEN – Most of Port Jervis and much of the Tri-State area knew Josef Kucher. A cobbler in the Old World tradition of his native Austria, the 77-year-old was a proud U.S. citizen and military veteran, a long-time presence in the downtown business district, an usher at St. Mary’s Church. He was, Port Jervis police Chief William Worden and Mayor Kelly Decker said Monday at a press conference to announce an arrest in his slaying, a fixture in the community, a good man. Josef Kucher's wife, Hannelore Kucher, spoke briefly on Monday at her home. "I have no words for...

Michael Brown’s mother may face felony armed robbery charges: report Lesley McSpadden allegedly led a group of 20 to 30 people to a tent in a parking lot in Ferguson, Mo., on Oct. 18 to beat and rob vendors selling 'Justice for Michael Brown' merchandise. BY MARC WEINREICH The mother of Michael Brown could be charged with felony armed robbery for allegedly attacking people in a Ferguson, Mo., parking lot because they were selling T-shirts honoring the late teenager. The Ferguson Police Department is currently investigating claims that Lesley McSpadden brought a group of people — including her own mother...

A suburban St. Louis police chief on Friday identified the officer whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager ignited days of heated protests, and released documents alleging the teen was killed after a robbery in which he was suspected of stealing a $48.99 box of cigars. Ferguson, Mo., Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the robbery took place just before noon on Saturday at a convenience store roughly 10 minutes before a police officer identified as Darren Wilson fired the bullet that killed Michael Brown. Police say that the shot was fired after a struggle touched off by Wilson's confronting...

Via Mediaite, a reminder that no modern tragedy can escape Truther-ization. One woman in the clip, speculating on why the cops waited to release the surveillance footage, says, “It took so long for them to do that because they Photoshopped him.” That’s how cognitive dissonance works in the digital age. In fact, the basic argument made to Don Lemon here seems to be, “It wasn’t him, and even if it was, you’re smearing him, and even if you aren’t, he deserved a jury trial, not summary execution by cop.” The shooting must have been unjustified; take whatever logical path...

Is the Obama administration looking to stir up more trouble in Ferguson? “Protest marshals” from the same Department of Justice division that organized protests against George Zimmerman in the aftermath of the shooting of Trayvon Martin have been deployed to the troubled city. It is being reported that these DOJ agents will be “conducting training” for Ferguson protesters that will focus on “best practices for participating in protests”. Local officials in Missouri hope that this will help defuse the situation, but if history is any guide it may end up doing just the opposite...

Ferguson police released a report today detailing a robbery before the fatal shooting last week of 18 year-old Michael Brown. Chief of police Jackson held a press conference early Friday morning. Here is a copy of the report on the Ferguson convenience story robbery. Michael Brown was 6′ 4″ and 292 pounds.

I remember growing up and always hearing my parents and their friends talk about one pivotal moment in their lives. They remembered exactly where they were at that point. Exactly who told them the news. Exactly how they felt once it all sunk in. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, everyone who was alive during that time remembers. One year ago, today, was our generation’s moment. It was late on a Saturday night. Some of us were out to dinner. Some of us were home with our families. Some of us were still shopping. Some of us...

The alleged victim reported to police that on April 1 at approximately 9 p.m., she visited Lockette's apartment. Kaepernick and Patton were also there. She said she mixed drinks and prepared shots for them and was told that in order to drink the shots, she had to "hit" the bong, which contained marijuana, according to the police report. She said to police that she began to feel light-headed and went to a bedroom to lie down. Kaepernick, with whom she said she had a previous sexual relationship, followed her into the bedroom. They did not have sex, she told police....

There's a two step process to sharing this graphic:1. Show this to the offender.2. Wait for the chance to say "you're welcome."

Potentially Fatal ‘Knockout’ Game Targeting Strangers May be Spreading by Chris Lingebach November 16, 2013 10:40 AM WASHINGTON - A terrifying new ‘game’ that’s already caused deaths in Syracuse, St. Louis and New Jersey is sweeping the nation, and it preys upon unsuspecting people walking the streets, anywhere. A recent report from New York-based CBS 2 shed light on the growing trend, displaying unsettling footage of teens participating in this game – which goes by the name ‘Knockout’ – and involves randomly targeting passersby, with the ultimate goal being to knock them out with one punch as they walk by....

