Category Archives: Urban Impact

“NYPD detective indicted on perjury charges: DA”

Posted on April 25, 2019 by

Joseph Franco, a suspended NYPD detective, was indicted for perjury, official misconduct and filing false documents in connection with narcotic cases he was involved in between 2017 and 2018.  As a result of Franco’s perjury and related charges, three people … Continue reading →

Posted in ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles, Lest We Forget, Streets of Rage, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ham Sandwiches, Indictments, and Unjust Convictions

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

One of the fundamental problems of the U.S. criminal legal system is the nearly unfettered power of prosecutors to indict, so much so that Judge Learned Hand once quipped that a prosecutor could get a ham sandwich indicted.  (Note that … Continue reading →

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On this day in history, May 4, 1992 — Worst of Los Angeles Riots Ends

Posted on May 4, 2018 by

The 1992 Los Angeles Riots erupted on April 29, 1992, after police officers who were videotaped beating Rodney King, a black man, during a traffic stop were acquitted of criminal charges. Initially peaceful protests grew larger and turned violent, as … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, Lest We Forget, race, raising black boys, Revolution, Streets of Rage, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On this day in history, May 3, 1946 — Black Teen Survives Louisiana Electric Chair

Posted on May 3, 2018 by

In 1945, a black sixteen-year-old named Willie Francis was sentenced to death in St. Martinville, Louisiana. Willie was convicted of killing Andrew Thomas, a fifty-three-year-old Cajun pharmacist, and the case revealed many flaws in the state’s justice system: Willie’s jury … Continue reading →

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, race, raising black boys, Streets of Rage, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This day in history — April 7, 1712 — Enslaved People Revolt in New York City

Posted on April 7, 2018 by

In 1712, New York City had a large enslaved population and the city’s whites feared the threat of rebellion. Enslaved people in New York City suffered many of the same brutal punishments and methods of control faced by their counterparts … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, race, raising black boys, Slavery, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Line of Duty

Posted on October 28, 2015 by

The heroes are dead and nothing else matters Under a gray sky the women are dressed in black At the grave site hearing homilies paying homage to heroics Their sobs background music to pontificating politicians Under a gray sky the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioner Broken Windows, Commissioner William Bratton, crime, Justice Chronicles, Murder, NYPD, Poetry, police-involved killing, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latter-Day Heroes and the Drug War

Posted on October 28, 2015 by

There was a time when heroes Died on Holy Quests Nowadays they die For meaningless drug arrests Just fulfill the quota Undercover in the field “Buy and bust” the mission Awarded the Gold Shield Quasi-military honors If in battle die … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioner Broken Windows, Commissioner William Bratton, crime, Justice Chronicles, Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD, Poetry, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, urban decay, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment