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Breonna’s Law: Support KY Rep Attica Scott’s proposal

They arrested her and her friends who were caught in a police net during a peaceful protest and charged them with vandalism and felony rioting charges.

The arresting officer made her stop filming events ‘or her phone would be broken’.

They waited ages until the hard evidence and public outcry made them drop the trumped-up charges.

They let ridiculous felony charges hang over her head for weeks.

 

Still, she persists.

Please click here for details and to sign Kentucky Representative Attica Scott’s call for Breonna’s Law, which would see the end of deadly ‘no knock’ raids and increase police accountability.

Once you have made contact, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!

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Breonna Taylor 5 Months on: Many excuses, Zero arrests

Kentucky 13 August 2020 – Five months ago a young woman was shot while sleeping at her home during a no-knock police raid that should never have happened. They shot her – and left her with not even an attempt at medical intervention for twenty minutes while they went outside to deal with an injured member of the raiding party.  Many feel arrests should have taken place immediately on this one point alone.

We are mean to wait patiently for Attorney  General to investigate.

No one in power is explaining why they have not arrested her killers for shooting her.

As things stand, any Kentucky policeman knows they are free to go into a home, shoot someone dead, and that nothing will happen.

As expected, Senator Mitch McConnell, darling of the NRA, has done nothing to call for charges.  His making feeble comments such as ‘my guess is this investigation is more complicated than it appears‘ throws an unacceptable, biased shade on  the ongoing, lumbering investigation.  Where do we get five month-long investigations over a shooting death without arrest when it is a member of the public who has pulled the trigger?  Never.  Police were quick enough to arrest Mr Walker, who had no idea the non-uniformed people breaking into his home in the middle of the night were police  – he had a  license and under state law was protecting his life (charges were rightly dropped).  There were at least 25 shots fired and at least 8 of those hit Ms Taylor.  And no one has been arrested for this crime,

Oprah Winfrey has arranged for some powerful billboards to be placed, people are calling for action, and we will join them.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron offered condolences to the family during their recent meeting, the first time he’s spoken with the family. He told them he didn’t reach out previously because he feared it could interfere with his investigation. His office is waiting on ballistics reports from the FBI and additional interviews before any decisions are made, Baker added.

There were only five people in the home.  One of them cannot speak.  There should be no need to widen out this investigation before arresting the clearly trigger-happy, unprofessional officers with charges relating to the incident.

ACTION:

Please take one or both of these actions:

  1.  Take or re-take this action alert we did earlier – just follow this link, take the action, and please fill in the boxes at the end to show you have done it https://www.onepulseforamerica.com/action-alert/breonna-taylor-demand-arrest-charges-for-her-killers/
  2. Share this image on your own social media and/or please share it on the social media of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and or AG Tom Wine.  Click on the picture and you can save it to your computer, and be able to share it,

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine
Jefferson County, KY
Phone: (502) 595-2300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louisvilleprosecutor/

Mitch McConnell
Phone:  (270) 781-1673
Email:  (form) https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconnell/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/senatemajldr

 

 

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Sleeping while black: demand justice for Breonna Taylor

Grieving parents of Breonna Taylor are suing police.  She was shot in a bungled raid on the wrong address – as police searched for a man they already had in custody.

As AOL News reports “Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT worker in Louisville, Ky., was shot in her bed after midnight on March 13 by three police officers serving a “no-knock warrant,” becoming another statistic in the long list of African-Americans killed at the hands of police. What makes the case unusual is that Taylor was a woman.  And, of course, she was asleep.”

“The incident is still being investigated and Taylor’s family is suing Louisville Metro Police Department Officers Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankinson and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly alleging wrongful death, excessive force and gross negligence. According to the suit, the police fired more than 20 rounds in the apartment. Taylor was hit eight times and pronounced dead at the scene.”

“The officers were looking for a drug suspect who lived 10 miles away and was already in police custody, according to the Courier-Journal. Police said the suspect had used the address where Taylor lived with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, to receive packages in the mail.

“No drugs were found in the apartment, and neither Taylor nor Walker has an arrest record.”

Mr Walker, thinking he was being raided and robbed, opened fire during the no-knock raid.  Police are attempting to use this as a feeble excuse for their ineptitude and shooting.

ACTION:

We will write to Governor Andy Beshear to demand the officers and those who ordered this raid be brought swiftly to trial, are immediately thrown off the force, their past use of firearms is examined, and their backgrounds investigated for any links to far right/racist groups.  We will demand the end of such raids;  Ms Taylor is the latest victim in a’ war on drugs’ that no one is winning.

