Dr. Boyce Watkins: Did the Police Cover Up the Murder of Raymond Robair?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World 

Raymond Robair died nearly five years ago. It appeared for years that the officers who arrived on the scene tried to help him. Now, some are wondering if they made the entire story up.
Officers Melvin Williams and Matthew Dean Moore stated that while they were patrolling the streets, they saw a man who was "stumbling and holding his upper chest area." They then said that Robair collapsed and that they drove him to the hospital, where he died. A pair of broken ribs punctured his spleen and liver, and the officers were cleared by an internal police investigation, partially substantiated by the coroner's report.
The greater problem though is that there are several residents in the area who dispute the account of the police officers. Several witnesses say they saw the officers punch and kick Robair. Also, an independent autopsy requested by the family ruled the death a homicide.

 

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Black Politics: New York Post Stimulus Cartoon Draws Apology

A day after publishing a cartoon that drew fire from critics who said it evoked historically racist images, the New York Post apologized in a statement on its Web site -- even as it defended its action and blasted some detractors.

A New York Post cartoon has sparked a debate over race and cartooning this week.

Many of those critical of the cartoon said it appeared to compare President Obama to a chimpanzee in a commentary on his recently approved economic stimulus package.

"Wednesday's Page Six cartoon -- caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut -- has created considerable controversy," the paper said about the drawing, which shows two police officers standing over the body of a chimpanzee they just shot.

The drawing is a reference to the mauling of a woman by a pet chimpanzee, which was then killed by police. In the cartoon, one of the officers tells the other, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

The Post said the cartoon was meant to mock what it called an "ineptly written" stimulus bill.

"But it has been taken as something else -- as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism," reads the statement. "This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize."

But the statement immediately swerves to fire back at some of the image's critics.

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• Racism row over chimp cartoon sparks debate
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"However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past -- and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback," the statement says. "To them, no apology is due. Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon -- even as the opportunists seek to make it something else."

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National Black Police Association Supports Special Prosecutor for High Profile Cases

Greetings,

The Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association fully supports Senator Eric Adams, Attorney Norman Siegel, Mark Claxton and 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement and their proposal for a permanent State-level Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute cases that involve alleged Police brutality and Police misconduct; especially those considered "High Profile" cases.

Any law enforcement officer who has power to arrest and use deadly force and who has received comprehensive training by certified institutions of law enforcement, but goes into a community and abuses the authority that they have been empowered with, is in essence a criminal themselves.

As leaders, politicians and organizations, it is our duty to insure that law enforcement is held accountable and that the process of Justice is fair in impartial in our communities.

In Westchester, we have our share of cases where the process of Justice has been in question or debated. As such, the Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association will have a press conference on Wednesday at May 14, 2008, at the Democratic Headquarter Once Park Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y. in support of the Senators proposal.

We are asking that you or representatives from your organization join us in offering support for the proposal. Maximum participation of concerned citizens and supporters is needed.

Attached is the official letter from Senator Eric Adams to New York Sate Governor David Patterson that outlines the importance of this matter.

In Unity And In Peace
Damon K. Jones
Executive Director
Westchester Blacks In Law Enforcement
For Community Uplift
Westchester NBPA
National Board Member
National Black Police Association
914 316 1452