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===Parallels to killing of Trayvon Martin===
===Parallels to killing of Trayvon Martin===
Media outlets, including CNN, have connected the Chamberlain case to the [[shooting of Trayvon Martin]].<ref name=CNN16April>{{cite news|last=CNN Wire Staff|title=New York shooting of elderly man draws parallels to Trayvon Martin case|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/16/justice/new-york-chamberlain-death/?hpt=us_t2|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=16 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=Militant14May>{{cite journal|last=Harris|first=James|title=Other fights gather strength in wake of Trayvon Martin protests|journal=The Militant|date=14 May 2012|volume=76|issue=19|url=http://www.themilitant.com/2012/7619/761904.html|accessdate=9 May 2012}}</ref> Parallels extend to the unwillingness of police departments to investigate the killing of Blacks, as well as the killings themselves.<ref name=PMApril>{{cite news|last=Nathaniel|first=Jerome|title=Kenneth Chamberlain Murder Points to Good Cop vs. Bad Cop Dillemma|url=http://www.policymic.com/articles/7157/kenneth-chamberlain-murder-points-to-good-cop-vs-bad-cop-dillemma|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=PolicyMic|date=April 2012}}</ref> People demonstrating against [[police brutality]] have cited the Chamberlain case as a grievance.<ref name=BSN20April>{{cite news|title=Occupy Harlem: Saturday March Against Racism And Police Brutality|url=http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/8143/2012-04-20.html|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=Black Star News|date=20 April 2012}}</ref>
Media outlets, including CNN, have connected the Chamberlain case to the [[shooting of Trayvon Martin]].<ref name=CNN16April>{{cite news|last=CNN Wire Staff|title=New York shooting of elderly man draws parallels to Trayvon Martin case|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/16/justice/new-york-chamberlain-death/?hpt=us_t2|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=CNN|date=16 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=Militant14May>{{cite journal|last=Harris|first=James|title=Other fights gather strength in wake of Trayvon Martin protests|journal=The Militant|date=14 May 2012|volume=76|issue=19|url=http://www.themilitant.com/2012/7619/761904.html|accessdate=9 May 2012}}</ref> Parallels extend to the unwillingness of police departments to investigate the killing of blacks, as well as the killings themselves.<ref name=PMApril>{{cite news|last=Nathaniel|first=Jerome|title=Kenneth Chamberlain Murder Points to Good Cop vs. Bad Cop Dillemma|url=http://www.policymic.com/articles/7157/kenneth-chamberlain-murder-points-to-good-cop-vs-bad-cop-dillemma|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=PolicyMic|date=April 2012}}</ref> People demonstrating against [[police brutality]] have cited the Chamberlain case as a grievance.<ref name=BSN20April>{{cite news|title=Occupy Harlem: Saturday March Against Racism And Police Brutality|url=http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/8143/2012-04-20.html|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=Black Star News|date=20 April 2012}}</ref>


Chamberlain Jr. says he was inspired by the [[petition]] circulated online by Martin's parents. "I signed Trayvon's petition, sat back and thought, 'Well, maybe I should do a petition.'" The petition received 208,000 signatures.<ref name=PH4May>{{cite news|last=Robles|first=Frances|title=Web petition drives revive scrutiny of killings|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/nationworld/in-focus-not-just-a-bunch-of-people-clicking-a-mouse_2012-05-04.html|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=Press Herald|date=4 May 2012}}</ref>
Chamberlain Jr. says he was inspired by the [[petition]] circulated online by Martin's parents. "I signed Trayvon's petition, sat back and thought, 'Well, maybe I should do a petition.'" The petition received 208,000 signatures.<ref name=PH4May>{{cite news|last=Robles|first=Frances|title=Web petition drives revive scrutiny of killings|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/nationworld/in-focus-not-just-a-bunch-of-people-clicking-a-mouse_2012-05-04.html|accessdate=9 May 2012|newspaper=Press Herald|date=4 May 2012}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:46, 27 June 2012

Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr.
LocationWhite Plains, New York
ParticipantsKenneth Chamberlain Sr., Several police officers, Medical alert operator, Sister of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.
Deaths1
Chargesnone; no indictment by grand jury

The killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. occurred on November 19, 2011 in White Plains, New York. After his Life Aid medical alert necklace was inadvertently triggered, police came to his home. Despite his objections and statements that he did not need help, the police broke down Chamberlain's door, tasered him, and then shot him dead. Chamberlain was a 68-year-old, African-American, retired ex-Marine, and a 20-year veteran of the Westchester County Department of Corrections. He wore the medical alert bracelet due to a chronic heart problem.