Lonnie Bunch, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, told the Post he'd "love" to acquire the sweatshirt for a collection, an idea endorsed by the Rev. Al Sharpton: . . "“It became the symbolic way to talk the Trayvon Martin case. It’s rare that you get one artifact that really becomes the symbol,” Bunch said. “Because it’s such a symbol, it would allow you to talk about race in the age of Obama.” Curators, he mused, could “ask the bigger questions” prompted by the case. “Are we in a post-racial age?” Bunch asked, dreaming...

Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Obama addressed the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin for the first time since 2012, when he declared that if he had a son, he’d look like Martin. This time, Obama said, “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.” Obama also said, “Reasonable doubt was relevant, and they rendered a verdict. Once the jury's spoken, that's how our system works.” Obama said he was "bouncing around" ideas with his staff on how to respond to the Zimmerman verdict, adding, "I think it is going...

Trayvon Martin's texts messages and photos were released by George Zimmerman's attorneys Thursday. The messages and photos paint a troubling picture of the teen, as he chats with friends about drugs, guns and fighting Slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin's cellphone texts and photos show him chatting with friends about marijuana, fighting and guns, new potential evidence shows. Data from the 17-year-old's cell phone was released Thursday by lawyers for George Zimmerman, whose second-degree murder trial for killing Martin begins next month. The texts and photos paint a troubling portrait of Martin's home and school life in the months before his...

TAMPA, Fla. (970 WFLA) - Beware of cranking up your car stereo in Tampa. City council has given preliminary approval to a new noise ordinance that would outlaw car stereo noise that can be heard 50 feet or more from the car. A first-time offiense will set you back $250. That goes up to $450 for a second offense. If you're cited a third time, it's 60 days in jail. Council member Lisa Monteleone thinks that's a bit too harsh. She believes that will put more young people behind bars. And she spars with Councilman Charlie Miranda over that fact....

A lieutenant in the Dallas Police Department who goes by the name “Lucille Baller” when she promotes herself as a recording artist promises to shoot anyone who messes with her in a rap song that was posted on her website. “Don’t push Ms. Lucy because you won’t like the consequences,” Dallas Police Lt. Regina Smith raps on the recording. “Mess with me or I will shoot a [expletive] cuz Lucille Baller, she been to hell and back.” Smith, who oversees burglary and theft detectives at the Southwest and Northwest patrol investigative units, will likely face an internal affairs investigation over...

So why do gangsters aim their guns sideways? Marine marksman sheds light on how gunmen from the 'hood unwittingly use a well-known aiming technique It's an iconic image immortalised in dozens of Hollywood gangster films: the gangster aiming down the side of his pistol before pumping a volley of bullets into his victim. But with most people knowing that the aiming sights are found on the top of a gun barrel, it's also a counter-intuitive way to accurately fire a weapon. So why is it that gangsters are always shown using their guns in this way? According to Jon Davis,...

Relatives of four men arrested for allegedly attacking random people in Wrigleyville Sunday morning said the group was shooting a music video. Family members said the group, which goes by the name Chicago Maverick, was shooting a video for a song called "Take a Sip." They said the group was being taunted by people on the street and was the target of racial epithets. The comments came after a Cook County judge on Monday ordered Corry Simmons, 32, of the 1800 Block of South Ridgeway; Donald Robinson, 31, of the 1800 Block of South Ridgeway; and his cousin Edward Robinson,...

A 16-year-old girl was killed and four people were wounded by gunfire Thursday after two groups clashed on a crowded Brooklyn boardwalk, cops and witnesses said. Two of the victims were bystanders, sources said. One man used an umbrella to crack another man in the head as the fight erupted on the Brighton Beach Boardwalk near Brighton Sixth St. about 5:20 p.m. Suddenly, a gunman squeezed off about eight rounds, first shooting in the air before aiming at the brawling crowd, cops and witnesses said. Onlookers scurried into nearby stores and restaurants, huddling in fear as the bullets flew near...