Dynamite James
The Main attraction
I hate these pigs man smh
Black Man (Elijah McClain) Murdered By Choke Hold In Colorado By Police
- Thread starter Knicksman20
- Start date
I hate these pigs man smh
Knicksman20
Superstar
I know bro. I was already angry but this particular article struck a nerve in me just now
krackdagawd
Inspire.
how can anyone other than a devil go to where they killed an innocent person for photo ops, it's like every update to this story angers me more 
this that different type of anger this that punch a dude while you crying type shyt.
this that different type of anger this that punch a dude while you crying type shyt.
Knicksman20
Superstar
Ketamine Dose For Elijah McClain ‘Too Much,’ Says Anesthesiologist
Multiple anesthesiologists are questioning the amount of Ketamine, a widely employed sedative, used on Elijah McClain just before he stopped breathing last August, with one doctor saying it was, “Too much, twice too much.”
The popular sedative was injected into McClain by a member of Aurora Fire Rescue the night of Aug. 24, 2019, after McClain, 23, was stopped by Aurora police officers. Officers said McClain showed signs of “excited delirium,” a syndrome which can feature aggressive behavior, unexpected strength, violence, stamina and sweating.
(credit: Aurora)
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Elijah McClain (credit: Mari Newman)
“Something is not right,” said Hilton.
But in multiple statements, Aurora Fire Rescue administrators have said Ketamine “had been properly administered” and “the actions of the responders were consistent and aligned with established protocols.” A spokesperson for AFR would not consent to an on-camera interview, referring CBS4 to written statements.
In a briefing to Aurora City Council in March, Dr. Daniel Willner, Associate Medical Director for Aurora Fire Rescue said, “After the patient receives Ketamine they are put on oxygen and heart monitors as soon as feasible.”
Based on his weight, McClain should have received roughly 320mg to 350mg of Ketamine according to medical guidelines. Aurora Fire Rescue personnel later said they overestimated the young man’s weight and gave him a dose that would have been appropriate for a 220 pound man. McClain weighed 140 lbs.
“This appears to have been an anesthetic misadventure,” observed Dr. Gary Ogin, a retired anesthesiologist in Colorado. “The dose would have reliably produced sedation compatible with general anesthesia. At that dose, respiratory arrest would be anticipated.”
Ogin said he believes first responders failed to realize the impact Ketamine had on McClain and failed to then take decisive action to reverse what had occurred. He said if they had helped McClain breathe following the dose, “I would have expected him to start spontaneous breathing after some time.”
Mari Newman, an attorney representing the family of Elijah McClain, has called the dosing decisions “shockingly wrong.” The family intends to file a lawsuit over McClain’s death.
Aurora Fire Rescue said it has been using Ketamine since 2018 as have 93 hospitals in Colorado.
Ketamine Dose For Elijah McClain 'Too Much,' Says Anesthesiologist
Multiple anesthesiologists are questioning the amount of Ketamine, a widely employed sedative, used on Elijah McClain just before he stopped breathing last August, with one doctor saying it was, “Too much, twice too much.”
The popular sedative was injected into McClain by a member of Aurora Fire Rescue the night of Aug. 24, 2019, after McClain, 23, was stopped by Aurora police officers. Officers said McClain showed signs of “excited delirium,” a syndrome which can feature aggressive behavior, unexpected strength, violence, stamina and sweating.
(credit: Aurora)
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Elijah McClain (credit: Mari Newman)
“Something is not right,” said Hilton.
But in multiple statements, Aurora Fire Rescue administrators have said Ketamine “had been properly administered” and “the actions of the responders were consistent and aligned with established protocols.” A spokesperson for AFR would not consent to an on-camera interview, referring CBS4 to written statements.
In a briefing to Aurora City Council in March, Dr. Daniel Willner, Associate Medical Director for Aurora Fire Rescue said, “After the patient receives Ketamine they are put on oxygen and heart monitors as soon as feasible.”
Based on his weight, McClain should have received roughly 320mg to 350mg of Ketamine according to medical guidelines. Aurora Fire Rescue personnel later said they overestimated the young man’s weight and gave him a dose that would have been appropriate for a 220 pound man. McClain weighed 140 lbs.
