Black Lives Matter-Ugliness of Racism.
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That's a citizenship requirement?!?!?!
Damn, that's one tough dress code. On the upside, pretty affordable.
As a Man of Westernesse, I guess you'd know. But all that flannel must get kinda hot in summer.
Ya silly Oklahomo, flannel is for winter unless you're a lesbian.
Family of a man crushed at an Atlanta homeless encampment sues the city
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Charlotte Kramon
Published Jul 19, 2025 • 3 minute read
Family members and activists protest the death of Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man killed when the city cleared an encampment last week, in front of City Hall in Atlanta on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Family members and activists protest the death of Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man killed when the city cleared an encampment last week, in front of City Hall in Atlanta on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Photo by Arvin Temkar /AP
ATLANTA — The family of a homeless man who died after a bulldozer crushed his tent during an encampment sweep sued the city of Atlanta on Friday over his death, calling it “tragic and preventable.”
The lawsuit filed by Cornelius Taylor’s sister and son alleges that city employees failed to look to see if there was anyone inside the tents in the encampment before using a bulldozer to clear it. Taylor, 46, was inside one of the tents and was crushed by the truck when his tent was flattened, the lawsuit says.
City officials had called for the clearing of the encampment in preparation for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The encampment was blocks away from Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. An autopsy report later revealed Taylor’s pelvic bone had been broken and that he suffered damage to organs and internal bleeding.
“A tent that was occupied by a human being was crushed by this heavy equipment. That’s obviously wrong,” attorney Harold Spence said. “Nobody looked inside the tent, and if someone who looked inside had taken 10 seconds to do so, this tragedy could have been averted. And if you don’t know what’s inside, you don’t crush it.”
The lawsuit filed in Fulton County State Court asks for a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages, as well as repayment for medical expenses, funeral costs and legal fees. It was filed against the city and seven unnamed city employees, including the driver of the bulldozer.
A spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement “the incident involving Mr. Taylor was a tragedy” but that he could not comment on pending litigation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that cities across the country can enforce bans on homeless camping. But clearings are controversial.
Taylor’s death sparked outrage among local advocates and neighbors at the encampment, who called the city’s policies on clearing encampments deeply inhumane. They said the city faces a dire affordable housing shortage that makes it inevitable that people will end up living on the streets. The family’s lawyers described the lawsuit as a call for city leaders to treat homeless people as deserving of “respect and dignity” instead of rushing to clear their communities “as if they were invisible.”
City officials have said they are doing that. Right after Taylor’s death, the city put a temporary moratorium on encampment sweeps. With the FIFA World Cup coming to Atlanta next year, the city has since resumed clearing encampments with the controversial goal of eliminating all homelessness in the downtown area before then.
Last week, the city closed the camp where Taylor lived and said officials coordinated with the local nonprofit who leads the city’s homelessness services to offer people living there housing with supportive services.
Lawyers said they were grateful for the city’s efforts, but more work is needed. Members of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition said they are still paying for hotel rooms for eight former encampment residents. Taylor’s lawyers and family called on Dickens’ administration cut through red tape such as issues with documents and help the others get housing.
Taylor’s sister Darlene Chaney teared up during a Friday news conference where lawyers announced the lawsuit as she re-listened to descriptions of the gruesome injuries her brother suffered.
She said Taylor loved to read everything from science fiction to the Bible. He was eager to leave the encampment to rebuild his life, and stayed positive about his future even as barriers such as getting him an ID slowed that process down, she said. She misses his “annoying” weekly calls — and said now she only has one brother to annoy her. She misses having two.
“We’re here, just because someone, in my own personal opinion, was lazy,” Chaney said.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Charlotte Kramon
Published Jul 19, 2025 • 3 minute read
Family members and activists protest the death of Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man killed when the city cleared an encampment last week, in front of City Hall in Atlanta on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Family members and activists protest the death of Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man killed when the city cleared an encampment last week, in front of City Hall in Atlanta on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Photo by Arvin Temkar /AP
ATLANTA — The family of a homeless man who died after a bulldozer crushed his tent during an encampment sweep sued the city of Atlanta on Friday over his death, calling it “tragic and preventable.”
The lawsuit filed by Cornelius Taylor’s sister and son alleges that city employees failed to look to see if there was anyone inside the tents in the encampment before using a bulldozer to clear it. Taylor, 46, was inside one of the tents and was crushed by the truck when his tent was flattened, the lawsuit says.
