Hands Up Don't Shoot

Patrick Dorismond & Jamar Clark

A night out at the bar after work turned into a confrontation. The confrontation turned into a fatal shooting. Listen to the turn of events that ended in Patrick Dorismond’s death.  He intervened to protect and remove his girlfriend from a bad situation. His intervention resulted in her broken ankle. Her broken ankle resulted in the arrival of paramedics and police. That arrival resulted in his death. Listen to the tragedy of Jamar Clark’s death.  Support the show

Brendon Glenn & Deion Fludd

He complied with officers when they asked him to move. An altercation with a bouncer made officers return to the scene. The partner of the officer said he did not know why his partner opened fire. Listen to the story of Brendon Glenn’s untimely death. Officers say that he was hit by a train which ultimately led to his death. He told his family that he was assaulted by police. Medical records support his story, but contradicts the story of the NYPD. Listen to the controversy and mystery surro...

Corey Lamar Jones

Corey Lamar Jones was a local drummer for a couple churches and a member of a band. After performing with his band, his car began having issues. Listen to how Corey Jones lost his life while awaiting roadside assistance.  Support the show

Chinedu Okobi & Apberta Spruill

Chinedu was a college graduate, father of a little girl, and brother to Facebook’s public policy director for Africa. Deputies of San Mateo County police didn’t know any of that when they tased him multiple times. The end result was his death in October 2018. A city government employee of 29 years is startled when police raid the wrong apartment. Listen to how misinformation caused the death of Alberta Spruill. Support the show

Yvette Smith & Jordan Edwards

A twin sister, a mother, and a friend. Yvette was being a peacekeeper when her life was tragically taken from her. Listen to the tragic story of Yvette Smith. A son, a brother, a football player. Jordan was doing what teenagers do -  partying with friends when his life was taken. Listen to how Jordan’s age and the number 15 take on a new meaning for his family. Support the show

Dominique Clayton & Carlos Alcis

A mother of four was executed while she slept, and an officer was to blame.  Listen to find out what happened to Dominique and the reasons behind her death.  Carlos, a husband and father of eight, was literally scared to death after police raided his home in the middle of the night looking for someone who wasn’t there.    Support the show

Interview with Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis Part 2

In part two of my interview with Dr. Kimya, she talks about Black mental health and why cops are often found not guilty at their trials. Here is Dr. Kimya's call to action: I (Dr. Kimya) demand a 10-year process resulting in 95% reduction in police funds and 95% reduction in police officers. There must be annual financial audits and annual policies, practices, and behavioral assessments for the remaining 5% of police funds. The researchers conducting the assessment cannot be selected and h...

Interview with Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis Part 1

In part one of my interview with Dr. Kimya, she discusses her training background, why she no longer does equity training for police departments, and what 'defund the police REALLY means,' among a few other talking points. About Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis: Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis is an activist, sociologist and criminologist, educator, and researcher. As  founder of 365 Diversity, Dr. Dennis provides results-based services for decision makers in K-12  schools, colleges and universities, businesses...

Philando Castile & Tarika Wilson

A man was heading home with his family, when he was pulled over because he “looked like” a robbery suspect.  Listen to hear how a simple traffic stop ended with his death for all the world to see in real time.  A daughter, a mother, and a friend. A drug raid for her boyfriend with an unexpected end. Hear how a SWAT raid took the life of a mother of six and injured her 1-year old son. Facebook Video of Castile Shooting Reaches Millions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m92ScOhoYOw Diamond Rey...

Botham Jean

On the evening of September 6, 2018, Botham Jean was sitting on his couch eating ice cream and enjoying TV.  At the same time, Amber Guyger was coming home from a 13 hour shift with the Dallas Police Department.  Listen to find out how a case of being in the right place at the wrong time caused Botham to lose his life. RAW VIDEO: Dallas police officer bodycam of fatal Botham Jean shooting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiYMwP5hgDU Support the show

Freddie McCollum Jr. & India Kager

Freddie McCollum Jr was attacked in his own home by police officers because he forgot his wallet while driving.  India was an innocent passenger in a bad situation.  It ended with a hail of bullets killing her, and barely missing her infant son. Support the show

Tyisha Miller & William Green

A teenager with dreams and hopes for the future. Those dreams and hopes shattered like the glass of her car window prior to officers taking her life. Listen to the story of how Tyisha Miller’s cousin's call for help ended in a tragedy. A father with two children and a new job. A man who loved his family and BBQ. Listen to how William Green’s death with all its inconsistency resulted in a Maryland county settling with his family for $20 million. Support the show

Malissa Williams & Timothy Russell

A pair of friends were down on their luck.  They were followed in their car by a police officer, and that turned into a 62-car police chase.  At the end of the chase, 13 officers riddled their bodies with bullets.  Listen to the story of Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell. Support the show

Tamir Rice & LaTanya Haggerty

A young black child who was labeled as a man and had his childhood taken from him by police. Listen to hear how a toy caused his death. A college-educated, professional woman who was full of life. Her death was an accident as a cop muttered, “Damn” at her mistake. Listen to how her life was taken from her during a routine traffic stop. Video release of Tamir Rice’s shooting Support the show

Henry Dumas

Henry Dumas was an up and coming author and poet, with drafts of written work just waiting to be seen by the world.  But that opportunity was cut short when he was fatally killed by a police officer in a train station under mysterious circumstances.  Henry Dumas is a name we should all know, but unfortunately, he wasn’t given the chance to showcase his work himself.  With the help of fellow creative writers, his short stories and poems have been published for the world to experience. Knees ...