“This appears to have been an anesthetic misadventure,” observed Dr. Gary Ogin, a retired anesthesiologist in Colorado. “The dose would have reliably produced sedation compatible with general anesthesia. At that dose, respiratory arrest would be anticipated.”
Ogin said he believes first responders failed to realize the impact Ketamine had on McClain and failed to then take decisive action to reverse what had occurred. He said if they had helped McClain breathe following the dose, “I would have expected him to start spontaneous breathing after some time.”
Mari Newman, an attorney representing the family of Elijah McClain, has called the dosing decisions “shockingly wrong.” The family intends to file a lawsuit over McClain’s death.
Aurora Fire Rescue said it has been using Ketamine since 2018 as have 93 hospitals in Colorado.
Ketamine Dose For Elijah McClain 'Too Much,' Says Anesthesiologist
Knicksman20
Superstar
Elijah McClain's Family on Officer Firings, Occupy APD Space Protest
Highlights:
"On July 4, Dena McClain, Elijah's cousin who came up from Texas for the protests, spoke about the family's reaction to the APD firing officers associated with the picture mocking Elijah's death, but not the officers involved in the actual incident. “All of the police at that department are under the same union, taught the same ways; that needs to end," she said. "Elijah is in the world’s heart now. If it affects the world this way to see Elijah's murder on video, imagine how it hurt our family's heart to see his murder the same way.”
"Ultimately, she explained, the McClain family wants terminations and convictions of all three officers involved in arresting Elijah McClain, as well as the medics who were called to the scene and administered ketamine, which led to Elijah going into cardiac arrest and dying a few days later. “Everyone who was there and sat around while Eli cried for his dear life must be terminated,” she said. “Although we are not satisfied with the outcome given by APD Friday, it is a step in the right direction.”
"Dena said that she and other members of the McClain family want Aurora officials to understand that this is not the end: It is only the beginning to finding justice for Elijah and making sure that no one else is a victim of police brutality in Colorado. They want the APD to know that the family is strong, she added, and intends to push for policy changes so that no one else will feel the pain that they have felt for over ten months and will continue to feel for a lifetime."
Highlights:
"On July 4, Dena McClain, Elijah's cousin who came up from Texas for the protests, spoke about the family's reaction to the APD firing officers associated with the picture mocking Elijah's death, but not the officers involved in the actual incident. “All of the police at that department are under the same union, taught the same ways; that needs to end," she said. "Elijah is in the world’s heart now. If it affects the world this way to see Elijah's murder on video, imagine how it hurt our family's heart to see his murder the same way.”
"Ultimately, she explained, the McClain family wants terminations and convictions of all three officers involved in arresting Elijah McClain, as well as the medics who were called to the scene and administered ketamine, which led to Elijah going into cardiac arrest and dying a few days later. “Everyone who was there and sat around while Eli cried for his dear life must be terminated,” she said. “Although we are not satisfied with the outcome given by APD Friday, it is a step in the right direction.”
"Dena said that she and other members of the McClain family want Aurora officials to understand that this is not the end: It is only the beginning to finding justice for Elijah and making sure that no one else is a victim of police brutality in Colorado. They want the APD to know that the family is strong, she added, and intends to push for policy changes so that no one else will feel the pain that they have felt for over ten months and will continue to feel for a lifetime."
how you can fire the cops mocking the poor kids death, and not the actual ones that did it is monumentally dumb. Dena McClain is a smart woman, she explained exactly what the fukk should be happening to all involved. That video of the cops breaking up a violin vigil made me so upset i had to close my browser. i legit had to step away from my computer and take a fukkin walk outside. all them responsible are straight up evil.
Knicksman20
Superstar
The nerve of these racist cacs
Aurora Police Confirm 3 Officers In Elijah McClain Photo Scandal Are Appealing Termination
Three of the Aurora police officers involved in the now-infamous photos taken near a memorial for Elijah McClain will appeal their terminations, the police department confirms. Those officers are Erica Marrero and Kyle Dittrich, who appear in the photo, and Jason Rosenblatt, who received the photo in a text. The officer in the middle of the photos, Jaron Jones, resigned.
Marrero, Dittrich and Rosenblatt were fired on Friday for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Their attorney told CBS4 investigative reporter Brian Maass the officers have 10 business days to file from when they were fired. He provided no further comment.
