Jack & Jill Politics

Police in Columbia, MO shot a suicidal man threatening to jump from a bridge with a taser twice. The first time didn’t work. The second time caused the man to plummet 15 feet. He’s now in critical condition with two broken arms, a broken eye socket and more.

Here’s a report from local TV station KMIZ (with video from YouTube)

African American Political Pundit and Francis Holland have created Electrocuted While Black for “tracking and reporting on pre-trial, extra-judicial death penalty, because it’s 21st century lynching, by another name.”

Today, July 30, many of us in the afrosphere have come together to join in a day of blogging against police and other security entities across America, Canada and around the world involved in Extra-Judicial Electrocution (Tasers). Some within the afrosphere have called it a campaign against “on the spot pre-trial electrocution” of members of the public (many who are of African descent).

More from Electrocuted While Black:

U.N.: Tasers Are A Form Of Torture

Tasers a form of torture, says UN | The Daily Telegraph

U.N. Calls Tasers Torture : NPR

The day is an attempt to provide general public awareness on the issue of taser use by police. It’s important that we within the afrospear and the general public understand the ‘use of force continuum’ used by law enforcement officials. Villager, at Electronic Village has provided those of us with a great resource through his post on the ‘Use of Force Continuum’ –>

http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2008/02/use-of-force-continuum.html

There

is a Justice Department Review of TASER-related Deaths.  Kevin Myles, at the Wichita NAACP is working with the Wichita Police Department in a review of Departmental Taser Policy. More HERE. It is a great way for black folks to become involved locally on the taser issue. Afrospear member, Over Analyze It and others have been involved with some great ideas on what types of protocols and procedures local community activist should be asking of police departments regarding policies. Tasered While Black also has information on tasering incidents and deaths over the past number of years.