Trump Wins and It's Moving Day for a Lot of Celebs

I'm filing this under, I made a list and I'll Be checking it twice.

Prior to the election of Donald Trump, a number of celebrities said they'd move if he was elected.  Of particular note, Cher said she'd go to Jupiter.  Personally, I thought she hasn't been of this planet for years. But, I'm not holding her to her Jupiter promise.  Actually, she's free to move to any planet of her choosing; either in our solar system or elsewhere.  Jon Stewart also stated that he'd be “getting in a rocket and going to another planet".  Maybe he and Cher could share a ride.

My favorite "mover" is Al Sharpton.  He said he'd be “reserving my ticket out of here if [Trump] wins.”  If only I knew that was all it would take to get rid of him I would have promoted "Trump for President" years ago.

Finally, I'm really counting on Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's promise to move to New Zealand.  Then, instead of Trump having one Supreme Court Justice nomination to make, Ginsburg will have given him two; right off the bat.

In all, some 23 celebrities have promised to leave the U.S.A. if Trump wins.  I have heard this all before, and when all is said and done, these people aren't going anywhere.  They all seem to think that by announcing their intentions, millions of Americans will be so impressed that they will vote against the targeted candidate.  As if my life would come to an end if Lena Dunham wasn't here anymore.  They really seem to think that we are, somehow, glued to every word they say and can't live without them.  Talk about inflated egos!

Oh! By the way.  Since Obama has been in office, we have had record numbers of people renouncing their U.S. citizenship.  A record 1380 Americans "renounced" in just the last quarter; alone.  That sure beats 13 lousy celebs that want to leave if Trump wins.

References:

These 23 Celebrities Said They'll Leave The Country If Trump Wins: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/catherinedunn/2016/09/08/these-10-celebrities-say-theyll-leave-the-country-if-trump-is-elected-n2215391

Celebs who said they’d leave country if Trump won: http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/305117-celebs-who-said-theyd-leave-country-if-trump-won

Feds: American expatriations near 4th annual record:  http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feds-american-expatriations-near-4th-annual-record/article/2606992?custom_click=rss

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Bernie, Hillary.....Have You Hugged Enough Black People Today?

Politicians have always been known to garner votes by kissing babies.  But, not this year.
 Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have been chasing down black voters in order to catch them in a photo-op; proving, of course, that they are truly simpatico with the needs of black Americans. Even though 7 years of Barack Obama has done nothing for them (see referenced links below).

When Bernie met with Al Sharpton, he got this nationally published photo-op:

Hillary, not to be outdone, had to have her own Sharpton moment:

Making sure that she was as close as possible to Al.

You see, lacking the blackness of Obama, both Hillary and Bernie know they can't win the primaries or the general election without a large turnout of the black vote.

Damn, if they both don't wish they were really black!  Of course, this is not to imply that both Bernie and Hillary are using blacks for political gain.  God knows that would never happen!

References:

Source: Sanders/Sharpton Photo: http://www.npr.org/2016/02/10/466276101/bernie-sanders-dines-with-al-sharpton-in-harlem

Source: Hillary/Sharpton Photo: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/431424/clinton-sharpton-endorsement

The Racial Wealth Gap: Why A Typical White Household Has 16 Times The Wealth Of A Black One: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/03/26/the-racial-wealth-gap-why-a-typical-white-household-has-16-times-the-wealth-of-a-black-one/#5bab1dc6c5bc

Under Obama, Blacks Are Worse Off -- Far Worse: http://townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/2015/07/23/under-obama-blacks-are-worse-off--far-worse-n2028985/page/full

NAACP president: Black people worse off under Obama: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/28/naacp-president-black-people-worse-under-obama/ 

Handcuffing Our Police Is Killing More Americans Than Terrorism

According to the latest State Department accounting, out of 17,891 terrorist murders around the world in 2013, 19 were Americans.

In Baltimore, May was the first full month since the Freddie Gray riots. 38 homicides were committed; an increase of 20 from the previous four months that averaged a total of 18 murders a month.  More than all the Americans killed by terrorists in all of 2013.