Please contact Governor Andy Beshear through one of the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:

 

The reasons for Breonna Taylor’s death include negligence, bungling, gun culture in the police, the ‘war on drugs’ – and quite possibly institutionalized racism:  it’s up to you to ensure these angles are all investigated.  You need to end ‘no-knock’ raids, and armed raids on homes before more innocent people are hurt or killed.

The police involved were apparently looking for drugs – with fatal force:  and looking for a man already in custody.  No-knock raids combined with existing gun laws are a recipe for death.  People are allowed to arm themselves to protect their property – and yet armed police can storm into such property and shoot at will, killing people like Ms Taylor:  this makes no sense at all.  What would have happened if officers checked records and custody records?  She would be alive.  What would happen if police did not swarm into her home in the dead of night, making householders fear for their lives as if they were living in a third world country warzone?  She would still be alive.  What if police waited until a person exited a  house, checked their description to the wanted suspect and then calmly arrested them – only if warranted?  She would still be alive.  Is a drugs arrest worth rights violations and death?  NEVER.

Things as they stand are rancid.  We need an investigation into the background of those involved:  are they competent? Racist?  Linked to racist organisations?  Have they killed before?  We need to get them off the force now – before they kill again.

I expect a reply from you and I expect a swift removal of everyone involved in this deadly raid.

or for Twitter: Governor:  Breonna Taylor’s death cannot go unanswered – remove all involved from the force today, have them investigated thoroughly – and put an end to deadly no-knock raids.  She’s dead – and the suspect was already in custody:  it is an outrage.

 

 

Phone: (502) 564-2611

Email (form):  https://governor.ky.gov/contact/contact-us 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AndyBeshearKY/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AndyBeshearKY

 

Once you have made contact, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!

 

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One Pulse for America Condemns ‘Trojan Horse’ Pandemic Protests

Gun law reform group One Pulse for America condemns the protests taking place in several state capitols, organized by far-right, extreme gun advocates and targeted at certain U.S. governors.

The Governors are seeking to protect public health through lockdown measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For this, they are being intimidated by extremists and by the president himself, who tweeted that states including Virginia, Michigan and Minnesota should be ‘liberated.’

George Takei, One Pulse’s founder, said: “The uncertainty over the coronavirus outbreak requires an abundance of caution. Everyone must be willing to sacrifice a bit of personal liberty for the greater good. Governors must stand firm. We must not bow to the terroristic tactics of a few extremists.”

As reported by the media, resentment over the shutdown orders has been hijacked by groups whose goal is to further reduce America’s already lax gun laws.

Many Americans are frustrated that they have to remain home, with many furloughed or unsure of their employment status. State governors have had to balance the public’s desire to get back to work with the very real risk of death the virus poses. People such as the Dorr brothers—gun activists who think the NRA is too liberal—are exploiting the public’s fears and trying to destabilize state governments. They have been linked to three social media groups organizing anti-lockdown rallies.

Suzanne Kelly, a spokesperson for One Pulse for America said: “At One Pulse for America we understand how serious this virus is. Over 43,000 Americans have died so far. Now there are people who are cynically exploiting this uncertainty to further their unrelated aims. Anyone who would create an ill-advised protest as a Trojan horse to further their unrelated pro-gun agenda is beneath contempt. Yet that is what some gun groups are doing. They are not endangering their own health, but the health of first responders.”

“Virginia recently passed sensible gun law reforms, and this has made the state a particular target. Indeed, Trump tweeted that ‘2nd Amendment rights were under threat’ in the state. His call to ‘liberate’ Virginia and other states is a literal call to arms, and we condemn it. We agree with many experts who say his remarks incite violence and are illegal and unconstitutional.”

“Video footage shows many demonstrators are ignoring guidelines to stop the spread of the disease. While some demonstrators held frivolous placards saying they need haircuts, or they want to golf, others waved Confederate flags and carried automatic weapons and rifles.”

Ms. Kelly said further, “America has two epidemics: Covid-19 and gun proliferation. The 2nd Amendment sets out the right to a well-regulated militia: this is not the same as masked civilians waving automatic weapons during a pandemic. One Pulse’s founder George Takei has asked everyone to please stay home, and we hope you will do so for your sake as well as everyone else’s.”

Actor and activist George Takei started the 83,000-strong One Pulse Facebook group following the tragic mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The group takes a variety of actions aimed at improving America’s gun laws and saving lives.

