Advocates called on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James on Monday to refuse to play basketball in protest against a grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Timothy Loehmann in the 2014 killing of Tamir Rice.
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Israel shoots dead Palestinian brothers, aged 17 and 23
Many of the Palestinians killed have been attackers while others have been shot dead by Israeli security forces during clashes. One Palestinian witness, Suhail Hamed, 39, said the police opened fire when the auto was 150 metres (yards) away from them.
Rice was holding a replica handgun when Officer Timothy Loehmann shot him within seconds of reaching the park in a squad auto driven by his partner Frank Garmback. “And there are no answers because the prosecutors have foreclosed the possibility of criminal accountability”.
Two Palestinians arrested in Christmas tree arson in West Bank
But Christmas has been overshadowed by three months of Israeli-Palestinian violence, so it was a poor turnout this year. Palestinians view the structure as a land grab that has stifled Bethlehem’s economy.
Officials are urging calm as they brace for expected protests after a grand jury voted not to indict a white Cleveland police officer for fatally shooting a 12-year-old black boy who was carrying what turned out to be a pellet gun.
Heavy rain and gales as Storm Frank sweeps in
An amber “be prepared” warning for rain has been put into force by the Met Office, and will remain valid until 3pm today. Flood warnings have been issued around Britain, just days after severe flooding hit northern regions over Christmas.
Tamir Rice’s family issued a statement accusing the prosecutor’s office, saying they “deliberately sabotaged the case, never advocating for my son, and acting instead like the police officers’ defense attorney”.
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“Police are mostly criticized for not responding”, Hilow said.
Mr Loehmann’s lawyer, Henry Hilow, said the officer carries a heavy burden.
He said they will announce the candidate they are supporting soon.
“I do not have a comment on what the grand jury did”, he said. Writing in the Washington Post, Ari Melber notes, “Grand juries are built to be a tool of prosecutors”.
Both officers insisted that they shouted at Tamir repeatedly to show his hands before Loehmann opened fire from a distance estimated at 4½ to 7 feet.
Cleveland’s reputation has suffered because of some well-publicised police shootings.
The Times continues, “Had the department done so, it would have found that Officer Loehmann had quit a suburban police department where he had showed a “dangerous loss of composure” during firearms training and was found to be emotionally unfit for the stress of the job”.
“It’s inexcusable to shoot a 12-year-old and not be held accountable”, said Sonya Patrick, organizer for the Black Lives Matter demonstration.
Kasich warned against outsiders entering Cleveland to cause trouble.
The shooting of Rice was one of several incidents nationwide that have fuelled scrutiny of the use of excessive force by police, particularly against minorities.
Barbara WiIberg of Cleveland said it’s too late get a trial but hoped the police officers were hearing the message of the protests in Cleveland around the country. “It’s a tough a time as you can ever have in life and our hearts go out to all of them”.
The decision has prompted outrage on social media and a massive protest in New York City on Monday night, as well as a smaller protest in Cleveland.
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“It’s not a black or white issue, it’s a wrong or right issue”, activist Basheer Jones stated.
