Good morning!

After almost 20 years of banking with Wells Fargo, two years ago I decided to leave and bank elsewhere. Now after finding out more about Wells Fargo, I am so happy that I did.

Anti immigrant laws like Arizona’s SB 170 and Georgia’s HB 87, are not only a consequence of racism but also of the greed for money. It is a huge business to criminalize and incarcerate OTWs because the federal government pays private prison companies and average of $122 per day per person in prison.

Private Prison Companies such as Corrections Corporations of America (CCA) and the GEO Group have influenced politicians to pass laws that criminalize OTWs just to increase the prison population for more profit. These companies are making millions, and those who benefit are companies (shareholders) that invest in the prison industry. And as you have read, our government is building more prisons, while cutting social services and schools, all with tax payer money.

 Enlace in partnership with community groups and unions across the US, is calling on all public and private institutions to divest their holdings in Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group, America’s largest private prison corporations which have profited from billions in taxpayer money.

Enlace launched the Prison Industry Divestment Campaign to convince shareholders (banks hedge funds etc.) to divest their funds from the prison industry so people like you and me can make an impact on the prison business, and reduce the power of CCA and GEO to lobby for laws that imprison our communities.

Watch the video and see legalized racial profiling in action:

So what does this have to do with Wells Fargo? Guess what? Wells Fargo is a major investor in CCA and GEO – the nations two largest for-profit companies.

Over the past 3 years, hundreds of thousands of OTWs have been subjected to excessively abusive treatments in for-profit prisons run for the federal government by the GEO Group (GEO), and Corrections of America (CCA). So do you think Wells Fargo is innocent in all of this? I don’t think so.

These are the stats:

• 1 million immigrants have been detained in the past 3 years
• 3400 is the daily population in detention camp
• 80% of the beds are owned by GEO and CCA
• GEO and CCA’s profits in 2009 were 3.1 billion
• Wells Fargo received 43.7 billion in bailout money
• The cost to tax payers is 5.5million daily.

We NEED YOU at our Wells Fargo action tomorrow, Tuesday, February 24 in San Francisco at Justin Herman Plaza, SF.

Join thousands in San Francisco, this coming Tuesday at 10am, to take over the Wells Fargo Shareholder Meeting (#wf24) and turn it in to a Peoples Meeting!

The shareholders want to meet about how to best reap profits from foreclosures, for-profit prisons and detention centers, student loans, and tax evasion.

We plan to put a crimp in their plan. More info at:

www.stopwellsfargo.com

http://wfshareholders.tumblr.com/

Follow the action on Twitter with #wf24  #99power

On Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/events/203308649774621/

The broad coalition of community, faith, and labor organizations participating includes: Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Alliance for Just Society, Causa Justa/Just Cause, Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), EnLace, International Forum on Globalization, National People’s Action, New Bottom Line, Occupy SF,  POWER-LA, Pride @ Work, PICO California, ReFund California, and SEIU International, SEIU Local 1021, SEIU United Workers West, SEIU Local 87,  San Francisco Labor Council, We Are Oregon

.

This action is also part of 99% Power, a national effort to mobilize well over 10,000 people, from all walks of life and representing the diversity of the 99%, to engage in nonviolent direct action at more than three-dozen corporate shareholder meetings across the country.

Causa Justa :: Just Cause is a multi-racial grass roots housing and immigrant rights organization building community leadership to achieve justice for low-income San Francisco and Oakland residents. We have offices on both sides of the Bay.

********

Will you be there? Blog me.

Peace & Love…

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

It is amazing to me that we actually need laws need to be put into place to protect women from abuse from men. It is a continual effort to support and protect women. Why? Because it is needed. Men abuse women. There are no laws that I know of that protect men from the abuse of women. So we go to great lengths because all across the country and the world, men abuse women. Now we all know it isn’t all men. But it is certainly enough that laws need to be passed to protect us.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed in 1994, strengthens the ability of the Federal Government, States, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The new VAWA legislation has provisions that include protection and resources for all women, including undocumented immigrants, same-sex couples and those on tribal lands. Moreover, it would create a community that promotes education on how to prevent domestic violence.

Recently VAWA was brought to a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. And guess what? The republicans remain the party of “no”. Every single Senate republican voted “no”.

And to add insult to injury, these Senators justified their votes based on purely ideological objections that should be set aside if we are truly serious and committed to aiding victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. 

Thankfully we have a strong, wonderful woman of the world, on our side: Rep. Gwen Moore. 

Julia: Thank you for sharing your life story, for being here with us, and for your kind words. You are an amazing, brave woman. I wish you and yours my very best. I dedicate today’s write to you:

Women Are Waiting…

I was molested as a child. There was no ominous stranger or dark alley. This abuse was perpetrated by someone I knew and by someone who knew me — a family friend. Sadly, these events of my youth would only be the beginning of a lifetime of experiences with abuse and violence.

