Artist Robert Trujillo holds his son Saja Duchicela-Trujillo in front of a mural of Trayvon Martin he is working on at the Youth Radio Building in Oakland, Calif. Trujillo is with the group “Trust Your Struggle,” an artist collective in the Bay Area.
The Department of Justice and FBI agreed Thursday to review thousands of cases in which hair sample analysis methods that modern scientific assessments have deemed deeply flawed may have led to countless wrongful convictions. More than 120 convictions have already been reported as suspicious, including 27 death penalty convictions, according to the Washington Post.
The DOJ and FBI began their investigation after three men whose cases involved flawed microscopic hair analysis were later exonerated by DNA evidence. In May, evidence of these flaws spared Willie Manning from execution by mere hours, although his DNA has not yet been tested. The FBI began reviewing a few hundred cases, but notified only prosecutors of flaws, with the Department of Justice claiming they were not required to inform defendants or their lawyers. In more than half of the 250 cases in which errors were initially identified, prosecutors never contacted defendants to inform them of the potentially exonerating evidence. The DOJ since expanded its review to involve thousands of older cases from the 1980s and 1990s.
There has just been so much cleaning, or clearing, up that this admin has been involved in, it boggles the mind how they keep standing and doing their work with focus day after day!
It just boggles my mind. Other administrations must have just swept this under the rug…because, you know….they really didn’t care much about rights…they had wars to wage in the name of freedom, and other people’s money to spend. So glad that this finally getting some attention that it deserves. I’m grateful every day.
Eric Holder is turning into the best Attorney General of all time. He’s relentless in the pursuit of justice and he takes no nonsense. No wonder he’s feared by the right. I’m so proud to have him heading the Justice Department, which has so often operated as a travesty of its name.
Hi jackiegrumbacher. Your comment is so true. I could go on and on about the hard work that the DOJ is doing under the brilliant leadership of AG Eric Holder. I will leave it at that, but I will continue to lift AG Eric Holder and his Department of Justice up in my daily prayers and meditation. He will continue to do his job to absolutely be “the best Attorney General of all time.” HZ
This is not going to be an honest discussion of race & justice. Just by looking at the guest list – I predict it will be nothing but another VAPID OBAMA BASH FEST. Please boycott.
What’s funny is that Smiley will bash Obama more than Steele. I don’t even think Steele will bash PBO. Smiley will definitely put responsibility on Obama’s WH and will most likely present another version of his yearly scam conference to have elites sit around and talk about race.
back in the day….WDAS RADIO would have put a call out io the community and the response would have been tremendous…there were grass roots politicians who would have led the charge……that was not the case today…Philly has loss a lot of that..it is time to regain it….
It’s obvious that this is being done because they know that Tavis is going to say something negative and controversial about PBO. They read his tweet yesterday and went running to get him on that show. I swear I wish the President supporters would stop watching that filth permanently so that NBC would be forced to do something about it. David Gregory is pathetic and yet MTP still gets their 3 million viewers every single week. It makes me sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For real, and too many folks still swear Travesty has some meaning. Not. My local am talk radio is fundraising again, and I already told them I cannot join its membership so long as they run him at 10 am each Saturday, and he and the Butthead on Sundays. No way, no how. Philly rally was good today.
WURD runs them? Didn’t know that, I only listen to Rev Al and sometimes Nick Taliffero. Just did a membership on Monday, going to have to cancel that charge.
Yes Alycee, and I emailed Sarah Lomax-Reese last year about it. She also said, just about a month ago, that black folk should have the right to criticize PBO, and that maybe PBO “isn’t” speaking up for black folk, as he is with other groups (she referenced what some minister complained about PBO). And Nick a short while ago reiterated that he’s not a die-hard PBO fan for some unknown reason. A few on that station have played the emo meme on PBO, so no, they will never get my money.
Tavis just want to come up there to attack POTUS. Other then that he has nothing to say. Why not just have the man who fought his whole for civil rights, John Lewis. Steele and Smiley ain’t worth listening too.
I was concerned when it got to be close to noon and the crowd was sparse because the temps were nearing 90 degrees and I feared that people didn’t want to come out in the scorching heat but folks started filing in there like crazy right about the time the event began. It swelled to nearly 1000 people (by some reports). You all read here that I love Joe Madison who some of you see on MSNBC at times. He is a radio talk show host on Sirus Radio and he was his usual brilliant self. The infamous Dick Gregory was there and very inspirational. The youth leaders from the NationalActionNetwork were simply phenomenal and to end the event with us all singing (hand-to-hand) we shall overcome brought me to tears.
