Usa Thread

[Coss]

Oh boy! Seems like the Minneapolis police must have mistaken this white Australian woman visiting to be an unarmed black guy with his hands up and his back turned. He conveniently has his body cam off and the car cam off. Wasn't this the same state that just had a cop exonerated for killing a guy with his girlfriend and her daughter in the car? Said he feared for his life after being told by the driver that he has a weapon in the car, legally and has his permit with him. Doing what he is suppose do by law, in a concealed weapon state.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/australian-woman-killed-police-minneapolis-030759509.html

 

Too much shooting in the states, come and live in NZ

 

[Flashermac]

https://www.facebook...ustine.ruszczyk

 

 

Justine Damond – the name she used professionally – was in her pajamas speaking with a police officer who was in the driver’s seat of a police vehicle that responded to her call when the officer in the passenger side allegedly “pulled his gun and shot Damond through the driver’s side door,†The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting through three sources. The officers’ body cameras were not turned on.

 

...

 

One of the details that is troubling people close to Justine is that family members say she is the person who called police in the first place, and it was to report a crime. The Star Tribune’s report of how the shooting allegedly unfolded – with Justine Damond in her pajamas talking to an officer – raises new concerns.

 

http://heavy.com/new...ncee-minnesota/

[Coss]

[cavanami]

Can't give much credibility to such polls as they are carried out by the lame stream media.

[Coss]

White House releases sensitive personal information of voters

 

The Trump White House on Thursday made public a trove of emails it received from voters offering comment on its Election Integrity Commission. The commission drew widespread criticism when it emerged into public view by asking for personal information, including addresses, partial social security numbers, and party affiliation, on every voter in the country.

 

It further outraged voters by planning to post that information publicly.

 

Voters directed that outrage toward the Trump White House and the voter commission, often using profanity-laced language in the emails released last week, 112 pages of them.

 

“You will open up the entire voting population to a massive amount of fraud if this data is in any way released,†wrote one voter.

 

“Many people will get their identity stolen, which will harm the economy,†wrote another.

 

“I respectfully request, as an American-born citizen legally eligible to vote for two decades, that you leave my voter data and history alone, do not publish it, and do nothing with it,†said another.

 

Unfortunately for these voters and others who wrote in, the Trump administration did not redact any of their personal information from the emails before releasing them to the public. In some cases, the emails contain not only names, but email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and places of employment of people worried about such information being made available to the public.

 

The Washington Post is not publishing any of this information, because it does not appear that the individuals were aware their comments would be shared by the White House. The emails were sent to the address that the administration asked Secretaries of State to send data files to.

 

“This request is very concerning,†wrote one. “The federal government is attempting to get the name, address, birth date, political party, and social security number of every voter in the country.†That email, published by the White House, contained the sender’s name and home address.

 

“DO NOT RELEASE ANY OF MY VOTER DATA PERIOD,†wrote one voter whose name and email address was published by the White House.

 

“Beefed up the security on this email address yet?†asked another voter whose name and email address were also published by the White House.

 

“The request for private voter information is offensive,†wrote one voter whose name, home address and email address were published by the White House.

 

“I removed my name from voter rolls. And I’m a Republican!†wrote one voter whose name was published by the White House.

 

Federal agencies often solicit and release public comments on proposed legislation. Regulations.gov, the federal government’s clearing house for public comments, includes a detailed set of guidelines explaining how to submit comments, what type of personal information is collected, and how that information may be used.

 

“Some agencies may require that you include personal information, such as your name and email address, on the comment form,†the website explains. The Securities and Exchange Commission, for instance warns commenters to “submit only information that you wish to make available publicly.â€

 

Similarly, the FTC tells commenters that “published comments include the commenter’s last name and state/country as well as the entire text of the comment. Please do not include any sensitive or confidential information.â€

 

The White House does not appear to have issued any such public guidelines or warnings prior to releasing the emails, all of which appear to have been sent to the Election Integrity Commissions’ email address as listed in a letter sent to U.S. Secretaries of State.