And, Baltimore is not alone.  This year, after seeing two decades of decline in gun violence, many cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and St. Louis, are experiencing double-digit increases in murders in just the first 5 months of the year.   In Milwaukee, homicides are up 180% over last year. 

This is what happens when you have a President and his current and past Attorney's General, Mayors like De Blasio in New York City, and activists like Al Sharpton all condemning the police over the deaths of 3 unarmed black men: Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray.  The police are now in a position where they believe that no one has their backs.  Especially, their President and the Department of Justice. As a result, arrests and traffic stops are down. There is fear that a single stop could result in their own deaths, because they are now more likely to hesitate to protect themselves. A split-second hesitation that could be deadly. Any altercation with a suspect could end in their own arrests or even a charge of murder. Without the preventive policing of stopping suspicious  people, countless illegal guns are not being confiscated that ultimately end up killing someone.

Hundreds more black lives are being lost every month, and innocent black women and children are being killed in the process.  If black lives really do matter, the new policies towards (really, against) policing are not working.

The media is always talking about President Obama's legacies such as Cuba and the possibility of a nuke deal with Iran.  Well, here's one that he now owns.  Killing more people through restrictive policing than terrorists like ISIS could ever hope to accomplish since 9/11. Americans now have more to fear from this President's handcuffing of police than any terrorist group.  The facts prove it.

One last thing.  Obama is readying a number of gun control laws aimed at keeping them out of the hands of dangerous people.  Really? His policing restrictions have actually managed to allow dangerous people to keep guns and increasingly use them.  Violent offenders will always find ways to buy weapons outside the law.  Just as drug addicts can always find drugs,  Please, for the sake of all too many lives, let the cops do their jobs.

Update: The final tally of homicides in Baltimore for May is 43; meaning a 25 murder increase from the first four months of the year: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/31/baltimore-homicides-worst-in-40-years/28284839/

References:

The New Nationwide Crime Rate: https://www.google.com/search?q=The+New+Nationwide+Crime+Wave&oq=The+New+Nationwide+Crime+Wave&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.96j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=The+New+Nationwide+Crime+Wave&tbm=nws

Of the 17,891 Deaths from Terrorism Last Year, 19 Were American. Let Iraqis Fight ISIS: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/of-the-17891-deaths-from_b_5818082.html

The double murder Thursday of a young mother and her 7-year-old boy brought Baltimore's bloody monthly homicide tally to 38, a figure that dwarfs that of similar-sized cities and even exceeds the total for the same period in New York: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/30/murder-capital-baltimores-homicide-explosion-in-wake-freddie-gray-case-dwarfs/

Baltimore boy, 8, murdered [shot in the head] as city's bloody May continues: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/baltimore-boy-8-murdered-city-bloody-continues-article-1.2238941

You’re [now] 45% more likely to be murdered in de Blasio’s Manhattan: http://nypost.com/2015/05/26/youre-45-more-likely-to-be-murdered-in-de-blasios-manhattan/

Summer 2015 Starts Off With Staggering Gun Violence in Chicago, NY, Baltimore: http://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/summer-2015-starts-staggering-gun-violence-chicago-ny-baltimore

Administration preps new gun regulations: http://thehill.com/regulation/243520-administration-preps-new-gun-regulations


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Black Actors Matter: Affirmative Action Needed for the Academy Awards?

This year's Academy Award nominations are out and the race-baiting Al Sharpton is mad.  For the first time in 17 years, not one black actor or actress was nominated for an Oscar, and Sharpton is calling for emergency action against the Academy.  Whatever that means. 

Are we now supposed to believe that there should be affirmative action quotas for the Academy Awards?  The way Sharpton is acting, it appears there should be at least one or two black actors or actresses nominated; even if there are better performances by white performers.  After all, blacks make up 13% or the population.  Therefore, out of the ten nominations for Best Actor or Actress, there should be at least 1.3 blacks nominated each year; and, another 1.3 blacks nominated for the best male/female supporting performances. Otherwise, the 5,800 members of the Academy are all a bunch of racists.