There were calls to action on the stand your ground laws around the country. Talk of the boycotts of the cities that have these laws and the importance of using this moment to create a movement to vote these people who don’t have our best interest out of office next year.
All in all it was another one of those memorable days that I’ll always cherish.
Now, I’m off to get a nice cold banana-strawberry smoothie and cool off.
Thought you might get a kick out of this. Was followed by someone who belongs to Unite Blue. On his description he had the line “#UniteBlue but Obama’s got to change too.” Needless to say, I blocked his ass. Really, look at my Tweets and what makes anyone think I’d let someone like that in my TL?
Hey LL,
How was your Birthday yesterday? We gossiped here extensively about you and debated just how sober you would be or not. How many gimlets did you down? Did you tell the Missus? Inquiring minds want to know
Hey TODers! I just walked home from the rally downtown; very inspiring and unifying. Several mentioned the President’s speech yesterday and the main message from the rally was we have to Stand Up and be counted which means VOTE! One of the speakers said that African American participation in the last election here was 65% which is not bad but it needs to be higher.
There is also going to be a big push for a nationwide boycott of Florida until they change their SYG law and also a big push for a nationwide rally in DC.
Poster from Chicago rally is now in my high rise window. J Jackson pushing for nationwide boycott of FL. pic.twitter.com/fIiGTK113b
Layla, I love you madly. But that image just made me sick to my stomach.
He and Mrs. Helmet Head are two images I am grateful are out of sight/out of mind.
I think about that white jury, and how they could not fine a ounce of compassion for Trayvon’s Mother, specially that juror B-37. I listen to Trayvon’s Mother on Nancy Grace Friday night talking about when she learn of her son’s death. All I know is after listening to her I had such compassion and respect for that lady, Sabrina Fulton.
This is one teary day. All these beautiful beings who have to protest their own worth. Does anyone know if there’s a way to post tweets on FB if you’re not on twitter?
The absolute worst thing about the rehab facility where I am staying is the food. Today’s dinner is turkey burger. It looked like a liver pate that someone sat on. Looked NOTHING like a turkey burger. NO-THING! Ugh! I sent it back and got the alternative meal which is a sandwich of white bread and a processed meat that tastes like bologna and looks like turkey. Oy Vey!
I complained about the hospital food too but at least it was REAL food. Sometimes over/undercooked but it was REAL food.
GB, is there any chance you could order in a pizza or something or have a friend sneak one in for you. I’m so hoping you get to go to your mom’s soon and enjoy whatever treats you like.
Hmmm….pizza pizza. The facility allows delivery but because of delivery minimums and limited storage options here (refrigerator only 24 hours) the food will go to waste.
It’s possible but as I told others above, it goes to waste.
There’s a really good market near here that I ordered from last night. Got some items that don’t need to be refrigerated. Will have to check their site more thoroughly for some more options.
Hey GB, hope you are progressing quickly so you can get out of there! Is it possible to get takeout or ask one of the staff to get you something on the outside….Bless you, as always!
It’s possible to order out. I’ve done it before but ended up wasting it. There’s a minimum to get delivery AND to use a debit card so I end up having to order more food than needed and just goes to waste.
Hopefully I’ll be only be here another 2-3 weeks. I think I said that 2-3 weeks ago though. LOL!!
Regret you are facing a challenge such as this, gb. Good nutrition is essential for you as you recover. If you DM me your name & the address of the place, I’ll find a place with good food and have them deliver it to you – my treat – if the facility allows this to be done. Obviously, I won’t share your contact info with anyone.
Thanks for the offer Bob 🙂 . There are good food places nearby that deliver and I’ve ordered out before. Thing is, my appetite is small and the food just gets wasted. There is a fridge here but it’s only 24 hours.
The Obama Diary 
hi
Black life matters, you better believe it does.
This picture breaks my heart…..
Gorgeous image Chips! Thank you!
IMPORTANT. Good Govt at work!
