I write a lot of diaries. Some are on topics that fade from the headlines and then I don't think to follow up on them. So I'm trying to remedy that.
Today, in the 2nd of a series (here's the first part) I revisit a set of five topics it behooved me after a review of past diaries to inquire "whatever happened to?"
I begin with the relatively recent tragic story of a mentally ill man shot and killed. I end with promising developments in freedom and equality. You can click on a headline link to go to the corresponding original diary.
I found
an undated picture of Brian Claunch, the man who was killed. From the accompanying article:
The FBI has now become involved as new details have emerged about an incident where a Houston police officer shot and killed a mentally ill, disabled man. Police say 45-year-old Brian Claunch, who was in a wheelchair and had one arm and one leg, allegedly threatened, then attempted to stab another officer with a ballpoint pen...
Also, more information on the police officer, Matthew Marin, has come to light. (It was already known that he had been involved in a previous fatal shooting).
... Marin was also named as one of three officers involved in the alleged assault against Marvin Driver, the father of Green Bay Packers player, Donald Driver in 2008.
There's no info about in what capacity, or why, the FBI has become involved. The most recent article I've found is from some Russian radio website and is dated September 25th; it has
this sickening tidbit:
The owner of the group home John Garcia:
"He wanted sodas at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and he kept insisting, he got aggressive, so I just called 911."
As far as I can determine, the law is now in effect, although I haven't seen reports of anyone being called in to ICE, let alone handed over to them for deportation.
Legal challenges continue...
... the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) filed an appeal last week with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to enjoin enforcement of that harsh provision.
Also, an interesting statement from an ICE spokesperson:
"...Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials in Arizona have been directed not to respond to requests from state and local police officers for assistance in enforcing immigration laws unless the individual or individuals in question meet DHS' enforcement priorities," said Amber Cargile, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in a statement. "Those priorities include convicted criminals, individuals who have previously been removed from the United States and recent border crossers."
This is an interesting Q&A about the law with the Chief of Police in Flagstaff, Arizona. Here's one question and answer from the piece.
Q: What change will enforcement of provisions in SB1070 now in force bring to the Flagstaff PD procedures on traffic stops and other detentions?
A: ... this means when an officer has stopped, detained or arrested a person based upon establishing reasonable suspicion a crime or traffic violation has occurred and during this contact, they develop separate reasonable suspicion the person is an undocumented alien, the officer will make an inquiry with ICE to determine whether ICE has information revealing that person is in the U.S. illegally. Officers will not be stopping or detaining persons based solely on their immigration status, and the Flagstaff Police Department will not tolerate officers stopping an individual based upon their race, color or national original, in other words, racially profiling.
Officers will not detain a person any longer than it would take to normally complete the stop or investigation, which means if ICE does not respond in that amount of time, the individual will be released if probable cause has not been developed to believe they have committed a crime other than an immigration violation. Officers will not be investigating the immigration status of individuals who are witnesses or victims of a crime, or who have contacted the police department to file a complaint.
The attitude of other police chiefs and sheriffs in Arizona might, of course, be different. Especially that of Sheriff Arpaio. But you knew that already.
I wrote in that essay
When I typed 'Norm Rousseau suicide' or 'Norman Rousseau foreclosure' into Google News I got nothing. Maybe you can help make that change.
Nothing has changed. There are still no Google news or search references to this story that I can find. And Norm Rousseau is still dead.
My diary also said
The eviction didn't actually happen today; apparently there is a shred of humanity left in someone at Wells Fargo, because it has been postponed...
but if it has happened, is yet to happen or has been cancelled it is impossible for me to say.
She has not been reinstated, and the Boy Scouts
recommitted themselves to their abhorrent no-gays policy back in July.
But there's this:
The mom who was thrown out as a boy scout leader because of her sexual orientation may have the last word.
Jennifer Tyrrell of Bridgeport is now out of scouting, but her story may go worldwide.
She is one of several gay individuals being featured in a documentary called "Second Class Citizens."
Also,
the petition to have her reinstated gathered over 330,000 signatures. Not bad.
Unlike Australia, which has had pretty much nothing but depressing news on the marriage equality front of late, New Zealand's pursuit of same-sex marriage legislation has had some success.
By a vote of 80-40, New Zealand's Parliament approved the first reading of marriage equality legislation at the end of August.
It still has a long way to go. It must now go to committee for review and study, and then will come back to Parliament for second and third readings. You can even submit a comment, once you get past the Captcha.
Tuesday September 11, 11am: The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment bill will head to the government administration select committee for the first time on Wednesday. More details here.
Monday September 17, 9am: The select committee is now inviting submissions on the marriage (defintion of marriage) bill. The deadline is October 26, and you can even do it online if that’s your style. Go here.
No one knows if the initial support to consider the bill will translate into enough votes for final passage, but there is at least a reasonable chance given the overwhelming (2/3rds in favor) preliminary vote total.
The New Zealand Parliament is not likely to take final votes on the bill until sometime next year.
Polling has consistently shown significant support for same-sex marriage, often a majority, not just a plurality. The most recent New Zealand poll I've seen had 49% in "full support", 32% opposed, and 15% who did not care either way.