Oct 06 2015

Newsflash: NATO and EU Warnings on Syria, Trend: “Suicide by Cop,” California Passes “Right to Die” Bill

Uprising’s guest expert Chenjerai Kumanyika, Assistant Professor of Communications Studies at Clemson University, analyzes to day’s news headlines:

NATO’s Secretary General has confirmed this morning that Russian ground troops have entered Syria. Mr. Jens Stoltenberg also announced that, “Russian combat aircraft have violated Turkish airspace,” and added, “This is unacceptable.” Turkey is a member of NATO. Stoltenberg also cited that the “substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria” includes “ground troops in connection with the air base they have.” He said, “I’m also concerned that Russia is not targeting ISIL but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians.” Meanwhile, EU Council President Donald Tusk also made a critical announcement this morning regarding Syria. He said, “according to Turkish estimates, another 3 million potential refugees may come from Aleppo and its neighborhood.” He warned that “the world around us does not intend to help Europe.” Click here for a CNN.com article, and here for an Associated Press article about the story.

The Guardian newspaper has just released a new report on US police shootings as part of their series called The Counted. The British paper has uncovered that police departments are increasingly classifying killings at their hands as “suicides” by victims, even if the shots were fired by cops. There were two such cases in South Carolina, and one each in Indiana, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. The paper surmised that law enforcement may be attempting to, “preempt criminal inquiries by effectively exonerating officers of wrongdoing and removing their actions from consideration.” Apparently the concept of “suicide by cop” was framed more than 30 years ago by a former police officer who claimed that some police shooting victims were “forcing cops to shoot them because they wanted to die.” Click here for a Guardian Newspaper article about the story.

California has signed historic legislation, giving terminally ill people the right to die at a time of their choosing. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill, writing a personal note where he reflected that “In the end I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death.” Brown added, “I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn’t deny that right to others.” The bill was prompted by the activism of a young California woman named Brittany Maynard who had terminal cancer and moved to Oregon where right-to-die is the law. There, she died a year ago by her own choice. Now, at least 25 states have introduced similar legislation. Click here for an LA Times article, and here for a Washington Post article about the story.

4 responses so far

4 Responses to “Newsflash: NATO and EU Warnings on Syria, Trend: “Suicide by Cop,” California Passes “Right to Die” Bill”

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