City officials had called for the clearing of the encampment in preparation for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The encampment was blocks away from Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King had preached. An autopsy report later revealed Taylor’s pelvic bone had been broken and that he suffered damage to organs and internal bleeding.
“A tent that was occupied by a human being was crushed by this heavy equipment. That’s obviously wrong,” attorney Harold Spence said. “Nobody looked inside the tent, and if someone who looked inside had taken 10 seconds to do so, this tragedy could have been averted. And if you don’t know what’s inside, you don’t crush it.”
The lawsuit filed in Fulton County State Court asks for a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages, as well as repayment for medical expenses, funeral costs and legal fees. It was filed against the city and seven unnamed city employees, including the driver of the bulldozer.
A spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement “the incident involving Mr. Taylor was a tragedy” but that he could not comment on pending litigation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that cities across the country can enforce bans on homeless camping. But clearings are controversial.
Taylor’s death sparked outrage among local advocates and neighbors at the encampment, who called the city’s policies on clearing encampments deeply inhumane. They said the city faces a dire affordable housing shortage that makes it inevitable that people will end up living on the streets. The family’s lawyers described the lawsuit as a call for city leaders to treat homeless people as deserving of “respect and dignity” instead of rushing to clear their communities “as if they were invisible.”
City officials have said they are doing that. Right after Taylor’s death, the city put a temporary moratorium on encampment sweeps. With the FIFA World Cup coming to Atlanta next year, the city has since resumed clearing encampments with the controversial goal of eliminating all homelessness in the downtown area before then.
Last week, the city closed the camp where Taylor lived and said officials coordinated with the local nonprofit who leads the city’s homelessness services to offer people living there housing with supportive services.
Lawyers said they were grateful for the city’s efforts, but more work is needed. Members of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition said they are still paying for hotel rooms for eight former encampment residents. Taylor’s lawyers and family called on Dickens’ administration cut through red tape such as issues with documents and help the others get housing.
Taylor’s sister Darlene Chaney teared up during a Friday news conference where lawyers announced the lawsuit as she re-listened to descriptions of the gruesome injuries her brother suffered.
She said Taylor loved to read everything from science fiction to the Bible. He was eager to leave the encampment to rebuild his life, and stayed positive about his future even as barriers such as getting him an ID slowed that process down, she said. She misses his “annoying” weekly calls — and said now she only has one brother to annoy her. She misses having two.
“We’re here, just because someone, in my own personal opinion, was lazy,” Chaney said.
Family of a man crushed at an Atlanta homeless encampment sues the city
Cornelius Taylor's family alleges city employees failed to look to see if there was anyone inside the tents before sending in a bulldozer.
Ex-officer who mistook Black man’s keys and phone for gun gets 15 years to life for murder
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Andre Hill four times in a garage in December 2020
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Jul 28, 2025 • 2 minute read
This image from video provided by WSYX/WTTE shows former Columbus police officer Adam Coy, who is accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cell phone and keys, during his trial, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE via AP, File)
This image from video provided by WSYX/WTTE shows former Columbus police officer Adam Coy, who is accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cell phone and keys, during his trial, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE via AP, File) AP
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Ohio police officer convicted of murder in the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cellphone and keys when he was killed, was given a mandatory sentence Monday of 15 years to life.
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Hill four times in a garage in December 2020, as the country reckoned with a series of police killings of Black men, women and children. He told jurors that he feared for his life because he thought Hill was holding a silver revolver.
Coy, who is being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma, told the court Monday he plans to appeal the verdict.
“I feel my actions were justified,” Coy said. “I reacted the same way I had in hundreds of training scenarios. I drew and fired my weapon to stop a threat, protect myself and my partner.”
Prosecutors said Hill followed police commands and was never a threat to Coy.
In victim impact statements Monday, Hill’s sisters and ex-wife described the 47-year-old as a gentle man who had never met a stranger. His grandchildren called him “Big Daddy.”
Police body camera footage showed Hill coming out of the garage of a friend’s house holding up a cellphone in his left hand, his right hand not visible, seconds before he was fatally shot. Almost 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene rendered aid.
Coy, who was fired afterward, had a lengthy history of citizen complaints, although most were declared unfounded. Weeks later, the mayor forced out the police chief after a series of fatal police shootings of Black people.
Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, and the city passed a law requiring police to give immediate medical attention to injured suspects.
The local Fraternal Order of Police chapter said it would continue to support Coy, for both his sake and that of every officer who “acts in good faith” under department protocols.
“While this incident was a heart-rending mistake, it wasn’t murder,” said Brian Steel, president of FOP Capital City Lodge 9.
torontosun.com
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Andre Hill four times in a garage in December 2020
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Jul 28, 2025 • 2 minute read
This image from video provided by WSYX/WTTE shows former Columbus police officer Adam Coy, who is accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cell phone and keys, during his trial, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE via AP, File)
This image from video provided by WSYX/WTTE shows former Columbus police officer Adam Coy, who is accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cell phone and keys, during his trial, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE via AP, File) AP
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Ohio police officer convicted of murder in the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cellphone and keys when he was killed, was given a mandatory sentence Monday of 15 years to life.
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Hill four times in a garage in December 2020, as the country reckoned with a series of police killings of Black men, women and children. He told jurors that he feared for his life because he thought Hill was holding a silver revolver.
Coy, who is being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma, told the court Monday he plans to appeal the verdict.
“I feel my actions were justified,” Coy said. “I reacted the same way I had in hundreds of training scenarios. I drew and fired my weapon to stop a threat, protect myself and my partner.”
Prosecutors said Hill followed police commands and was never a threat to Coy.
In victim impact statements Monday, Hill’s sisters and ex-wife described the 47-year-old as a gentle man who had never met a stranger. His grandchildren called him “Big Daddy.”
Police body camera footage showed Hill coming out of the garage of a friend’s house holding up a cellphone in his left hand, his right hand not visible, seconds before he was fatally shot. Almost 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene rendered aid.
Coy, who was fired afterward, had a lengthy history of citizen complaints, although most were declared unfounded. Weeks later, the mayor forced out the police chief after a series of fatal police shootings of Black people.
Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, and the city passed a law requiring police to give immediate medical attention to injured suspects.
The local Fraternal Order of Police chapter said it would continue to support Coy, for both his sake and that of every officer who “acts in good faith” under department protocols.
“While this incident was a heart-rending mistake, it wasn’t murder,” said Brian Steel, president of FOP Capital City Lodge 9.
Ex-officer who mistook Black man’s keys and phone for gun gets 15 years to life for murder
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Andre Hill four times in a garage in December 2020
Grand jury declines to indict former Atlanta police officer in church deacon’s death
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jeff Amy
Published Aug 04, 2025 • 2 minute read
This image from bodycam video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Johnny Hollman Sr. speaking with Officer Kiran Kimbrough on Aug. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)
This image from bodycam video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Johnny Hollman Sr. speaking with Officer Kiran Kimbrough on Aug. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. (Atlanta Police Department via AP) AP
ATLANTA — A grand jury on Monday declined to indict an former Atlanta police officer on manslaughter charges in the death of a church deacon who died in a struggle with the officer following a minor car crash.
After hearing the case, Fulton County grand jurors rejected criminal charges against Kiran Kimbrough, said Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Johnny Hollman Sr. died in August 2023 after he refused to sign a citation following a wreck. Family members said the 62-year-old Hollman was driving home from Bible study at his daughter’s house and taking dinner to his wife when he collided with another vehicle while turning across a busy street just west of downtown.
Body camera video of Hollman’s arrest shows Kimbrough repeatedly demanding that Hollman sign the citation, while Hollman insists he did nothing wrong. The two men tussled and Hollman ended up face down on the ground with Kimbrough over him, pressing him down. Holloman repeatedly says “I can’t breathe,” and Kimbrough uses a Taser to shock him repeatedly. The video also shows a tow truck driver helping Kimbrough.
Hollman became unresponsive and was declared dead at a hospital. An autopsy determined the death was a homicide, with heart disease also a contributing factor.
Lance LoRusso, who represents Kimbrough, said prosecutors sought to indict his client for one count of manslaughter, one count of simple battery and three counts of violating his oath of office. Kimbrough testified before the grand jury, as is an officer’s right under state law, LoRusso said.
“While Johnny Hollman’s death was tragic, in no way did Kiran Kimbrough cause the death,” LoRusso said in a statement Monday. “Johnny Hollman’s death was caused by medical complications and his felonious, unlawful resistance of a uniformed officer performing his lawful duties.”