 

ENDS

About One Pulse for America

One Pulse for America was founded by actor/LGBTQ rights activist George Takei in response to the mass shooting at The Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. The One Pulse for America Facebook group has been part of a successful effort to close the “passion gap” with pro-gun activists. Our members take daily action to bring strategic pressure on legislators and other decision-makers by amplifying support for gun violence prevention efforts at the national, state and local level. Our ultimate goal is to change social norms surrounding guns and obtain life-saving reforms that will end America’s epidemic of gun violence.

 

Related

https://www.onepulseforamerica.com/

https://www.georgetakei.com/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/19/pro-gun-activists-using-facebook-groups-push-anti-quarantine-protests/

https://www.msnbc.com/david-gura/watch/george-takei-trump-s-usage-of-the-chinese-virus-is-a-signal-to-the-haters-81065029795

 

Further information:

Suzanne Kelly

sgvk27@aol.com
+44 (0) 7752 356 455

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Send messages of support to governors

20 April 2020- Three brothers identified as the provocateurs behind anti-quarantine protests around the country have a history of pushing extreme gun ownership views.

The Washington Post reports the Dorr brothers manage a slew of pro-gun groups across a wide range of states, from Iowa to Minnesota to New York, and seek primarily to discredit organizations like the National Rifle Association, which they accuse of bring ‘too compromising’ on gun safety.
Minnesota Gun Rights, for instance, describes itself as the state’s “no-compromise gun rights organization.”
Protesters include people armed with semi-automatic weapons.  These organized demonstrations have blocked ambulances from hospitals, and those participating are seen to disregard social distancing – a crucial means to help stop the spread of the corona virus.
While supposedly about the ‘loss of freedoms’ they equate with taking measures to stay alive and keep others alive, these rallies include people displaying pro-gun banners, neo-nazi symbols and pro-Trump placards.
The Dorr brothers are behind several Facebook groups involved in inciting these demonstrations, which are endangering the health of demonstrators and first-responders alike – all while extreme gun views and far right activists attempt to intimidate governors.
Donald Trump fuelled the fire by tweeting several  messages calling for people to ‘liberate’ states such as Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia.  Virginia is a particular target for pro-gun activists as it has just passed life-saving gun reform legislation.   Trump’s remarks have been widely condemned, and some constitutional experts are calling them incitements to sedition.  The NRA has approved of these demonstrations in a series of tweets.
The governors who imposed lockdowns are under threat – for trying to save the lives of their citizens from the  pandemic, which has already claimed 42,000 American lives.  The idea of anyone – let alone three pro-gun extremists and the president – exploiting this situation to put pressure on state governors is unacceptable – more so because of the intimidating presence of automatic weapons.  With tempers running high, and armed and angry people taking to the streets, we will send the governors messages of support.
Note:  per Newsweek‘Kentucky reports highest corona virus infection increase after a week of protests to reopen state.’
ACTION:
Please contact the Governors of Kentucky, Virginia, Minnesota, and Michigan through one of the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:
 I wanted to send you a message of support – you are clearly doing your best to stop the spread of the deadly corona virus in your state.  It disgusts me that far right extremists are organizing protests against your life-saving measures.  Those responsible are not only the three reprehensible, notorious Dorr brothers who are pushing their extremist gun views – but also Donald Trump who has misused his office for political gain in my eyes. Instead of calling for calm and supporting the states with tests, ventilators and appeals for calm, he has brazenly challenged governors who do not kowtow to him with a series of tweets asking people to ‘liberate’ their states.  I agree with constitutional experts who feel this is a drastic misuse of presidential power bordering on sedition.
These protests include people waiving automatic weapons; the Dorr brothers are known gun-law extremists, and with tempers flaring, I fear there will be gun violence before long.  I put the responsibility for this on the Door brothers for inciting violence while the death toll from corona is 44,000 and climbing:  and on a president who has deliberately poured gasoline on the flames.  I feel badly for those who will be infected as the protestors seem to disregard social distancing protocols -sadly this will include first-responders and the innocent.
Do not let a minority of uninformed protestors – some with the none-too-hidden agenda of causing fear and encouraging gun violence to sway you.  Thank you for all you are doing.
Suggested Tweet:  @gretchenwhitmer @GovTimWalz  @GovernorVA  @GovAndyBeshear I support your life-saving lockdown measures and condemn extremists eg the Dorr brothers who push pro-gun propaganda while posing as anti-lockdown protestors: they r making the pandemic worse Thank you and 1st responders
Facebook:  Andy Beshear (KY) https://www.facebook.com/AndyBeshearKY/ ; Ralph Northam (VA) https://www.facebook.com/ralph.northam/  ;  Tim Walz (MN) https://www.facebook.com/GovTimWalz/  ; Gretchen Witmer (MI) https://www.facebook.com/GretchenWhitmer/
Twitter: @gretchenwhitmer @GovTimWalz  @GovernorVA  @GovAndyBeshearOr find the phone number, email and fax information for governors here:  https://www.nga.org 
Once you have made contact, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!
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Masked gunmen in capitol! Object to Kentucky’s lethal precedent