I think 17 straight years of nominating blacks is an excellent record for a process that is extremely subjective and elitist by its very nature.  What does Sharpton want?  Should one or two of the current nominees be booted off so that a black or two can be inserted in their places.  Are we now going to have national protests and a demonstation on Oscar night with signs saying: "Black Actors Matter".  Is Sharpton also going to demand to be involved in the nomination process; much like he forced Sony to agree that he will oversee the content of the movies they make? And, what about Hispanics?   They make up 17% of our population and, they too, were snubbed in the acting categories.  Should we now have at least 2 blacks and 3 Hispanics as nominees in all 20 acting categories each year?

This whole thing with Al Sharpton trying to paint America as a pre-1960's racist country is getting extremely ridiculous and tiring.  He is literally running crazy all over the place fighting assumed racism.  Of course, all of this is, and has been, increasingly fueled by the fact that President Obama has certified Sharpton as his go-to-guy for all things race.  But, this Obama/Sharpton relationship has backfired by making racial tensions worse.  A fact that too many polls point out. If someone "cries wolf" too often, people stop listening.  Then, if real racism does show up somewhere, nobody will care.

References:

The Whitest Oscars Since 1998: Why the Selma Snubs Matter: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/15/the-whitest-oscars-since-1998-why-the-selma-snubs-matter.html

Al Sharpton Calls For Emergency Meeting To Address 'Appalling' All-White Oscar Nominees: http://www.businessinsider.com/al-sharpton-blasts-appalling-oscars-2015-1

Academy Awards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards

Sharpton to have say over how Sony makes movies: http://nypost.com/2014/12/18/sharpton-to-have-say-over-how-sony-makes-movies/

Race relations worse under Obama, poll finds | TheHill: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/226262-race-relations-worse-under-obama-poll-says

With 2 Cops Killed, America Just Got Less Safe

Right now, the police know that they are operating under higher risk since two New York City officers have been assassinated over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.  Police across the country are on alert and encouraged to utilize higher vigilance.  They are being told to always wear their bullet-proof vests; even when off duty but still uniformed,  to avoid individuals that may be looking for confrontation, always respond to a radio call with a minimum of two squad cars, never patrol alone, and to always be aware of their surroundings. 

All of these things mean we will see less policing and, certainly, not better policing.  Never patrolling alone and multiple cars acting on radio calls mean less broad-based police coverage on the streets. As a result, crime is sure to rise. President Obama seems to think we need a task force on policing in order to appease those who believe all cops are racists. His words -- and the words of the likes of New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, and race activist Al Sharpton -- have created a situation that can't be erased by any recommendations that his task force would potentially make.  His creation of a task force, in itself, is an acknowledgement that he believes that police are acting with racial bias, thus feeding into the beliefs of the protesters and those who want to hurt or kill cops.

It will take decades to undo what has been done in just two months in this country with the protests and especially its support from major leaders.  People like Obama and Sharpton don't seem to understand that even peaceful protests can incite violence by some people who think they must act on their own to exact revenge.  You don't whip up mobs of protesters, condone what they are doing, and expect that the worst can't or won't happen.  

The President was a community organizer and as Wikipedia notes: "...community organizers generally assume that social change necessarily involves conflict and social struggle in order to generate collective power for the powerless."  It is time Obama stops acting like a community organizer and racial activist, and becomes the President of all the people (including cops). From his handling of the protests to his constant use of executive orders to circumvent Congress, it is always about conflict with this President.

References:

Gunman executes 2 NYPD cops in Garner 'revenge': http://nypost.com/2014/12/20/2-nypd-cops-shot-execution-style-in-brooklyn/

NY police told not to make arrests unless absolutely necessary and 'avoid people looking for confrontation': Cops across U.S. are put on high alert after NYPD murders: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2883245/Police-departments-alert-cop-killings.html

President Obama Creates the Task Force on 21st Century: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/12/18/president-obama-creates-task-force-21st-century-policing

Community Organizing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_organizing

In Chicago, Obama worked at various times as a community organizer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Obama

 For Mayor de Blasio and New York Police, a Rift Is Ripped Open: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/nyregion/a-widening-rift-between-de-blasio-and-the-police-is-savagely-ripped-open.html

Obama, de Blasio blasted over NYPD cop slayings - Yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/ray-kelly-blasts-de-blasio-brooklyn-cop-killings-175602893.html

Al Sharpton Leads March in DC as NYC Protesters Chant: ‘What Do We Want? Dead Cops!’: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2014/12/13/al-sharpton-leads-thousands-in-saturday-march-on-washington-dc/

The False Narrative That The "Hands up...Don't Shoot" Protesters Are Perpetuating

Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, once said: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."  I believe that is what is happening as a result of irresponsible black leadership and the "Hands up...Don't Shoot" protests.

