MORE FROM HUFFPOST
MORE FROM HUFFPOST
Kelly Thomas
Instead of pandering and trying to connect the murder to a lack of "comprehensive immigration reform," it would be fitting if Ms. Harris would accept the simple truth that Lopez-Sanchez should not have been in the US -- and then try to figure out solutions to avoid any more senseless murders.
There have been too many funerals of late, too many funerals for people of color and people with mental illness.
We need much more humane tactics in dealing not only with unarmed, young men, particularly those of color; we also need much more humane tactics in dealing with the mentally ill.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Overall, I am heartened by the improvements in recent years that I have seen in public policy and media coverage of mental illness. But there is still a great deal of stigma against the mentally ill.
In the Dylan-esque style of folk punk rock, McPherson succinctly captures the anger and emotion felt by those who most closely followed the case to its bitter end.
Prosecutors had their day in court with Ramos and Cicinelli. They had all of the resources of the state behind them and failed to obtain a conviction. As bitter as that result is for civil libertarians, supporting the federal government in going after them again is even worse.
Federal investigators may reenter the case of Kelly Thomas, 37, a mentally ill homeless man, who died following a violent 2011 videotaped confrontation with police, after two former Fullerton, CA officers were acquitted on all state charges late Monday.
By continuing to not critically analyze the failure of our national drug policy and how it impacts the mentally ill and our homeless population, we invite other incidents such as this -- this is simply a more extreme example of what happens on the streets every day.