 

A spokesman for Vice President Mike Pence who previously responded to inquires about the voter commission did not immediately return a request for comment.

 

While the letter invited secretaries of state to send comments and voter data via that email address, the White House now says that “any member of the public wishing to submit written comments for the Commission’s consideration may do so via email†at that address, ElectionIntegrityStaff@ovp.eop.gov. It warns that “the Commission may post such written comments publicly on our website, including names and contact information that are submitted.â€

 

The page that warning is contained on was published July 13. The emails published by the White House were written between June 29 and July 11.

 

http://www.post-gaze...es/201707170131

 

Jeez Im glad I don't live there.

[bust]

Police officer who shot Justine Damond had less than two years' experience

 

Los Angeles:

The police officer who shot Australian woman Justine Damond has broken his silence, extending his sympathy to her grieving family.

 

IN FULL: Police audio of Justine Damond shooting (Rink)

 

Minneapolis Police have released audio of the moments around the fatal US police shooting of Australian spiritual healer and meditation coach Justine Damond in a Minneapolis alley.

In a statement released by his lawyer, officer Mohamed Noor says he has Ms Damond's family in his "thoughts and prayers".

The statement released by lawyer Tom Plunkett came just after Ms Damond's fiance Don Damond made an emotional appearance outside their Minneapolis home, near where she was gunned down on Saturday night local time.

Justine Damond has been remembered as a warm, funny and generous woman. Photo: LinkedIn

 

"Officer Noor extends his condolences to the family and anyone else who has been touched by this event," Mr Plunkett said.

"He takes their loss seriously and keeps them in his daily thoughts and prayers.

Advertisement

 

"He takes these events very seriously because for him being a police officer is a calling. He entered the police force to serve the community and to protect the people he serves.

 

Officer Mohamed Noor has been named in the Minneapolis shooting. Photo: City of Minneapolis

 

"We would like to say more and will in the future. At this time however, there are several investigations that are ongoing. More importantly Officer Noor wants to respect the privacy of the family and asks the same in return during this difficult period."

The statement came as the US medical examiner who performed the autopsy ruled her death a homicide.

A makeshift memorial at the scene of the shooting. Photo: via AP

 

"This individual died of a gunshot wound of the abdomen," the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said on Monday. "Manner of death is homicide."

Chilling new audio also has emerged of the moments around the fatal shooting of the spiritual healer and meditation coach in an alley behind her home.

The officers are heard communicating with their dispatcher over the police radio, including calling for back-up and their attempts to perform CPR on Ms Damond.

"Shots fired ... we have one down," one of the officers says.

Ms Damond's death has devastated and outraged family, friends and left the Minneapolis community upset about the latest police shooting in their city.

It has been revealed officer Noor lacked experience, having only joined the Minneapolis Police Department a little over two years ago.

He was reportedly seated on the passenger seat of his vehicle when he fired multiple shots at Sydney-raised Ms Damond, who was in her pyjamas.

The police audio was posted on the Minnesota Police Clips website. It begins with the description of a "female screaming behind the building", believed to be what Ms Damond told the dispatcher in her initial 911 call.

"We take this seriously with great compassion for all persons who are being touched by this," Mr Plunkett, told Minneapolis TV station WCCO.

Mr Plunkett confirmed his client fired at the 40-year-old Australian bride-to-be, according to WCCO.

Ms Damond called police just before midnight on Saturday after hearing a possible assault taking place in an alley behind her Minneapolis home.

A May 2016 newsletter from the City of Minneapolis said he joined the force in 2015 and had only recently completed his field training. He was the first Somali-American officer at Minneapolis' 5th Precinct, the newsletter said. He has a degree in economics and business administration, and had previously worked in property management.

A mobile phone was reportedly found near Ms Damond's body. State investigators confirmed on Monday that no weapon was found at the scene.

The shooting has shattered Ms Damond's family and friends in Australia and the US. It has also outraged residents of Minneapolis and adjoining St Paul who are still reeling from other high-profile police shootings.

