Tell the Truth & Shame the Devil: The Life, Legacy, And Love of My Son Michael Brown, by Lezley McSpadden (Regan Arts, New York, NY, 2013, 254 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

Equal rights, fair play, justice are like the air; we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.

• Maya Angelou

August 21, 2016 (San Diego) - I feel honored and privileged to write this review of Lezley McSpadden’s book; Tell the Truth & Shame the Devil: The Life, Legacy, and Love of My Son Michael Brown. She and I actually have a lot in common, as we both were born in Missouri, me about 150 miles south of Ferguson in the bootheel, the small town of Charleston. Also, she bears a likeness to my sister Janet, also born in Charleston, mostly through their close set eyes and facial features.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Beanbag round and projectiles similar to those used to subdue kidnap suspect

December 11, 2014 (El Cajon )—“There’s a good chance that our police officers saved the lives of four kids today,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine, reflecting on the dramatic rescue of the  children for whom an Amber Alert had been issued. The body of their mother had been found in another vehicle and their abductor was their father, who was believed to be armed and dangerous.

Photo courtesy Times of San Diego

Update November 26, 2014:  Two protests were held last night in San Diego. A downtown rally was peaceful, but protesters in City Heights engaged in civil disobedience blocking a bridge; some bottles were hurled at police officers, UT San Diego report.  In Washington, President Obama called for calm after the jury verdict, but voiced concerns over the racial divide and mistrust of police, adding that despite strides made in civil rights, America still has a long way to go.

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2014 (San Diego)—A Grand Jury in Ferguson, Missouri announced Monday night that there will be no indictments against police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed African American teenager.  Jurors heard conflicting testimony from witnesses including some who said Wilson shot Brown when his hands were up as if to surrender, but others described Brown as confrontational and one witness claimed Brown charged at Officer Wilson, head down.

The verdict has prompted protests in cities across the nation.  California Campaign to End Police Terror has announced demonstrations statewide including a protest planned Monday night, November 25^th at 6 p.m. at the City Heights library, located at 3795 Fairmount Avenue in San Diego.

The Lynching of Cleo Wright, by Dominic J. Capeci, Jr. (The University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 1998, 274 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

August 25, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Terry Teachout, a New York Times critic, playwright, and inveterate blogger, and I have something in common. He and I were both born in the “bootheel” of Missouri, he in Sikeston and I in Charleston – in the area of one of the most tragic and heinous lynchings in the annals of America; the lynching of Cleo Wright. We both, also have weighed in on Dominic J. Capeci’s book; The Lynching of Cleo Wright, which has been described as “a creatively conceptualized anatomy of a lynching, and “Capeci places the lynching of Cleo Wright within the context of the city of Sikeston, the state of Missouri, and the nation.” This book should also be viewed in context with the ongoing furor and debate of Ferguson, Missouri and the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white policeman.

By Nadin Abbott

August 22, 2014 (San Diego)--Members of the community, including a coalition of Occupy groups, came to Balboa Park for an evening in support of people in Ferguson, Missouri after the police shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown there prompted outrage nationwide.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo posted at Wikipedia by Loaves of Bread under Creative Commons (attribution required)

August 17, 2014 (San Diego)--City Heights residents organized a “hands up” tribute late Thursday in San Diego as part of a nationwide event calling attention to the police shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Missouri. About 100 gathered, wearing red ribbons on their arms. They joined hands and held a moment of silence for all victims of police violence.