The incident

At approximately 5 am, on November 19, 2011, Chamberlain was at home at 135 S. Lexington Avenue in White Plains, New York. His Life Aid medical alert device was triggered, sending an alert to a Life Alert Emergency Response customer service operator, who in turn called the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety. In response, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians were dispatched. At Chamberlain's home, police knocked on his door. Chamberlain opened the door, and told them he did not call them, did not require assistance, and was not having a medical emergency. Police refused to leave his home, and insisted that Chamberlain open the door. Throughout the entire incident, an audio recording was made by a Life Alert device in the home.

The police became more insistent, and began banging on the door. Chamberlain then contacted the Life Alert operator asking them for help. He stated that the White Plains Police employees were going to enter his home and kill him. The police continued to bang on the door, and then attempt to force it open for approximately one hour. During that time, officer Steven Hart swore at him and called him a "nigger."[1]

Upon breaking down his door, they entered Chamberlain's apartment. He was unarmed, and did not resist. Police tased him, and then officer Anthony Carelli shot and killed him. A camera mounted on the taser captured the tasing, but was not functioning during the shooting. [citation needed]

Autopsy

An autopsy conducted on November 21 revealed that one bullet hit Chamberlain sideways, passing through his right arm and then both lungs. The other bullet seems to have missed. The autopsy, performed by Westchester County Chief Medical Examiner Kunjlata Ashar, also revealed Taser burns on Chamberlain's neck and abdomen. There were no drugs in Chamberlain's body.[2]

Consequences

Grand Jury

A grand jury reviewed the case and decided that no criminal charge would be made against police officers involved in the killing. Because grand jury proceedings are secret in New York, the details of the case presented to this body are not known. Lawyers for the family suggest that the case may have been presented in a misleading or ineffective way and are therefore seeking other legal recourses, such as requesting a federal investigation or a possible civil suit.[3]

Police department review

White Plains mayor Thomas Roach has announced that he will bring in "outside experts to do a broad review of" policy for the city's police department.[4] The commission's chair will be Dr. Maria Haberfeld, a political science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the academic coordinator for New York's Executive Police Institute.[5][6]

Federal investigation

US Attorney Preet Bharara has announced that his office will investigate whether federal civil rights law was violated.

Allegations of racism

Accusations of racism have been leveled at both the police officers involved, and at law enforcement and justice systems that were reluctant to react. Chamberlain's son, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., discussed both issues with lawyer Mayo Bartlett on Democracy Now, highlighting the absurdity of policy shooting a person they were summoned to help, as well as the unusual delay in the grand jury investigation.[7] Chamberlain Jr. said "I wasn’t trying to turn this into any type of racially motivated killing, until we heard the audio"—in particular, Hart's use of the word "nigger."[1]

The officers

Local preacher Calvin O. Butts agreed, suggested that the Chamberlain killing is just one incident in a long series of killings caused partly by systemic racism.[8]

Randolph McLaughlin, the attorney for the Chamberlain family, has called particular attention to officer Steven Hart. Hart, who called Chamberlain a "nigger." Hart was sued in December 2011 for needlessly assaulting Edgar Maraud.[9]

Officer Anthony Carelli has also been accused of racist violence. He has been charged in federal court for using assaulting excessive force against two brothers he arrested in 2008. The Jordanian brothers say Carelli called them "rag heads" while he beat them inside the police precinct.[1]

White Plains Police Department

Lawyer Mayo Bartlett points out that the White Plains police system wrote their reports to cover up racism and wrongdoing by the officers. Their transcript of the incident omitted Hart's use of the word "nigger," as well as the information that the original call had been for a medical emergency.[1]

Parallels to killing of Trayvon Martin

Media outlets, including CNN, have connected the Chamberlain case to the shooting of Trayvon Martin.[10][11] Parallels extend to the unwillingness of police departments to investigate the killing of blacks, as well as the killings themselves.[12] People demonstrating against police brutality have cited the Chamberlain case as a grievance.[13]

Chamberlain Jr. says he was inspired by the petition circulated online by Martin's parents. "I signed Trayvon's petition, sat back and thought, 'Well, maybe I should do a petition.'" The petition received 208,000 signatures.[14]

References

[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]