In a recent CBS poll, 74% of blacks and 28% of whites believe the police in this country are "too quick to use deadly force".  The problem with that belief is that the statistics don't support it.

Last year there were exactly 320 officer involved killings.  This out of an estimated 13+ million arrests (data estimated because the latest FBI arrest statistics are for 2010).  That's one shooting death for every 40,600 arrests.  Not nearly solid proof that cops are "too quick to use deadly force." At the same time, 105 police officers were killed in 2013.  So, in essence, for every 3 civilian shooting deaths, one officer is killed each year. 

The protests, mostly organized by Al Sharpton, are irresponsible and based on a huge exaggeration of a statistically rare occurrence.  It is even more irresponsible for members of Congress on the House floor, and for their staffers to stand on the Congressional steps with their hands in the air in order to perpetuate the lie.  Worst of all is having America's top cop Eric Holder, and his boss Barack Obama, and the Mayor of America's Largest city Bill DeBlasio, and strengthening and supporting the fantasy.

I don't know what these protestors expect to accomplish, but one thing is sure, they are damaging the character and reputation of our police forces.  Police, who day after day, risk their lives to protect us all.

References:

Joseph Goebbels On the "Big Lie" | Jewish Virtual Library: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/goebbelslie.html

Police Too Quick To Use Deadly Force: http://www.pollingreport.com/images/CBS141214.GIF

 List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, 2013: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States,_2013

FBI Statistics: Crime in the United States: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/persons-arrested

Honoring Officers Killed in 2013: http://www.odmp.org/search/year?year=2013

Four Members of Congress Put Their Hands Up in Solidarity With Ferguson Protesters, None Voted to Limit Police Militarization: http://reason.com/blog/2014/12/02/four-members-of-congress-put-their-hands

U.S. Capitol Staffers Raise Hand For Ferguson: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/226862-congressional-staff-walk-out-over-brown-garner-decisions 

The Sad Truth About Black Murder In America

The only time that President Obama, Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson ever show any concern about a black person being murdered in this country is when a white cop is involved.

Yet, of the approximate 12,500 victims of murder each year, 50% are black.  This despite the fact that blacks only makeup 13% of the population. And, of those deaths,  93% of them are at the hands of other blacks.

By ignoring these statistics and only focusing on killings involving cops, black leaders are cheapening the deaths of all too many blacks.

According to the FBI, in 2011 there were only 393 officer-involved deaths.  So, cops killing Americans of any color is a small fraction of the murders in this country.  Certainly, nowhere near the 6,329 blacks who were slain in 2011; primarily by other blacks.  In my opinion, this tells us that we don't have a policing problem.  However, one would think so, based on all the commentary and protests over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Grant.

I think its time for black leaders -- including our President -- to focus in on the real problem of black murders in this country instead of sidestepping the issue by only blaming cops. While there are no statistics to prove it, I'm quite sure that the total number of black murders would actually be a lot higher without the police doing their jobs and maintaining order in highly black populated neighborhoods.  Every time a police officer (black, white, or whatever) is able to remove an illegal gun from someone following a traffic stop or in some other interaction, the chances are pretty good that a life may have been saved as a result.  In Chicago, alone, 7,000 illegal guns were taken off the streets in 2012.  If even 1% of those guns would have ultimately been used in a murder, that's 70 lives saved;  probably 35 of which would be statistically black. 

As a country, we need to appreciate the roll of our police and not denigrate them.

