Champaign-Urbana, IL - Musician, producer, composer, audio designer, and DJ Larry E. Gates II has played hundreds of stages across the nation and has shared those stages with the likes of Chuck Berry, G. Love & Special Sauce, 30 Seconds To Mars, Local H, Superdrag, Trombone Shorty, Brother Ali, The Nappy Roots, Blueprint, DJ Rare Groove, Illogic, and many others.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 8:40AM Last night, a grand jury decided not to press charges on Ferguson, MO police officer Darren Wilson despite gunning down unarmed teenager Michael Brown who stood in a surrender pose with both hands up. For nearly three months the country has been tense, awaiting justice. Last night's decision proves that a badge, a gun and white privilege are all more valuable than a black teenagers life.
I'm disgusted.
So what do we do? Before bed I was heartbroken - scrolling through my Twitter feed looking for information, insight, comfort, whatever. A statement from Michael Brown's parents asked for non-violence but instead to join their fight to require all police to wear a body camera. The U.S. Department of Justice just compiled a report detailing a recent test-run of police body cameras. Among the "Officer concerns about wearing a body camera"....was this gem of a statement...
“I have heard some resentment about the level of scrutiny that Chapter 2. Considerations for Implementation officers will be under if they wear body-worn cameras. This is especially true with the first-level response officers, who already feel they are under an extraordinary amount of pressure to get everything right."
Body, Brown, Darren Wilson, Ferguson, Illinois, Michael, Missouri, Picture, Police, U.S. Department of Justice, camera in Real Talk Tuesdays 