Sandra Bland’s Mother Promotes Police Reforms in Texas
Geneva Reed-Veal, whose daughter Sandra Bland died in police custody in a Texas jail nearly two years ago, returned to the state to lend her support to a police reform bill that would revamp racial profiling laws, officer training and other police accountability measures. “I need this bill to move forward so that it will prove to people who say that Texas is the most awful state to live in. And to me that’s true, because Texas is a place of pain for me,” said Veal, speaking up for what legislators are calling the Sandra Bland Act. “So I need you to think about what you have the power and ability to do today.” However, law enforcement advocates oppose key provisions in the bill including one that would prohibit drivers being arrested for low-level misdemeanors that are punishable only by fines.
Man Dragged off United Flight Says ‘Everything’ Hurts
The man injured when he was dragged of a United Airlines flight due to overbooking said from his hospital bed that “everything” was injured during the incident. Louisvile, Ky., station WLKY spoke with Dr. David Dao while he was recovering and he told them he was not doing well. “The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received. Currently, they are focused only on Dr. Dao’s medical care and treatment,” family attorney Stephen Golan said. Meanwhile, United Airlines has pledged not to use police to remove passengers in the future. Chicago Aviation Police were called in to remove Dao during the incident earlier this week.
Video of Fight at HBCU Campus Going Viral
Cellphone video footage of a brawl at Alcorn State University is circulating on social media. But few details are known about it. The fight apparently started in a dining facility, but spread outside and involved groups of people, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports. “Alcorn University is aware of the incident that took place on campus last night,” the school said in a statement. “Campus police are currently investigating. Anyone in violation of campus code of conduct will face disciplinary action.” It is unclear if anyone was hurt during the incident.
Wife of Orlando Shooter Enters Plea
Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, the gunman in the Orlando nightclub massacre has pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding and abetting her husband and obstruction of justice.Salman appeared in court at the Orlando federal courthouse Wednesday. The Orlando Sentinel reports Salman’s attorney waived the reading of an indictment and entered a not guilty plea for her. Salman agreed last week to be transferred to Florida from California, where she’d been held since her January arrest. A June trial date was tentatively set. Prosecutors allege that she knew about Mateen’s intentions to go on a shooting rampage at the nightclub on June 12, killing 49 people. Her attorneys say she didn’t know the extent of his plans and has no connection to terror groups.