When I was in high school — an ambitious young woman, very focused on my education — a young man joked with his friends and made a bet that he could “bed the egghead.” He took me out on what I thought was an innocent date with the boy that I liked, and when he got me alone, he forced himself on me. It was my 18th birthday. I don’t even think he thought it was wrong. He and his friends thought it was a rite of passage, nothing big. But it altered the course of my life.

These memories hold much pain and haunted me through many phases of my life. But it is partly through these experiences that I found my calling — to be an advocate for the many nameless, faceless and voiceless women and children who endure this abuse everyday throughout this country.

No mother, no sister, no child should ever have to suffer the physical, psychological and emotional abuse that I and so many others were forced to endure. Yet, each day there are hundreds that do. In fact, nearly one in five women in the United States has been sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

As legislators and as Members of Congress, it is our obligation to speak up for those who are being ignored in our society. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) does just that.

I spoke recently about what this Act would have done for me, had it been enacted before the time of my assault. This legislation, originally passed in 1994, strengthens the ability of the Federal Government, States, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The new VAWA legislation has provisions that include protection and resources for all women, including undocumented immigrants, same-sex couples and those on tribal lands. Moreover, it would create a community that promotes education on how to prevent domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a cancer that has infected our society, crossing all ethnic, socioeconomic and party lines. Protecting those victimized by domestic violence should never be a partisan issue. Yet as with many other pieces of common-sense legislation, this Congress has pushed this bill into partisan corners. Recently, when the Violence Against Women Act was brought to a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, every single Senate Republican on that Committee voted “no.” And to add insult to injury, these Senators justified their votes based on purely ideological objections that should be set aside if we are truly serious and committed to aiding victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Thankfully, President Obama has recently taken action on this issue, directing federal agencies to develop policies for addressing domestic violence in the federal workforce. These policies will build on ongoing efforts of federal agencies to improve workplace safety, and outline steps employers can take to provide support and assistance to employees whose lives are affected by domestic violence.

It is time we stop playing partisan politics with the Violence Against Women Act. This is real life, with real women and real consequences. Until this Congress decides to take the safety of women, children and families seriously, our country will continue to spiral through a vicious circle of denial that will sadly only lead to more violence and abuse.

Women are waiting for this Congress to come together to pass this important legislation. Until that time, I along with my Democratic colleagues will continue to fight the good fight so that the Gwen Moores of this world no longer have to live in fear.

*W*W*O*T*W*

Thoughts? Blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

With all of the talk abut women’s contraception, what should be available, what should not, what rights we have over our bodies, what is trying to be taken away, and who is trying to control women and our decisions over our bodies…I can’t exactly point to any republican, including the women, and especially including Rep. Michele Bachmann, (R-Minn), as a supporter of women, when their whole agenda is to control women and take away our right to choose.

So when I watched Bachmann arguing with a straight face in support of a woman’s right to choose, on Meet the Press, my mouth dropped in amazement.

“What we want is women to be able to make their own choices…. You see, that’s the lie that happens under Obamacare. The president of the United States effectively becomes a health care dictator. Women don’t need anyone to tell them what to do on health care. We want women to have their own choices, their own money. That way they can make their own choices for their future on their own bodies.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

********

Readers: Michele Bachmann is saying she and her party want American women to be able to “make their own choices for the future of their own bodies.”  She is a far-right republican who opposes women’s reproductive rights, and here she is speaking passionately, and falsely might I add, as if she is in support of women and their right to choose, live on television.

Where has this woman been? Has Bachmann not a clue about her party’s plan, or has she been lying under a rock and just decided yesterday to peek her size-of-a-pea-brained head out? Because if she was lucid she would know that her party pushes to restrict contraception access, and wants to get rid of Planned Parenthood. Does she not know that her party supports transvaginal ultrasounds – basically state-sanctioned rape! Of course she knows. Talk about a false betrayal – Bachmann is displaying false loyalty - Bachmann is a lying sack of shit.

If I have not welcomed Bachman as a member of the LSOS Club, let me do that now.

Anything to say – Blog me.

Peace out. 

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning.

Two men arrested over Oklahoma ‘hate’ shooting spree

TULSA, Okla. — Police arrested two men early Sunday in connection with the North Tulsa shootings that saw three black people killed and another two injured, police said.

Cops apprehended two white males — 19-year-old Jake England and Alvin Watts, 32 — at 1:47am local time, KOKI reported.

They will be charged with three counts of murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill.