  1. ^ a b c d Goodman, Amy (5 April 2012). "Exclusive: Cop in Fatal Shooting of Ex-Marine Kenneth Chamberlain ID'd, Sued in 2008 Racism Case". Democracy Now. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  2. ^ Gonzales, Juan (10 April 2012). "Former Marine shot by White Plains police died from bullet that entered arm and ripped through his lungs, autopsy reveals Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/marine-shot-white-plains-police-died-bullet-entered-arm-ripped-lungs-autopsy-reveals-article-1.1058986#ixzz1uMSK0RRe". New York Daily News. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  3. ^ Goodman, Amy (4 May 2012). "Kenneth Chamberlain's Family Seeks Lawsuit, Federal Probe as Grand Jury Rejects Charging Officers". Democracy Now. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  4. ^ Yang, Lucy (8 May 2012). "Chamberlain shooting prompts policy review". ABC Local. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. ^ Donnelly, Brian (7 May 2012). "Chamberlain Jr: Suspend Officers in Father's Death". The Daily Pleasantville. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Maria Haberfeld". Faculty Pages. John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  7. ^ Goodman, Amy (29 March 2012). "Killed at Home: White Plains, NY Police Called Out on Medical Alert Shoot Dead Black Veteran, 68". Democracy Now. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  8. ^ Chandler, D.L. (24 April 2012). "Police Shooting Of Ex-Marine Sparks Whispers Of Racism". NewsOne. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  9. ^ Liebson, Richard (20 April 2012). "Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. lawyer IDs officer who shouted slur before man's killing; cop previously accused of brutality". The Journal News. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  10. ^ CNN Wire Staff (16 April 2012). "New York shooting of elderly man draws parallels to Trayvon Martin case". CNN. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Harris, James (14 May 2012). "Other fights gather strength in wake of Trayvon Martin protests". The Militant. 76 (19). Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  12. ^ Nathaniel, Jerome (April 2012). "Kenneth Chamberlain Murder Points to Good Cop vs. Bad Cop Dillemma". PolicyMic. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Occupy Harlem: Saturday March Against Racism And Police Brutality". Black Star News. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  14. ^ Robles, Frances (4 May 2012). "Web petition drives revive scrutiny of killings". Press Herald. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  15. ^ http://www.lohud.com/article/20120411/NEWS/304110077/Kenneth-Chamberlain-autopsy-contradicts-police-family-lawyer-says?nclick_check=1
  16. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/03/justice/new-york-chamberlain-death/index.html
  17. ^ http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-04-04/news/31283015_1_official-police-version-grand-jury-cops
  18. ^ http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/326099/20120410/kenneth-chamberlain-police-racial-slurs-trayvon-martin.htm
  19. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/kenneth-chamberlain-sr-killed-white-plains-cops-da-grand-jury-marines_n_1403474.html
  20. ^ http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/4/family_of_kenneth_chamberlain_sr_seeks
  21. ^ http://www.thedailywhiteplains.com/tags/Kenneth-Chamberlain
  22. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/03/justice/new-york-chamberlain-death/index.html
  23. ^ http://www.thegrio.com/local/new-york/kenneth-chamberlains-shooter-cleared-of-all-charges.php
  24. ^ http://www.google.ca/search?q=kenneth+chamberlain&hl=en&newwindow=1&sa=N&prmd=imvnsuo&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&ei=nV2kT8GRC8e7iAfForW0Aw&ved=0CEMQqAIoADAB&biw=1440&bih=805
  25. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/kenneth-chamberlain-killing-white-plains-officer-anthony-carelli-cleared_n_1475618.html
  26. ^ http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/05/kenneth-chamberlain-white-plains-cops-cleared-grand-jury.html
  27. ^ http://globalgrind.com/news/no-indictment-police-killing-kenneth-chamberlain-video
  28. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124973/Police-Tasered-black-ex-Marine-Kenneth-Chamberlain-Sr-death-New-York.html
  29. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/05/echoes-trayvon-martin-kenneth-chamberlain-sr
  30. ^ http://signon.org/sign/justice-for-kenneth-chamberl
  31. ^ http://www.policymic.com/articles/7157/kenneth-chamberlain-murder-points-to-good-cop-vs-bad-cop-dillemma
  32. ^ http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-04-05/news/31296341_1_cops-early-morning-shooting-grand-jury
  33. ^ http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/kenneth-chamberlain-white-plains-police-shooting.html
  34. ^ http://www.nationofchange.org/exclusive-cop-killing-kenneth-chamberlain-id-d-sued-2008-racism-case-1333810276
  35. ^ http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/03/grand-jury-has-decision-in-white-plains-police-killing-of-kenneth-chamberlain/
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