As protesters march in cities around the country in response to two instances in as many weeks in which cops were not indicted for killing unarmed black men, a few rallying cries have emerged.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
It’s really sad that that statement has to be said. All lives matter, but recent history is proving otherwise.
I CAN’T BREATHE.
When you hear congressmen and police union officials deny that Eric Garner was telling the truth with his last, gasping breaths, it’s just adding more insult to the deadly injuries.
HANDS UP, DON’T SHOOT.
Although 16 of the witnesses to Michael Brown’s killing by cop said that Brown had his hands up when he was fatally shot by Darren Wilson and only two said he didn’t, those applauding the Grand Jury’s decision claim that the testimony proved Brown was “charging” the officer.
Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) recited this poem on the House floor yesterday
I hear you Congressman. I can’t breathe either.
In this very surreal time, I’ve typed the phrase “I can’t breathe” a lot in the past few days. This is what ad I was served when I got online this morning:
Just sayin’….
And now, we have two more names to add to the list of unarmed black men killed by cops in the past few months: Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, Ezell Ford, Kajieme Powell, Vonderrit Myers and Eric Garner.
Rumain Brisbon was unarmed when a Phoenix cop gave chase and shot him dead on Tuesday, and Akai Gurley, also unarmed, who was shot dead last month in a Brooklyn apartment stairwell by a rookie police officer who reportedly spent the next 6-7 minutes texting his union rep instead of calling for help.
I can’t breathe.
I was honored to once again have the awesome Dave Zirin join me on the show this morning. In the wake of so much news coming out of the world of sports, I’d been meaning to invite him back on anyway. Then, after five members of the St. Louis Rams showed solidarity with their grieving community last Sunday by running out on to the field in a Hands Up, Don’t Shoot stance, Zirin called it a John Carlos moment. It certainly way.
And Dave Zirin should know. His recently published book is The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World
And finally, every Friday we segue into the weekend with a musical blast from the past. Today, we did it via the past and the present!
I first met Melissa Etheridge over 25 years ago when she released her first album. I’ve had the pleasure of playing her music on the radio for much of my career and of interviewing her numerous times.
Melissa just released her latest album, appropriately titled This is M.E.
She and her new, awesome band performed in South Florida Friday night, and it was one of her best yet! Today, we spoke about the new album, the new band and tour, and how life and our business has changed over the decades, prompting her to take control of things and make some changes.
It’s time we all learned that changes can be good… it’s time.
Have a great weekend. I’ll talk to you Monday… radio or not!