A statement from the Tulsa Police Department said, “Within 24 hours of its formation, the task force ‘Operation Random Shooter’ has completed its mission. Our sympathy goes out to the families of the victims and we hope that our efforts can bring some resolution and closure to these heinous acts.”

“We would like to thank everyone that assisted and more information will be forthcoming in a Sunday afternoon press conference,” it added.

The victims, all black, were seemingly shot at random as they walked in the street during a seven-hour period early Friday.

The killer did not utter slurs before blasting his victims with a small-caliber handgun, said investigators, who are trying to learn if the same weapon was used in each attack.

Police did not rule out the possibility of a hate-fueled rampage.

“If that’s where our investigation takes us, that’s where we’ll go,” Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham told The Post.

The shootings took place within three miles in Tulsa’s mostly black north side.

At 1:03 a.m, the gunman shot Dannaer Fields, 49, police said. She was rushed to the hospital where she died.

Three minutes later, he fired at two unidentified men, hitting one in the arm and the other in the torso.

They were hospitalized in critical condition, but are expected to live, said cops.

Before 2 a.m., Bobby Clark, 54, was shot dead, also in the torso.

A fifth victim, William Allen, 31, was discovered in the yard of a funeral home at about 8:30 a.m., police said. He had also taken a fatal shot to the torso.

“We assume that a [fifth] shooting occurred in the same time frame as the last four,” said Willingham.

Homicide Detective Sgt. Dave Walker said investigators have no forensic test results yet, but believe the attacks are linked because they happened at around the same time in the same area and all five victims were out walking.

Fields was found on Charles Shoemaker’s front lawn. Shoemaker said he didn’t hear any commotion before the bloodshed.

“I was awoken by my dog making a bunch of noise around one-fifteen,” said Shoemaker, 43. “I opened my front door and there’s a police officer.

“I didn’t even believe when he told me there was a body on my front yard so I came out.

“It looked like she was laying balled up in the fetal position,” he said.

Cathy Privette, one of Fields’ neighbors, said the victim was deeply religious. “I would give her rides to church,” Privette, 54, said.

She added that Fields, who lived alone, was always dressed as if she was headed to Sunday Mass.

Black community leaders met Friday evening in an effort to calm unrest and promote safety.

The Rev. Warren Blakney Sr., who heads the Tulsa NAACP, told the Tulsa World newspaper that someone seems to be “targeting black people to shoot.”

“I’m on edge for my people,” he said.

Residents of the north side fear an armed bigot is roaming the streets.

“We’re all nervous,” said Renaldo Works, 52, who was getting his hair cut at a salon yesterday morning.

“I’ve got a 15-year-old, and I’m not going to let him out late,” Works added. “People are scared.”

Blakney warned that distrust between cops and the city’s African-American community could prompt vigilantism.

More than a half-dozen citizens have sued the city, claiming wrongful arrest, and almost 40 people have had convictions overturned or sentences cut in a federal corruption probe of the Tulsa police.

“The police chief has assured me they are doing all they can,” Blakney added. “We don’t want anybody else hurt, white or black.”

Shoemaker, one of the few white people living in the neighborhood, said he feared being targeted for retribution.

“I’m always armed,” he warned. “I’m more inclined to carry now,” he said, although he concedes he doesn’t have a concealed weapons permit.

*****

Blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

Beryl: Thanks for the good news. This is such huge news,  I just had to give it more blog time here:

Here’s a segment from the Rachel Maddow show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And from the Huff Po:

George Zimmerman In Custody, Charged With Second-Degree Murder In Trayvon Martin Case

The special prosecutor investigating the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin announced Wednesday evening that George Zimmerman, who told police he shot Martin in self defense, has been charged with second-degree murder.

Zimmerman will plead not guilty to the charges, according to his attorneys. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Zimmerman, who has been in hiding for weeks, is in police custody. Special prosecutor Angela Corey said during a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla., that she would not reveal where Zimmerman was out of concern for his safety. “He is within the custody of law enforcement officers in the state of Florida,” Corey said.

The murder charge indicates prosecutors plan to prove Zimmerman shot Martin with malice, though without premeditation. A manslaughter charge would have required prosecutors to prove only that Zimmerman acted unlawfully and with criminal negligence in shooting the teen.

“The difference between murder and manslaughter is your mental state,” said Mark Geragos, a Los Angeles defense attorney, who is not connected to the case. “To elevate it to murder, you have to have the element of malice.”

In Florida, a grand jury must be convened before issuing first-degree murder charges. On Monday, Corey announced that she would not convene a grand jury, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, in the Martin case.

Zimmerman, 28, shot and killed 17-year-old Martin Feb. 26 in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., where Martin was visiting his father and his father’s girlfriend. Zimmerman served as captain of the neighborhood watch and told police that he shot Martin in self-defense after the teen attacked him. Martin was unarmed at the time of his death, according to police.