Daniel Prude & Natasha McKenna

Both of these stories begin with mental illness and end with death.  Listen to find out how Daniel Prude and Natasha McKenna unconventional methods of being restrained led to brain damage and their eventual, untimely deaths. Police release video of Natasha McKenna death - full video  Virginia Sheriff Releases Footage of Natasha McKenna's Death - 8 minute video Mental Health Resource Support the show

Stephanie Washington and Prince Carmen Jones

A simple gas station trip turned traumatizing for Stephanie Washington. Innocent of this alleged crime, she became the target of gunfire due to incorrect information from the dispatch. Listen to how dispatch’s error resulted in her becoming paralyzed. Prince Jones was a father and a friend. His death came at the end of 16 miles. Listen to how he was tailed and gunned down by undercover cops. Videos of the Stephanie Washington Shooting https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/e...

Aiyana Stanley-Jones & Timothy DeWayne Thomas, Jr.

A sleeping child with a love of fairy tales and princesses; reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty. On a tragic day, her dreams and her life were destroyed by a single bullet. Listen to learn how Aiyana Stanley-Jones was cast in a role that she couldn’t prepare herself for. The story of Timothy Thomas, Jr. is one of racial profiling. He became a target and the police hit the bulls-eye in his death. Listen to how his death sparked the Cincinnati Riots and Civil Unrest of 2001. Crooked Smile on Amazo...

Bonus: Daunte Wright and Caron Nazario

This week has been a tough one for me.  I wanted to go a little off schedule and share my sadness and frustration with what's been going on.  I briefly touch on what happened with Daunte Wright and Caron Nazario. Graphic: Body camera video shows deadly shooting of Daunte Wright https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgAUrDTUk4Q Officer fired after drawing gun on Army lieutenant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueeHKti5loA Daunte Wright called his mother right before he was shot. This is what he...

Sandra Bland

This name was in headlines all across the world: Sandra Bland.  Sandra Bland was a young woman from Illinois who decided to go back to her alma mater in Texas where she had graduated 6 years before.  Listen to find out how what was supposed to be a simple traffic stop ended with Sandra dying in her jail cell. Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland https://amzn.to/3dRCkdl Sandy Speaks https://www.youtube.com/c/SandySpeaks/videos Sandra Bland Arrest Video https://www.youtube.com/...

Interview with Wordsmith

Meet Anthony Parker, also known as: Wordsmith.  Wordsmith, a Baltimore native, is a hip hop artist, song writer, music label owner, and community activist.  He and his work have crossed international borders, spreading words of positivity.  A little while ago, Wordsmith faced police brutality.  Listen to find out how he’s overcoming his police interaction and working with the community on police reform.  He also shares how COVID-19 has changed the way he shares his music. Support the show

Amadou Diallo & Korryn Gaines

Amadou Diallo was a young man from Liberia, interested in continuing his education in America. After receiving his elders’ blessings, he traveled to New York City to pursue his dreams. His pursuit of the American dream turned into a nightmare when he was gunned down by four plainclothes officers. Korryn Gaines was a daughter, a mother and a friend. Her distrust in police led to recording her interactions with police. Her final recording is of a standoff with officers that ended tragically wi...

Shem Walker & Bettie Jones

Shem Walker was an Army veteran and family man.  In an effort to protect his family and community, he routinely removed individuals from his mother’s steps.   Protecting his family turned into losing his life by an undercover cop. Bettie Jones was a churchwoman, mother of five, and grandmother of nine.  She lost her life while assisting officers responding to a domestic dispute. Listen to find out how her helpfulness inadvertently  resulted in her accidental death. Support the show

Terence Crutcher & Kendra James

Terence Crutcher was having car troubles and stuck in the middle of the road.  He was accused of looking like a “bad guy” and shot with his hands up.  Kendra James was riding with friends, when the car she was in was pulled over.  She tried getting away, but was shot and killed after being attacked by a police officer. Support the show

Rodney King

On the evening of March 3, 1991, Rodney King’s life changed forever.  After being pulled over for speeding, Rodney was brutally assaulted by four members of the Los Angeles Police Department.  This assault was caught on film after being shared, sparked international outrage.  Listen to learn more about the life of Rodney King.  Support the show

Pamela Turner & Miriam Carey

Pamela Turner met her fate while she was walking in her neighborhood picking up trash.  She encountered a familiar face, and it would be the last face she ever saw.  Miriam Carey was driving around Washington, DC and ended up in a restricted area.  It cost her her life. Support the show

The Black Artist Experience

Rekia Boyd & Randolph Evans

Two young lives gone, and two groups of people that witnessed their friend’s last moments.  Listen to find out how Rekia Boyd and Randolph Evans came face to face with the police officers that ended their lives. Support the show

Eula Mae Love & Michael Dean

Eula Mae Love was a mom and widow who was trying to make ends meet.  Listen to find out how Eula went from a scuffle with a utility worker to shot dead on her front lawn.  Michael Dean was a young father running errands.  His encounter with a police officer left him dead in his car with a bullet wound to his head. Support the show

Hands Up Don't Shoot - Trailer

In today’s world, virtually anything can be captured on video.  But it hasn’t always been this way.  Ashley France-Howell dives into the stories of Black victims of police brutality in the United States. Support the show