DiSantis said Willis is conferring with prosecutors and investigators about whether to ask a new grand jury to indict Kimbrough.
Hollman’s family members have repeatedly called for the former officer to be criminally charged.
A statement from lawyers attributed to the family said they were “devastated” by the grand jury’s decision not to indict.
“The failure to hold this officer accountable is another painful reminder of how little value is placed on his life by some citizens,” the statement said. “Our faith and our fight for justice will not waver.”
Atlanta officials fired Kimbrough, saying he should have agreed to Hollman’s request to speak to a supervisor. A civil service board upheld the firing, and the Atlanta City Council agreed to settle a lawsuit by Hollman’s family alleging excessive force for $3.8 million. The family also sued the tow truck driver and his employer, saying the driver straddled Hollman’s head and neck for at least 20 seconds and appeared to “sit with his full body weight” on Hollman’s head and neck while Kimbrough handcuffed Hollman.
Atlanta and some other police departments have enacted policies saying that officers should no longer arrest people who refused to sign citations. State lawmakers passed a bill that would have enacted such a policy statewide earlier this year, but Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed it because he opposed a provision unrelated to collecting signatures from people named on citations.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jeff Amy
Published Aug 04, 2025 • 2 minute read
This image from bodycam video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Johnny Hollman Sr. speaking with Officer Kiran Kimbrough on Aug. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)
This image from bodycam video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Johnny Hollman Sr. speaking with Officer Kiran Kimbrough on Aug. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. (Atlanta Police Department via AP) AP
ATLANTA — A grand jury on Monday declined to indict an former Atlanta police officer on manslaughter charges in the death of a church deacon who died in a struggle with the officer following a minor car crash.
After hearing the case, Fulton County grand jurors rejected criminal charges against Kiran Kimbrough, said Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Johnny Hollman Sr. died in August 2023 after he refused to sign a citation following a wreck. Family members said the 62-year-old Hollman was driving home from Bible study at his daughter’s house and taking dinner to his wife when he collided with another vehicle while turning across a busy street just west of downtown.
Body camera video of Hollman’s arrest shows Kimbrough repeatedly demanding that Hollman sign the citation, while Hollman insists he did nothing wrong. The two men tussled and Hollman ended up face down on the ground with Kimbrough over him, pressing him down. Holloman repeatedly says “I can’t breathe,” and Kimbrough uses a Taser to shock him repeatedly. The video also shows a tow truck driver helping Kimbrough.
Hollman became unresponsive and was declared dead at a hospital. An autopsy determined the death was a homicide, with heart disease also a contributing factor.
Lance LoRusso, who represents Kimbrough, said prosecutors sought to indict his client for one count of manslaughter, one count of simple battery and three counts of violating his oath of office. Kimbrough testified before the grand jury, as is an officer’s right under state law, LoRusso said.
“While Johnny Hollman’s death was tragic, in no way did Kiran Kimbrough cause the death,” LoRusso said in a statement Monday. “Johnny Hollman’s death was caused by medical complications and his felonious, unlawful resistance of a uniformed officer performing his lawful duties.”
DiSantis said Willis is conferring with prosecutors and investigators about whether to ask a new grand jury to indict Kimbrough.
Hollman’s family members have repeatedly called for the former officer to be criminally charged.
A statement from lawyers attributed to the family said they were “devastated” by the grand jury’s decision not to indict.
“The failure to hold this officer accountable is another painful reminder of how little value is placed on his life by some citizens,” the statement said. “Our faith and our fight for justice will not waver.”
Atlanta officials fired Kimbrough, saying he should have agreed to Hollman’s request to speak to a supervisor. A civil service board upheld the firing, and the Atlanta City Council agreed to settle a lawsuit by Hollman’s family alleging excessive force for $3.8 million. The family also sued the tow truck driver and his employer, saying the driver straddled Hollman’s head and neck for at least 20 seconds and appeared to “sit with his full body weight” on Hollman’s head and neck while Kimbrough handcuffed Hollman.
Atlanta and some other police departments have enacted policies saying that officers should no longer arrest people who refused to sign citations. State lawmakers passed a bill that would have enacted such a policy statewide earlier this year, but Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed it because he opposed a provision unrelated to collecting signatures from people named on citations.
Grand jury declines to indict former Atlanta police officer in church deacon’s death
A grand jury on Monday declined to indict an former Atlanta police officer on manslaughter charges in the death of a church deacon.