The President’s Day

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President Barack Obama speaks from the Oval Office on the shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, vowing to conduct a prompt and thorough probe of the shooting

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President Barack Obama speaks after touring the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. President Obama is the first sitting US President to visit a federal prison, in a push to reform one of the most expensive and crowded prison systems in the world

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As part of a weeklong focus on inequities in the criminal justice system, President Barack Obama will meet separately Thursday with law enforcement officials and nonviolent drug offenders who are paying their debt to society at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison for male offenders near Oklahoma City

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Today, @POTUS became the first sitting President to visit a federal prison → go.wh.gov/ViceElReno http://t.co/eQRqxusZoh

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2015

.@VICE joined President Obama on the first presidential visit to a US federal prison: news.vice.com/article/presid… http://t.co/L87O7usEyJ

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VICE News (@vicenews) July 16, 2015

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Pres Obama tours the Residential Drug Abuse Prevention Unit at El Reno federal prison in Oklahoma http://t.co/Z26JQU1BPU

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  (@petesouza) July 16, 2015

Another view from El Reno federal prison today. http://t.co/LWZvynnIis

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  (@petesouza) July 16, 2015

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Say Her Name: Sandra Bland

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Stephen A. Crockett Jr.: Sandra Bland Drove to Texas to Start a New Job, So How Did She End Up Dead In Jail?

On July 9, 28-year-old Sandra Bland of Naperville, Ill., drove to Texas to start a new job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M. On July 10, police stopped Bland just outside the campus for allegedly failing to signal while changing lanes. Police claim that during the stop she became combative and that she was charged with “assault on a public servant.” Bland was arrested. On July 13, around 9 a.m., before her family could bail her out, Bland was found dead inside a Waller County, Texas, jail cell. Police claim she died from “self-inflicted asphyxiation.”

Her family and friends say that is impossible; that the woman they know, who fought strongly against police brutality and had just gotten a new job, would never have committed suicide. “I do suspect foul play,” a friend, Cheryl Nanton, told ABC 7. “I believe that we are all 100 percent in belief that she did not do harm to herself.” Video obtained by ABC 7 of Bland’s arrest doesn’t appear to show Bland being combative with officers, but does show two officers on top of Bland, who can be heard questioning the officers’ methods of restraint.

More here

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If you are a Black person, you can be one police encounter away from death. Any age. Any gender. Any class background. #SandraBland

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jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) July 16, 2015

Poor woman moves to Texas to start a new job and ends up dead in a jail cell. #SandraBland twitter.com/GrooveSDC/stat…

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Amarlie (@marabout40) July 15, 2015

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Still waiting for the #GoodCops to speak up. Another death after a routine traffic stop. And implausible "suicide" explanation. #SandraBland

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  (@Only4RM) July 16, 2015

Black Woman Found Dead In Texas Cell After Traffic Stop Arrest shar.es/1sgzEg #BlackLivesMatter #SandraBland

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Rugged Amethyst (@GrooveSDC) July 15, 2015

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How in the living hell does #SandraBland get stopped for a traffic violation & end up dead? Waller County, you have some explaining to do.

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  (@3ChicsPolitico) July 16, 2015

African American woman found dead in Texas jail cell after traffic stop amid claims of suicide in cell. Really? #SandraBland

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Sunny Hostin (@SunnyHostin) July 16, 2015

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One fast fact missing: why was Ms Bland in jail for three days over a traffic stop? No bond? #SandraBland twitter.com/dirtynfunny/st…

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Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 16, 2015

#SandraBland: 5 Facts You Need to Know heavy.com/news/2015/07/s… It's our responsbility to share & spread this news. #WhatHappenedToSandraBland

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Neale Clunie (@AbeFroman) July 16, 2015

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#SandraBland's case sounds exactly like the investigatory stops that are aimed at black Americans. slate.com/articles/news_…

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) July 16, 2015

What Happened to Sandra Bland? ebony.com/news-views/wha… #SandraBland

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ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 16, 2015

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#SandraBland "was being combative," says this guy... yeah, I'm judging his book by its cover. http://t.co/EFJaSPtQvF

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Nettie (@juhneda) July 16, 2015

Waller County cops trying to run w/she was "combative" Now you see why "do black women have attitudes?" trope is irresponsible? #SandraBland

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Astrology by Mecca (@TheMeccanism) July 16, 2015

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#SandraBland encouraged us in this video http://t.co/ty7XPTG0VX to use our voice to create change. Will you #SayHerName & demand answers?

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BYP100 (@BYP_100) July 16, 2015

Say her name #SANDRABLAND

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Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) July 16, 2015

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I'm stunned speechless by the #SandraBland case. Horrifying.

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Kas Thomas (@kasthomas) July 16, 2015

#SandraBland: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know: Questions are being raised about the death of Illinois woman San... bit.ly/1HPXDCs

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ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 16, 2015

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The fact that a black woman can be arrested for a minor violation and end up dead should be a global scandal. #BlackLivesMatter #SandraBland

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Jacob (@OhHeyJacob) July 16, 2015

#SandraBland drove to #Texas to start a new job.. so how did she end up dead in jail? buff.ly/1Spc1Y6 http://t.co/RSaEzDeDnQ

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The Root (@TheRoot) July 16, 2015

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You stay. You run. You submit. You resist. It doesn't matter. They will kill you anyway. Your skin is black. #SandraBland #BlackLivesMatter

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Amarlie (@marabout40) July 16, 2015

We're mysteriously dying in jail cells all across this country – our bodies abused and broken by cops. #SandraBland #SayHerName

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Amarlie (@marabout40) July 16, 2015

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I need to go to bed, but I can't stop thinking about #SandraBland. She could have been any of us. Respectability cannot save you.

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Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) July 16, 2015

Far too many black people dying at hands of police….What's Going On? #WhatHappenedToSandraBland #SandraBland. youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3U…

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  (@3ChicsPolitico) July 16, 2015

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#DylannRoof massacres 9 ppl arrested ALIVE. #SandraBland arrested for traffic violation ends up dead. WTFF America? http://t.co/MxVsq2JqlW

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  (@3ChicsPolitico) July 16, 2015

Sandra Bland. Another innocent life taken. #SayHerName #SandraBland http://t.co/PSdNx2875K

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Feminist Culture (@feministculture) July 16, 2015

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Texas authorities say that a stop for failing to signal a lane change lead to suicide. That's quite a story, Texas authorities. #SandraBland

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  (@JRehling) July 16, 2015

Her name is #SandraBland and she died under police care. Continue to mention her. The media isn't. http://t.co/AJqrjFSH8V

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Tyree Boyd-Pates (@TyreeBP) July 16, 2015

President for All

@dougmillsnyt: President Obama tours the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma

History

President Obama becomes the first sitting President to visit a Federal Prison

Rise and Shine

On This Day: Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama look at an app on an iPhone in the Outer Oval Office, Saturday, July 16, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today

CDT

10:10: the President visits El Reno Federal Correctional Institution and tapes an interview with VICE

10:55: Delivers a statement

12:45: Departs Oklahoma

EDT

4:10: Arrives Joint Base Andrews

4:25: Arrives the White House

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On This Day: President Barack Obama and his family hike on Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine, July 16, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)

Early Bird Chat

On This Day: President Barack Obama kisses First Lady Michelle Obama for the “Kiss Cam” while attending the U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team’s game against Brazil at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., July 16, 2012. Vice President Joe Biden and Malia Obama look up at the jumbotron (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MoooOOOooorning!