References:

FBI: Expanded Homicide Data: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded/expanded-homicide-data

A look at statistics on black-on-black murders: http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/jul/17/tweets/look-statistic-blacks-and-murder/

Why does Chicago have so many illegal guns?: http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/articles/2014/10/22/why-does-chicagohavesomanyillegalguns.html

The Irresponsible Media, Black Leadership, And Even The White House Own The Ferguson Riots

When the Michael Brown shooting was first made public, we were told that an unarmed Black teen was shot in the back by a White police officer while holding his hands in the air in surrender.  The supposed reason that we were given for the shooting was that Michael Brown refused to move out of the middle of the street.  All of this was wrong and, if you think about it, made zero sense.  However, because of this irresponsible reporting, nights of rioting ensued. Blacks and sympathetic whites, all over the country, protested the shooting by holding their hands up in the air and shouting "Don't shoot". 

Also, the implied racism claim was further inflamed when Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the Black Panthers, and the NAACP all descended on Ferguson, whipping up even more rage over the Brown shooting.  Beyond this, Obama's own Attorney General, Eric Holder, injected himself into the situation by launching a racial investigation of the Ferguson Police Department. That fact alone, solidified the belief in the minds of many Blacks that the shooting was racially motivated.  This too was irresponsible.

Lastly, President Obama, instead of reassuring the nation that the Grand Jury decision was correct, simply called for calm, while in split screen, rioting and flames were seen.

The President further fanned the flames by saying the anger was "understandable" for people who believe "the law is being applied in a discriminatory fashion".  Implying, of course, that the Grand Jury decision was indeed unfair.

So, all along, the stage was set for rioting; as if it would be somehow purposeful, but, long after the violence stops; and the media attention is gone; and people like the Obama, Eric Holder, and Al Sharpton have moved on, Ferguson will be left to fall into decay like so many other cities that fell victim to racial rioting in the past.  Blacks that remain in Ferguson are destined to live in a community that is poorer, and more crime ridden than it is today. Ironically, it will be the Black residents themselves, who will suffer the most for Michael Brown's death.

References:

Obama begs for calm as rioters set fires and attack police cars in Ferguson after grand jury refuses to indict police officer in Michael Brown case: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2848308/Obama-begs-calm-rioters-set-fires-attack-police-cars-Ferguson-grand-jury-refuses-indict-police-officer-Michael-Brown-case.html

Holder's Justice Department to Investigate Ferguson, Missouri, Police: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/justice-department-investigate-ferguson-missouri-police-n195271

Sharpton Calls Ferguson Decision 'An Absolute Blow' to Justice: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/ferguson-al-sharpton-react-grand-jury-decision-113157.html

Al Sharpton Announces Ferguson Protest Plans In 25 Cities: http://www.westernjournalism.com/heres-agitator-al-sharpton-just-revealed-will-spread-protests-far-beyond-ferguson/

The Ferguson Missouri Shooting: We Need Calm Not Violence

On the Monday following the shooting of an unarmed 18-year old black male by a white cop, I was listening as an angry black male called into a radio talk show.  His simplified accounting of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri was that the police officer involved, shot Michael Brown because he and another black man wouldn't get out of the street. Sadly, this is how the situation in being portrayed and this can only inflame the community further.  Certainly, the mere presence of Al Sharpton in Ferguson only intensifies the anger because, if he's there, its assumed that the shooting must have been a racist act.

Then, Jesse Jackson felt obligated to write an opinion piece for USA Today entitled: 'There's a Ferguson' near you' where, in the very first sentence, he writes:

"Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African American male in suburban Ferguson, Missouri, who had just graduated from high school and planned to start college, has joined a long line of blacks, especially black males, who have recently been gunned down, wrestled down and killed by white men and/or white police officers who claim "reasonable fear" or "self-defense" as their defense."

So,  again, racism is being implied in the Ferguson shooting, Additionally, there is also the implication that blacks are being shot at random by both white men and white cops.