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/19/2330071/federal-forensics-investigation-calls-into-question-hundreds-of-convictions/
The Department of Justice and FBI agreed Thursday to review thousands of cases in which hair sample analysis methods that modern scientific assessments have deemed deeply flawed may have led to countless wrongful convictions. More than 120 convictions have already been reported as suspicious, including 27 death penalty convictions, according to the Washington Post.
The DOJ and FBI began their investigation after three men whose cases involved flawed microscopic hair analysis were later exonerated by DNA evidence. In May, evidence of these flaws spared Willie Manning from execution by mere hours, although his DNA has not yet been tested. The FBI began reviewing a few hundred cases, but notified only prosecutors of flaws, with the Department of Justice claiming they were not required to inform defendants or their lawyers. In more than half of the 250 cases in which errors were initially identified, prosecutors never contacted defendants to inform them of the potentially exonerating evidence. The DOJ since expanded its review to involve thousands of older cases from the 1980s and 1990s.
There has just been so much cleaning, or clearing, up that this admin has been involved in, it boggles the mind how they keep standing and doing their work with focus day after day!
It just boggles my mind. Other administrations must have just swept this under the rug…because, you know….they really didn’t care much about rights…they had wars to wage in the name of freedom, and other people’s money to spend. So glad that this finally getting some attention that it deserves. I’m grateful every day.
This is excellent!
Eric Holder is turning into the best Attorney General of all time. He’s relentless in the pursuit of justice and he takes no nonsense. No wonder he’s feared by the right. I’m so proud to have him heading the Justice Department, which has so often operated as a travesty of its name.
Hi jackiegrumbacher. Your comment is so true. I could go on and on about the hard work that the DOJ is doing under the brilliant leadership of AG Eric Holder. I will leave it at that, but I will continue to lift AG Eric Holder and his Department of Justice up in my daily prayers and meditation. He will continue to do his job to absolutely be “the best Attorney General of all time.” HZ
Faithfully bringing up the rear as usual! 😛
Yes, but you do it with such flair, my dear! 😀
In case anybody missed this at the end of the last post…
The mural of Trayvon in Oakland is haunting. His death will – and should – haunt us all, for a very long time.
#FORWARD = picking up the pieces, rearranging them, holding tight, and moving ahead! Together!
ohhhhh lawdddddd….
don’t know if I can watch this….
This is not going to be an honest discussion of race & justice. Just by looking at the guest list – I predict it will be nothing but another VAPID OBAMA BASH FEST. Please boycott.
any time you see smiley….and steele…you know what you will get…pity
HF, there should be a “huge twitter alert” re boycott in front of MTP office tomorrow! This is so incredulous!!!
Yes, a bunch of us have been tweeting to that effect. Thanks Layla. Will post my tweets here soon. 🙂
What’s funny is that Smiley will bash Obama more than Steele. I don’t even think Steele will bash PBO. Smiley will definitely put responsibility on Obama’s WH and will most likely present another version of his yearly scam conference to have elites sit around and talk about race.
Yup. Steele will probably just sit back & nod in agreement while Smiley rants away.
the flies in the ointment…Tavis Smiley and Michael Steele
garbage. Not watching. Won’t happen. Tavis Smiley, Michael Steele…
Chile please. they can miss me with this one
I went to the Philly rally….several hundred people gathered in front of the Fed Court House…glad to say…I was one of them…
Thanks for being there, for all of us who couldn’t.
I was among that crowd prettyfoot. Good crowd, but Philly could do better. All in all, it was very uplifting and purposeful.
yes there could have been more….but I will look at the glass as half full and build from there
back in the day….WDAS RADIO would have put a call out io the community and the response would have been tremendous…there were grass roots politicians who would have led the charge……that was not the case today…Philly has loss a lot of that..it is time to regain it….
Indeed.. Nonetheless, the two hundred or so we had were very spirited.
yes they were…and I was so glad to be there….I had to be there
Glad you went, PF. Any idea whether the Philly press covered it?
I did see one new reporter there….not sure if print media was there…they could have been in the crowd…will check out the news at 6
Welcome home, Soldier … and don’t watch this, unless you prepare yourself for how his dog responds!
Thank you! That was beautiful!
https://twitter.com/Dudette9t9/status/358674890645192704
Deleted that. Fixed typo! :eyeroll:
I am crying like a baby watching this!!
Me too!
https://twitter.com/LadinoTurk/status/358223439192014849
I could feel how much the lab missed his friend. I’m almost crying along with the dog.
