A $21 million civil rights lawsuit is being filed today against the city of White Plains, New York, and its police department over the death of 68-year-old African-American veteran, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. He was shot dead by police officers inside his own home after he accidentally set off his medical alert pendant. Police have since acknowledged using racial slurs against Chamberlain — an act they have described as a "tactic" to distract him as they sought entry into his home. Today’s lawsuit comes less than two months after a Westchester County...

A defenseless inmate was beaten by Tioga County Jail's top administrator, David Monell, after being pepper-sprayed and handcuffed to a wooden bench by other officers. But the Commission of Correction ended its investigation and Tioga's district attorney decided not to prosecute after Monell resigned.

A military veteran returned home after six years to witness the "freedom" he was protecting when he got on a bus near Los Angeles. He witnessed (and recorded) an encounter between police and a mentally handicapped resident wherein the police verbally abused the lady before one of the officers punched her in the face. After the incident, police then attempted to confiscate the video, but the veteran successfully stood his ground. Of course no investigation has begun into this abuse of police power.

Acknowledgment of police brutality and police state measures increases...

Lynwood Artis was sentenced to 30 days in jail for being the victim of what can only be described as a bizarre display of state power. Mr. Artis was enjoying a taco (probably without a permit) when he was questioned by police officer about a nearby unattended beer. When the cop didn't find Mr. Artis' answer satisfactory, he broke the man's leg and arrested him. After a mere 4 minutes in court, Mr. Artis found himself on his way to jail for "contempt of court" (ie: not standing on his broken leg).