On the night of the shooting, Zimmerman was questioned at the police station, but released shortly afterwards. Sanford Police Department investigated and determined there was not enough evidence to refute his claims of self-defense.

The case became a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over racial profiling and gun control. Attorneys representing Zimmerman have called the shooting a clear case of self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which gives citizens broad latitude to use deadly force against an attacker if they believe their life is at risk.

Corey called the Stand Your Ground law a “tough” defense to counter, but said her office would fight it if it became an issue at trial. To prevail, the prosecution would have to demonstrate that Zimmerman’s account of events is false, then present the jury with a compelling alternative to the altercation, experts said.

“They will go very hard at (Zimmerman’s) credibility,” said Paul Callan, a defense attorney and former New York prosecutor who is not connected with the case. “This is how prosecutors customarily disprove bogus self-defense claims.”

Martin’s death and subsequent handling of the investigation also sparked national outrage and calls for Zimmerman’s arrest. From the start, Martin’s family and attorneys questioned the impartiality and thoroughness of the police investigation into the teen’s killing.

Law enforcement experts said that Sanford police made key errors early in the investigation and made crucial decisions before important evidence was gathered.

Martin’s cell phone records were not immediately checked. Investigators did not talk with key witnesses for more than a week. While police conducted a criminal background check on Martin, as well as post-mortem drug and alcohol tests, Zimmerman was not subjected to similar tests. It was learned later that Zimmerman was arrested in 2005 for assaulting a police officer.

During the news conference Wednesday, Corey criticized leaks of confidential details about the case that appeared to bolster Zimmerman’s self-defense claims. “So much information on the case got released that never should have been released,” Corey said.

The announcement of the charges comes a day after Zimmerman’s previous attorneys withdrew their counsel, saying they lost contact with him and that he repeatedly ignored their legal advice. They said Zimmerman reached out to Corey’s office directly and had an off-the-record conversation with the Fox News host Sean Hannity without their knowledge.

Trayvon’s parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, solemnly watched Wednesday’s news conference in Washington on a small television. As Corey read the charges, the slain teen’s parents held hands and watched. “Thank you, Lord,” said Benjamin Crump, the family’s attorney as he patted Martin’s knee. Neither of Martin’s betrayed any emotion as they watched.

After the charges were announced, Fulton said she was thankful for the outpouring of public support. “I just want to speak from my heart to your heart, because a heart has no color,” she said. “It’s not black, it’s not white, it’s red, and I want to say thank you from my heart to your heart.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the more prominent supporters of the Martin family, said the case would not have progressed without “the nameless, faceless people, black, white, Hispanic and Asian … who said ‘take another look at this’.”

“People took their time and money, and stood up and said that that could be my son, that could be my grandson, and because of that this got a second look,” he said. “Even conservatives on the other side of the political spectrum said we’re going to take another look.”

But Sharpton stressed the importance of continuing to seek justice. Zimmerman, Sharpton said, “deserves a fair trial.”

“We do not want anyone high-fiving tonight,” Sharpton said. “There is no victory here. There are no winners here. They lost their son. This is not about gloating. This is about pursuing justice.”

A crowd of nearly 200 people gathered at Allen Chapel A.M.E church in Sanford, the local hub for organizers surrounding the Martin cause.

“The mood is just … happy, but still more like a sigh of relief,” said Traymon Williams, 26, who joined his neighbors at the church after watching Corey’s news conference at home. “It feels just like when you have a headache, a migraine and you take an aspirin and you just can feel the pressure slowly starting to ease.”

But both the defense and prosecution face the challenge of trying a case that has drawn extraordinary media scrutiny, and inflamed passions both for and against Zimmerman. Jury selection will be a crucial and difficult task given the tremendous media coverage afforded to the shooting, experts said.

“This case is won or lost in jury selection,” Geragos said.

For some, the prosecution of Zimmerman may also be a symbolic test of Florida’s ability to conduct a fair trial in a case that has polarized the public and fueled marches and protests across the country. Just last year, Casey Anthony, a young Florida mother accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, was acquitted of murder, a verdict that many decried as a miscarriage of justice.

“The state of Florida is on trial here,” said Kenneth Nunn. “A law professor at the University of Florida. “Not just Zimmerman.”

*******

Readers: I too say, “It’s about time. Now, time will tell if “justice” is really “just US”. For more information on the charges, check out the documents  on the Huff Po original article.

Social Butterfly: Thank you for posting. I echo your words toward Dr. David Moscrop as well.  And I applaud Moscrop for his illuminating personal experience as well as his continued daily mindful attention to how he treats and responds to women. Yes, many more men could learn from this.

No more time…Got to run. Thoughts? Blog me. 

Peace out.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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