Officer Jason Rosenblatt was terminated after responding via text to the photos with the word “haha.” Rosenblatt was one of the three officers who was involved in McClain’s arrest.
The Aurora Police Department says the photos were taken in October 2019. Police contacted McClain in August 2019. The 23-year-old was walking home from a store when a passerby called 911 and reported that he was acting odd. McClain was wearing a ski mask but was not armed, and had not committed a crime.
Three officers responded to the call, and located McClain walking northbound near Interstate 225.
(credit: Aurora)
McClain didn’t stop when officers told him to, later telling them he had his music playing on his headphones and couldn’t hear them. One officer grabbed McClain, who asked the officer to respect his boundaries. The officers claim McClain resisted arrest and that he attempted to take one of their guns. Body camera footage does not show McClain reaching for their guns. McClain was placed in a chokehold, and tackled to the ground. He was also given ketamine, a sedative, by an Aurora Fire Department paramedic.
(credit: Aurora)
McClain later went into cardiac arrest and died at the hospital three days later.
The three officers involved in the incident surrounding McClain’s death were removed from patrol duty in June.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said the City of Aurora is reconsidering their use of ketamine.
Aurora Police Confirm 3 Officers In Elijah McClain Photo Scandal Are Appealing Termination
Three of the Aurora police officers involved in the now-infamous photos taken near a memorial for Elijah McClain will appeal their terminations, the police department confirms. Those officers are Erica Marrero and Kyle Dittrich, who appear in the photo, and Jason Rosenblatt, who received the photo in a text. The officer in the middle of the photos, Jaron Jones, resigned.
Marrero, Dittrich and Rosenblatt were fired on Friday for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Their attorney told CBS4 investigative reporter Brian Maass the officers have 10 business days to file from when they were fired. He provided no further comment.
Officer Jason Rosenblatt was terminated after responding via text to the photos with the word “haha.” Rosenblatt was one of the three officers who was involved in McClain’s arrest.
The Aurora Police Department says the photos were taken in October 2019. Police contacted McClain in August 2019. The 23-year-old was walking home from a store when a passerby called 911 and reported that he was acting odd. McClain was wearing a ski mask but was not armed, and had not committed a crime.
Three officers responded to the call, and located McClain walking northbound near Interstate 225.
(credit: Aurora)
McClain didn’t stop when officers told him to, later telling them he had his music playing on his headphones and couldn’t hear them. One officer grabbed McClain, who asked the officer to respect his boundaries. The officers claim McClain resisted arrest and that he attempted to take one of their guns. Body camera footage does not show McClain reaching for their guns. McClain was placed in a chokehold, and tackled to the ground. He was also given ketamine, a sedative, by an Aurora Fire Department paramedic.
(credit: Aurora)
McClain later went into cardiac arrest and died at the hospital three days later.
The three officers involved in the incident surrounding McClain’s death were removed from patrol duty in June.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said the City of Aurora is reconsidering their use of ketamine.
Ketamine Dose For Elijah McClain ‘Too Much,’ Says Anesthesiologist
Multiple anesthesiologists are questioning the amount of Ketamine, a widely employed sedative, used on Elijah McClain just before he stopped breathing last August, with one doctor saying it was, “Too much, twice too much.”
The popular sedative was injected into McClain by a member of Aurora Fire Rescue the night of Aug. 24, 2019, after McClain, 23, was stopped by Aurora police officers. Officers said McClain showed signs of “excited delirium,” a syndrome which can feature aggressive behavior, unexpected strength, violence, stamina and sweating.
(credit: Aurora)
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Ketamine, which is used in association with anesthesia, is commonly used by first responders on individuals exhibiting excited delirium symptoms.
But Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia, told CBS4 the 500 mg dose used on McClain was far too much.
“In this instance, I don’t see the necessity of using a potent agent at that high of a dose,” said Hilton, who is a double-board certified anesthesiologist.
She said she has often used Ketamine as anesthesia for surgeries and called it “fantastic” when used correctly. But she said, “Never have I ever used 500 mg of Ketamine to do so. For sedation level, 250 mg is on the high end and he got twice that in one shot.”