The first problem with all of the above is the accounting of the event.  From the Cafemom website, here is the most concise report of what is currently known to have happened:

"Apparently, around noon on Sunday, an officer approached Brown (who was walking to his grandmother's home, according to his parents) and another man. As the cop exited his vehicle, one of the men allegedly pushed him back in the car and assaulted him. During the struggle, a shot was fired inside the car. As Brown left the scene, the officer shot him about 35 feet way. The report noted that several shots were fired from the cop's gun. "

To me, this seems to be a more logical explanation of what happened than the belief that Brown was simply shot for not getting out of the street. Then too, the real truth may lie somewhere in between and only a thorough investigation will uncover the facts.

The other problem I have is Jesse Jackson's implication that there is a "long line of blacks" being killed by white cops and other white men claiming "reasonable fear" or "self-defense" as their defense.  The problem with that claim is that statistics don't support it.  First, a decades long study found that 94% of all black deaths as victims of shootings were committed by other blacks.  The remaining 6% is made up of not just whites but, also, Hispanics.  So, if Mr. Jackson has a problem with blacks being killed, it should be directed at his own ethnic community.

Additionally, in 2011 it was determined that there were a total 1,146 officer involved shootings that year.  Of that there were 607 deaths.  When taken against a base of roughly 780,000 officers in the U.S., that's less than two-tenths of one percent of all officers who where even involved in any shooting and less than one-tenth of one percent that were involved in a shooting death.  Now, what is true is that about half of those deaths were black. But, then too, one out of every three black men is expected to be involved in a crime that results in imprisonment during thei lifetime.  So, with the higher rate of criminal activity, there is also going to be a higher rate of officer involved shootings and deaths.

What Mr. Jackson also neglects to mention after he tells us of Ferguson being 70% black, is the fact that violent crime in that St. Louis suburb is 25% higher than the national average and total crime is 58% higher.  Yet, the police force is relatively small compared to the national average.  This fact alone serves to keep tensions high between the police and the community, and the higher percentage of lawlessness is probably why there is all the looting and violent protests.

We need black leaders to stop stirring the pot and fomenting violence.  We need calm to allow the investigation to go forward and determine the truth.  If it is true that the officer killed without cause then, let him be tried in our courts for murder.  If he isn't brought to justice; only then should the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson get involved.

References:

Cop Shoots & Kills Unarmed Teen for Reason Many Aren't Buying: http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/175891/cops_shoot_kill_unarmed_teen

Jesse Jackson: There's a 'Ferguson' near you: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/08/12/jesse-jackson-ferguson-riots-column/13957197/

A Black Man is Killed in the U.S. Every 28 Hours by Police: http://www.occupy.com/article/black-man-killed-us-every-28-hours-police

The Trayvon Martin Killing and the Myth of Black-on-Black Crime:  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/15/the-trayvon-martin-killing-and-the-myth-of-black-on-black-crime.html

Police Involved Shooting Statistics: A National One-Year Summary:  http://jimfishertruecrime.blogspot.com/2012/01/police-involved-shootings-2011-annual.html

The Top 10 Most Startling Facts About People of Color and Criminal Justice in the United States: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2012/03/13/11351/the-top-10-most-startling-facts-about-people-of-color-and-criminal-justice-in-the-united-states/

List of countries by number of police officers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_police_officers

Ferguson, Missouri Crime Stats: http://www.areavibes.com/ferguson-mo/crime/

Ferguson, MO Crime by Year and Type: http://www.usa.com/ferguson-mo-crime-and-crime-rate.htm

The Question Nobody Seems To Be Asking About Sharpton's "Snitch" Story

According to the "Smoking Gun," Al Sharpton "snitched" for the FBI on some of New York's prominent drug kingpins such as the Genovese family.  While everybody seems to be focusing on the ethics of Sharpton even being a "snitch", nobody seems to be questioning why he became one in the first place. At one point, he was actually caught on tape discussing cocaine deals with an undercover FBI agent. Now we all know that dealing cocaine is a felony punishable with some hard jail time.  So, the question is: Did Sharpton trade jail time for being a snitch?  If so, he really is a felon.

Of course, Al is fully denying either snitching or working for the FBI.  But, think about this.  Would anyone really want the world to know that you might have put some NYC mobsters behind bars?  The penalty for doing that may be a little steep.

Reference: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/8/rev-al-sharpton-denies-snitch-allegations-i-was-vi/