I couldn’t agree more!
It’s obvious that this is being done because they know that Tavis is going to say something negative and controversial about PBO. They read his tweet yesterday and went running to get him on that show. I swear I wish the President supporters would stop watching that filth permanently so that NBC would be forced to do something about it. David Gregory is pathetic and yet MTP still gets their 3 million viewers every single week. It makes me sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spot on donna. I’m going to have to find a way of tweeting your excellent comment. Thanks!!
What! couldn’t the “unkept professor” “poverty pimp” tag along!!!!!!
For real, and too many folks still swear Travesty has some meaning. Not. My local am talk radio is fundraising again, and I already told them I cannot join its membership so long as they run him at 10 am each Saturday, and he and the Butthead on Sundays. No way, no how. Philly rally was good today.
WURD runs them? Didn’t know that, I only listen to Rev Al and sometimes Nick Taliffero. Just did a membership on Monday, going to have to cancel that charge.
Yes Alycee, and I emailed Sarah Lomax-Reese last year about it. She also said, just about a month ago, that black folk should have the right to criticize PBO, and that maybe PBO “isn’t” speaking up for black folk, as he is with other groups (she referenced what some minister complained about PBO). And Nick a short while ago reiterated that he’s not a die-hard PBO fan for some unknown reason. A few on that station have played the emo meme on PBO, so no, they will never get my money.
Tavis just want to come up there to attack POTUS. Other then that he has nothing to say. Why not just have the man who fought his whole for civil rights, John Lewis. Steele and Smiley ain’t worth listening too.
Aww, their mutual birthday, lucky old Helen… That must have been a fun thing to discover! For them both!!
Yep, as I tweeted a couple of days ago, it is called the “North Atlantic *Treaty* Organization” – and not for nothing.
#J4TM Rally was very encouraging today.
I was concerned when it got to be close to noon and the crowd was sparse because the temps were nearing 90 degrees and I feared that people didn’t want to come out in the scorching heat but folks started filing in there like crazy right about the time the event began. It swelled to nearly 1000 people (by some reports). You all read here that I love Joe Madison who some of you see on MSNBC at times. He is a radio talk show host on Sirus Radio and he was his usual brilliant self. The infamous Dick Gregory was there and very inspirational. The youth leaders from the NationalActionNetwork were simply phenomenal and to end the event with us all singing (hand-to-hand) we shall overcome brought me to tears.
There were calls to action on the stand your ground laws around the country. Talk of the boycotts of the cities that have these laws and the importance of using this moment to create a movement to vote these people who don’t have our best interest out of office next year.
All in all it was another one of those memorable days that I’ll always cherish.
Now, I’m off to get a nice cold banana-strawberry smoothie and cool off.
https://twitter.com/thioneniang/status/35864151837599744
Thank you for being there, Donna, and for your encouraging report.
#FORWARD Together
My pleasure Bobfr
thanks for letting us know how it went 🙂
Wow, Donna, what a great event. Glad you were there to tell us about it.
But emoprogs sez SPYING ON U.S. CITIZENS!!11!!11!
Afternoon everyone.
Thought you might get a kick out of this. Was followed by someone who belongs to Unite Blue. On his description he had the line “#UniteBlue but Obama’s got to change too.” Needless to say, I blocked his ass. Really, look at my Tweets and what makes anyone think I’d let someone like that in my TL?
Bravo!
Hey LL,
How was your Birthday yesterday? We gossiped here extensively about you and debated just how sober you would be or not. How many gimlets did you down? Did you tell the Missus? Inquiring minds want to know
Heya zizi,
first off, great piece you wrote yesterday.
As to my birthday, it was pretty sedate. I had a margarita at home and a martini at dinner with my best friend. So nothing scandalous to report.
The missus comes back today, but her flight has been delayed, so she doesn’t get in until 10 pm or so.
Hey TODers! I just walked home from the rally downtown; very inspiring and unifying. Several mentioned the President’s speech yesterday and the main message from the rally was we have to Stand Up and be counted which means VOTE! One of the speakers said that African American participation in the last election here was 65% which is not bad but it needs to be higher.
There is also going to be a big push for a nationwide boycott of Florida until they change their SYG law and also a big push for a nationwide rally in DC.
nice forus looks like there was good turnout in lots of places – seeing lots of tweets
https://twitter.com/FORUS50/status/358635292481183744
How will Boner stop implementing this law
Shutting the government down is the only way.
