Free Republic

WE'VE all heard the hypotheticals. They are common in the aftermath of any racially charged incident, and the Inglewood police beating of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson is no exception. It's an old guessing game: How would the public's reaction, the media's coverage, the politicians' response differ if the racial tables were turned? Would Johnnie Cochran and Al Sharpton rush to the aid of Jackson, an African-American teen beaten by a white officer, Jeremy Morse, if Jackson were white and Morse were black? Would the story command national attention? And would the awful episode have ever happened at all -- that is,...

2nd Calif. officer removed from duty INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - The partner of a white policeman who was videotaped punching a handcuffed black teenager has been removed from active duty after acknowledging that he too struck the youth. Officer Bijan Darvish will remain on paid administrative leave while the July 6 incident is investigated; Officer Jeremy Morse was suspended earlier. Darvish does not appear on the video, which was shot by a bystander across the street. But in a police report, he acknowledged punching Donovan Jackson twice in the face after the 16-year-old allegedly grabbed his shirt. The confrontation occurred...