Elizabeth Jorgensen, Dem. Now 3/23

Elizabeth Jorgensen

Dr. Kubal/Dem. Now

3/24/14

Scott Olsen, U.S. Vet Nearly Killed by Police Beanbag at Occupy Oakland, Settles Lawsuit with City:

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/21/scott_olsen_us_vet_nearly_killed?autostart=true

The first video I watched discussed Scott Olsen’s settlement with the city of Oakland after being shot by a beanbag by police during a demonstration for Occupy. During an Occupy Oakland protest in 2011, Scott was shot in the head by a beanbag projectile leaving him in critical condition with a fractured skull. After shooting the beanbag police then deployed flash grenades at individuals attempting to assist Olsen, video of the protest went viral. Scott sued the Oakland Police Department and agreed to an undisclosed million dollar settlement. 

Scott Olsen has permanent brain damage to his right frontal lobe because of the police brutality in Oakland during the Occupy movement. Hopefully his lawsuit along with the string of others involving police action’s during this protest will urge the Oakland police department to change their ways of controlling a protest. 

Black, Latino Firefighters in New York City Settle Long-Running Suit over Racial Discrimination:

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/19/black_latino_firefighters_in_new_york

The second video I watched also dealt with a settlement, this one by the Black and Latino firefighter applicants of New York over racial discrimination. New York City’s fire department is known for being the worst with its’ absurdly low diversity, up until these suits filed back in 2007 it was dominated by 90% whites and has since dropped to 87%. 1,500 Black and Latino applicants received $100 million in back pays to those affected by this discrimination.  Issues were addressed on the unfairness behind the entrance exam questions and its’ relevance to the job. 

Under the $98 million dollar settlement that was reached, there are high hopes for change in the way New York City fire department recruits applicants. Quotas will be added as an added incentive to achieve this change. Hopefully these new attitudes will prompt ongoing change in racial problems within the fire department and there can be an equal representation of ethnicities within the job field.