And he will do it, don’t put it last him!
He can go ahead and do that and his legacy will be a pic of him in a thong like Newt!
Layla, I love you madly. But that image just made me sick to my stomach.
He and Mrs. Helmet Head are two images I am grateful are out of sight/out of mind.
Please Proceed, Bonehead.
Thank you HF! I am a glass half full type of person and am certain that PBO will be ready for any eventuality!
I join you in that, Layla!
#GlassHalfFull
Because there is absolutely nothing left on the Congressional agenda to be accomplished on behalf of the American people.
“Heart has but one color” is a beautiful line.
Yes, I thought the whole thing was poignant and haunting.
THIS! THIS! THIS!
I think about that white jury, and how they could not fine a ounce of compassion for Trayvon’s Mother, specially that juror B-37. I listen to Trayvon’s Mother on Nancy Grace Friday night talking about when she learn of her son’s death. All I know is after listening to her I had such compassion and respect for that lady, Sabrina Fulton.
She is extraordinary….both parents are….such courage and grace and dignity!
Agree, I didn’t mean to leave out Trayvon’s father.
ohhhh…I know….I was just commenting
Smarty pants has nice compilation of tweets with pics using the #heisnotasuspect hashtag 🙂 Reflect & Enjoy!
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/07/heisnotasuspect.html?spref=tw
Yep, I’ve made it my mission to try and re-tweet as many as I can.
Good, no marches…do not want to see them with their pitchforks and robes
HEADLINE: 44 Moving Signs From The “Justice For Trayvon” Rallies
// More than 100 cities across America held #Justice4Trayvon rallies Saturday to protest the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial //
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/44-moving-signs-from-the-justice-for-trayvon-rallies
Can you beieve this S**t!
Hey, Seminole County: The DOJ is watching. In fact, America is watching.
Yep! AG Holder is patiently waiting……
This is one teary day. All these beautiful beings who have to protest their own worth. Does anyone know if there’s a way to post tweets on FB if you’re not on twitter?
The absolute worst thing about the rehab facility where I am staying is the food. Today’s dinner is turkey burger. It looked like a liver pate that someone sat on. Looked NOTHING like a turkey burger. NO-THING! Ugh! I sent it back and got the alternative meal which is a sandwich of white bread and a processed meat that tastes like bologna and looks like turkey. Oy Vey!
I complained about the hospital food too but at least it was REAL food. Sometimes over/undercooked but it was REAL food.
GB, is there any chance you could order in a pizza or something or have a friend sneak one in for you. I’m so hoping you get to go to your mom’s soon and enjoy whatever treats you like.
Hmmm….pizza pizza. The facility allows delivery but because of delivery minimums and limited storage options here (refrigerator only 24 hours) the food will go to waste.
So sorry GB. Is there anyway or anyone who can get you food from outside? Also, any New York TODers?
It’s possible but as I told others above, it goes to waste.
There’s a really good market near here that I ordered from last night. Got some items that don’t need to be refrigerated. Will have to check their site more thoroughly for some more options.
Hey GB, hope you are progressing quickly so you can get out of there! Is it possible to get takeout or ask one of the staff to get you something on the outside….Bless you, as always!
It’s possible to order out. I’ve done it before but ended up wasting it. There’s a minimum to get delivery AND to use a debit card so I end up having to order more food than needed and just goes to waste.
Hopefully I’ll be only be here another 2-3 weeks. I think I said that 2-3 weeks ago though. LOL!!
Regret you are facing a challenge such as this, gb. Good nutrition is essential for you as you recover. If you DM me your name & the address of the place, I’ll find a place with good food and have them deliver it to you – my treat – if the facility allows this to be done. Obviously, I won’t share your contact info with anyone.
#FORWARD
Thanks for the offer Bob 🙂 . There are good food places nearby that deliver and I’ve ordered out before. Thing is, my appetite is small and the food just gets wasted. There is a fridge here but it’s only 24 hours.
Heart goes out to you GB.
Thanks, Roberta. Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be. 🙂
https://twitter.com/Dudette9t9/status/358694327037333505
Arrgh… another typo! I need to take a break! 🙂
Love it!
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/20/holding-hands/