Ms Damond's death from a police gun has also generated widespread media coverage across the US.

Mr Noor and his partner's body cameras were not turned on and their police car dashboard camera did not capture the incident.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges told reporters she has "a lot of questions why the body cameras were not on".

"I know many of you are frustrated at the pace of information being released around Saturday night's shooting," Mayor Hodges wrote in a Monday Facebook posting.

"I am too."

Ms Damond's death is being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, not the Minneapolis Police Department.

Mr Noor and his partner are on paid administrative leave.

Ms Damond, formerly Justine Ruszczyk who took her American fiance Don Damond's surname before next month's planned wedding, moved to the US in 2015 and worked as a spiritual mentor in the Minneapolis area.

Her violent death was a shock to relatives, friends and colleagues who described her as a peaceful, calm and a positive force.

Ms Damond's soon-to-be stepson, Zach Damond, is desperate for answers.

"My mum is dead because a police officer shot her for reasons I don't know," the 22-year-old said.

Her family in Sydney has called for privacy.

"This is a very difficult time for our family. We are trying to come to terms with this tragedy and to understand why this has happened," they said in a statement.

The incident has shone new light on police shootings in the US.

The Washington Post reported Ms Damond is one of at least 524 people fatally shot by police in the US this year and and the fifth in Minnesota

The Minneapolis-St Paul area is still reeling from the acquittal last month of a police officer who shot dead a man, Philando Castile, during a traffic stop while Castile's girlfriend live streamed the horrifying incident.

Violent protests also flared after two officers fatally shot 24-year-old Jamar Clark in 2015 and were not charged.

AAP

 

http://www.smh.com.a...717-gxd69m.html

[Flashermac]

Less than two years experience as a policeman doesn't mean you shouldn't have enough sense not to open fire on an unarmed woman (or anyone else) calmly talking to your partner.

 

He seems to have been a decent enough guy, well liked by the community and his colleagues. Why did he do it? Did he mistake the cell phone for a weapon? He shot her right through the car's closed door.

 

"The television station reported that Damond made the 911 call and was speaking to police officers Saturday night. They were near the alley when the officer in the passenger seat reached across and shot her. A cell phone was found near Damond’s body.'"

 

"Added the newspaper: 'His mother often watched Noor’s son while he was at work. They spoke Somali at home, but Noor insisted that English be his son’s first language.' He was lauded by an evaluation for his 'even keel and calm demeanor,' the newspaper reported."

 

 

 

https://heavy.com/ne...omali-mohammed/

[Flashermac]

What's going on in Minnesota these days?

 

................................

 

 

Philando Castile death: Mother gets $3m over police shooting

 

 

The family of a black driver killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Minnesota will receive $3m (£2.4m).

 

The shooting of Philando Castile last year made international headlines after his girlfriend broadcast the aftermath live on Facebook.

 

A civil lawsuit for wrongful death has concluded with the news that Valerie Castile, his mother, will receive the money from the city of St Anthony.

 

The Hispanic police officer who shot him was acquitted of manslaughter.

 

Mr Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, was stopped by police last July and the encounter began cordially.

 

Police officer Jeronimo Yanez informed him his brake light was out and asked for his insurance and licence.

 

But when Mr Castile politely told the officer about the gun he was legally carrying, things became tense and seconds later the officer opened fire, after shouting "Don't reach for it!"

 

Last week, the family of a black man shot in Ferguson, Missouri, reached a $1.5m settlement over his death, which sparked riots and a national debate about police use of lethal force against African Americans.

 

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40408004

[Coss]

Yes, being shot through the door, sorta suggests accidental discharge. I'd a thought if I was shooting a person from a like situation, I'd at least shoot through the window, I've no idea if a bullet would actually make it through the door with enough force.

 

but until we know, we don't really know.

[Coss]

It's (Still) Never Trump's Fault

 

With the latest collapse of the Obamacare repeal, the president has wasted political capital, squandered a reputation for dealmaking, and shown himself to be a poor strategist and tactician.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/its-still-never-trumps-fault/534066/