Friday 31 January 2020, Frankfort Kentucky – A gang of masked men in camouflage gear bearing semi-automatic weapons descends on the capital building, bypassing metal detectors at the invitation of security personnel.  This wasn’t the plot of a bad hostage-taking movie; it was a group of men, virtually all white it should be noted, welcomed into the state capitol building with open arms, while waving deadly arms.

The group “We Are KY Gun Owners” organized the rally, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported, and the event featured speeches from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) as well as Dick Heller, the plaintiff in the case over the Washington, D.C. gun ban, District of Columbia v. Heller, that the Supreme Court eventually decided in Heller’s favor.

Parklands shooting survivor and anti-gun campaigner David Hogg called it ‘the biggest display of white privilege’ he’d seen.

 

There is apparently a loophole in the state’s laws that will means you or I would be put through a metal detector and have items such as umbrellas confiscated before we’re allowed to enter – because they can be dangerous. But if you’re a white 2nd-Amendment-claiming campaigner, you, your mask hiding your identity and your loaded gun will be waived around those same metal detectors.

This is an attempt at intimidating those of us who don’t see the 2nd Amendment as being carte blanche for anyone to have a lethal / semi-automatic, and/or unregistered weapon.  This is an affront to every family or friend who lost a loved one in Kentucky to gun violence:  and there is no shortage of such people.  Anyone who wants a breakdown of some recent Kentucky statistics can look here.

Maybe we should not expect much from a state with Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell as their senators. McConnell is sitting on bills passed to the Senate from the House which would save lives by reforming gun laws – but he won’t let the Senate have a democratic vote on them.  The NRA doesn’t favor Rand Paul as much as McConnell:  only because the gun group he aligns with the ‘Gun Owners of America’, is  considered by many to be even more extreme than Russian-asset NRA. 

The current governor of Kentucky Andy Bashear won over his GOP rival by a small number of vote (Note:  Your vote can make all the difference!).  His Facebook page seems to ignore this incident ever happened.

ACTION:

Ignoring this happened has the same effect as having welcomed it.  We will demand Governor Andy Bashear address the issues.

Please contact Kentucky Governor Bashear through one of the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:

 

When I saw a mob of masked men virtually invade Frankfort, Kentucky’s capitol building with loaded, semi-automatic guns, I expected they would be arrested for a breach of the peace, unlawful assembly, intimidation.  Instead, they were welcomed and told not to bother going through the metal detectors, which anyone else would have to use.  While the security at your office building would have confiscated items like umbrellas for being dangerous according to policy, your state has a loophole allowing this intimidatory, dangerous event to have taken place.

I’m looking through news events and your social media pages – and I’m hard pressed to find any comment from you at all.  If you ignore it, it has exactly the same impact as if you had welcomed it.  I expect to see some kind of a statement from you asap, and to see you tighten loopholes which allow masked men to intimidate others by virtually storming a government office while masked and armed.  It is a dark day for America when this extremist view of the 2nd Amendment – the right to a well-regulated militia, which this group clearly is not – trumps the worries of the many citizens who have suffered because of gun crime.  Do something.  I will be watching and I expect some kind of condemnation and action to stop such a display happening again.  As many people are saying – what would have been different if this group had been comprised of minorities:  would they still have been welcomed so warmly?

or a short tweet:  @AndyBeshearKY Where’s your condemnation re mob of masked gunmen descending on the KY capitol 31/1? It was intimidation, breach of peace.  It is huge insult to the 000s of KY families who lost loved ones to avoidable gun violence. You must address this, prevent future occurrence.

Phone:  1 502-564-2611

Email:  (form) https://andybeshear.com/contact/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AndyBeshearKY/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AndyBeshearKY

 

Once you have made contact, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!