Everett Palmer, an Army vet, died in police custody and some organs are missing

He wanted to resolve an outstanding DUI warrant from an incident in 2016 in Pennsylvania to make sure his license was valid for the drive to see his family.

…On April 9, 2018, two days later, the family was told that Palmer had died in police custody at the York County Prison. Fourteen months later, the Palmers say they still don’t know what really happened. But they are suspicious because when Palmer’s body was returned to them, his throat, heart and brain were missing.

“This entire case smacks of a cover-up.”

…An initial autopsy by the York County Coroner’s Office stated Palmer died after an incident “following an excited state” during which he “began hitting his head against the inside of his cell door” and was restrained. The report says Palmer became agitated as a result of “methamphetamine toxicity.” A probable “sickling red cell disorder” as listed as a contributing factor.

…”He would have had to receive (the meth) in the jail itself. We don’t believe that happened,” Merritt said.

Palmer’s body was returned to his family, but it was only after the family hired their own independent forensic pathologist that they discovered Palmer’s body was missing three body parts.

“It’s not unusual to take organs out of a body during an autopsy, especially if you believe they were subject to trauma. The highly unusual part is to misplace them,” Merritt said.

…They were later told by the coroner that the body parts were at an independent lab. However, the lab, Merritt says, has refused to hand over the parts, citing an ongoing investigation.

…[York County District Attorney’s Office] did not answer when asked why, more than one year after Palmer’s death, there is still no official determination about his cause of death.

…”If he was being processed for something that he did wrong in terms of the DUI — he should be held accountable for that — but it shouldn’t be a death sentence, certainly inside of a jail,” his brother added. “We know that there are good people in that prison system. We appeal to them to come forward and share what they know.”

Everett Palmer, an Army vet, died in police custody and some organs are missing – CNN

A few things…

Sickle cell  was part of what made him hit his own head against the wall? WTF?! If you were going to lie on an official document, why would you slip in a completely unscientific and racist trope????!

Also, Sorry Mr. Palmer, if no one has come forward in a year, then you can be sure there are no good people working in that prison system. None. Period. You can also be sure that it seems like at least the ones involved in his brother’s case should be in jail for murder and fraud.

Border Patrol Kicked, Punched Migrant Children, Threatened Some With Sexual Abuse, ACLU Alleges

Mitra Ebadolahi, ACLU Border Litigation Project staff attorney, said the allegations describe a law enforcement system “marked by brutality and lawlessness.” The organization also accused Border Protection officials of failing to “meaningfully investigate” the allegations detailed in the public records.

…“The misconduct demonstrated in these records is breathtaking, as is the government’s complete failure to hold officials who abuse their power accountable.”

Border Patrol Kicked, Punched Migrant Children, Threatened Some With Sexual Abuse, ACLU Alleges

This was existing culture before things were ramped up….

Extending ‘Zero Tolerance’ To People Who Help Migrants Along The Border : NPR

[Warren] believes the government is violating his right to religious freedom by criminalizing his spiritual belief that mandates he help people in distress.

“For the government, it’s kind of been an expansion of the interpretation of what it means to harbor,” he suggested.

…Thousands have died of dehydration and exposure in the Arizona borderlands.

“It is life or death here. And a decision not to give somebody food or or water could lead to that person dying,” Warren said.

*****

…Under current law, once a migrant steps onto U.S. soil, he or she can request asylum. [But….]

Extending ‘Zero Tolerance’ To People Who Help Migrants Along The Border : NPR

sigh…

After Felony Conviction, Iraq War Veteran Faces Deportation To Mexico

In one incident last year, he pointed a handgun at his domestic partner; in a second incident, he punched her. She pressed charges. Baltazar was found guilty of “aggravated assault on a family member with a deadly weapon.”

Because he served in Iraq, his case was moved to a special county court for veterans. There, he received a deferred sentence.

Things were going well. Baltazar was attending counseling sessions and passing drug and alcohol tests. In February, he drove across the border to Reynosa, Mexico, to see a nephew fight in a boxing match. The veterans court had approved the trip. But when he tried to return to Hidalgo, Texas, federal agents on the international bridge checked his record, spotted the felony and took him into custody.

After Felony Conviction, Iraq War Veteran Faces Deportation To Mexico : NPR

hmmmm

Botched family reunifications left migrant children waiting in vans overnight

But when the children, all between 5 and 12 years old, arrived at Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s adults-only Port Isabel Detention Center, rather than seeing their parents, they saw a parking lot full of vans just like theirs, with children from other facilities who, just like them, were waiting to be processed and reunified with their parents.

Not until 39 hours later — after two nights in a van — did the last child step out of a van to be reunited. 

…There was no one present to greet the arriving children and they were not equipped to process them in a parking lot.

…ICE told BCFS staff that if the children returned to Harlingen, they would be further delayed in seeing their parents. The children began to sleep in the vans.

Botched family reunifications left migrant children waiting in vans overnight

Are you fucking kidding me???!
We remove children from their parent’s homes for less.
The officers involved belong in jail.

Leah Chase, whose restaurant Dooky Chase’s helped change New Orleans, dies at 96

“African-Americans didn’t have restaurants like that to go to. When I came here, I said, ‘We’ve got to change things,’” said Chase. ”Growing up, mother always kept nice things for company. Nice glasses, nice things. That’s how we look at it here. Everybody who comes through that front door is my company. People deserve that.”

Leah Chase, whose restaurant Dooky Chase’s helped change New Orleans, dies at 96 | Food/Restaurants | theadvocate.com

RIP

In 2018 A Utah student was wearing a Tongan ta’ovala cloth under his graduation gown. A school administrator told him he had to take it off — or he couldn’t walk across the stage.

A Utah student was wearing a Tongan ta’ovala cloth under his graduation gown. A school administrator told him he had to take it off — or he couldn’t walk across the stage. – The Salt Lake Tribune

oy…

A White Campground Employee In Mississippi Pulled A Gun On A Black Couple Trying To Have A Picnic

A White Campground Employee In Mississippi Pulled A Gun On A Black Couple Trying To Have A Picnic

Jeezus….

Although it is super depressing to read these stories it is heartening to see so many of the self-important, racist assholes who try and use laws and regulations to put people of color down shamed and outed for all to see.