McClain, who was handcuffed when he received the injection, stopped breathing shortly after the shot and had no pulse. He was pronounced dead three days later. In his autopsy report, a forensic pathologist said the level of Ketamine in McClain’s system fell within the “therapeutic level.” While there was no evidence of a Ketamine overdose, the pathologist said he could not exclude the possibility McClain suffered from an unexpected reaction to the drug. The autopsy did not determine a precise manner or cause of death saying both were “undetermined.”
Hilton reviewed police body cam video of the incident and said with such a high dose of Ketamine, Aurora first responders needed to be on high alert for an adverse reaction and be prepared for respiratory problems. She said when she reviewed videotape, she did not see anyone closely monitoring McClain’s breathing after the injection and that heart and respiratory monitors should have been fastened to McClain prior to the injection.
Elijah McClain (credit: Mari Newman)
“Something is not right,” said Hilton.
But in multiple statements, Aurora Fire Rescue administrators have said Ketamine “had been properly administered” and “the actions of the responders were consistent and aligned with established protocols.” A spokesperson for AFR would not consent to an on-camera interview, referring CBS4 to written statements.
In a briefing to Aurora City Council in March, Dr. Daniel Willner, Associate Medical Director for Aurora Fire Rescue said, “After the patient receives Ketamine they are put on oxygen and heart monitors as soon as feasible.”
Based on his weight, McClain should have received roughly 320mg to 350mg of Ketamine according to medical guidelines. Aurora Fire Rescue personnel later said they overestimated the young man’s weight and gave him a dose that would have been appropriate for a 220 pound man. McClain weighed 140 lbs.
“This appears to have been an anesthetic misadventure,” observed Dr. Gary Ogin, a retired anesthesiologist in Colorado. “The dose would have reliably produced sedation compatible with general anesthesia. At that dose, respiratory arrest would be anticipated.”
Ogin said he believes first responders failed to realize the impact Ketamine had on McClain and failed to then take decisive action to reverse what had occurred. He said if they had helped McClain breathe following the dose, “I would have expected him to start spontaneous breathing after some time.”
Mari Newman, an attorney representing the family of Elijah McClain, has called the dosing decisions “shockingly wrong.” The family intends to file a lawsuit over McClain’s death.
Aurora Fire Rescue said it has been using Ketamine since 2018 as have 93 hospitals in Colorado.
Ketamine Dose For Elijah McClain 'Too Much,' Says Anesthesiologist
We've seen the last pic of him taken, bloodied up in a hospital bed. The ketamine was just icing on the cake
Knicksman20
Superstar
Ashanti Floyd couldn’t sleep.
As a Black man, Mr. Floyd was accustomed to being agonized by cases like that of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old who died while being detained by the police in Aurora, Colo., last summer. But as he read in June about the case, one of many deadly encounters between Black people and the police that are receiving new scrutiny in recent months, a detail grabbed Mr. Floyd: Mr. McClain had been a violinist, just like him.
“All I remember is praying for peace,” Mr. Floyd said on a recent Zoom call. “I felt like that boy could have been me.”
He tossed and turned all night after he found this out. And when he learned through social media the following morning about an upcoming vigil in Aurora, where violinists and other string musicians planned to perform at a park to honor Mr. McClain’s memory, Mr. Floyd decided he had to be there.
Ashanti Floyd, who helped organize the musicians at a violin vigil last month in honor of Elijah McClain, outside his home in Marietta, Ga.Credit...Anissa Baty for The New York Times
He booked a flight from Atlanta and packed his violin. When he landed in Colorado, he was picked up by a friend and fellow violinist, Lee England Jr., who had just arrived from New York. After they spoke with the people putting the event together, they began creating sheet music.
“We worked in partnership with the organizers,” Mr. England said on the same Zoom call as Mr. Floyd. “But when it came to the music, we basically took over.”
When they arrived at the vigil on June 27, the pair performed with dozens of other string musicians, playing songs like “Amazing Grace” and “Hallelujah.” Onlookers recorded videos of the performance, which members of the McClain family attended, and also captured footage of the Aurora Police Department intervening with riot gear and tear gas canisters after officers declared the gathering unlawful. Demonstrators locked arms in a circle around the players.
“We could hear them as we were playing,” Mr. England said. “But I knew I was just going to continue playing.”
The incident went viral. Mr. Floyd and Mr. England hadn’t expected similar vigils elsewhere — but now one was scheduled in New York, two days later. Then there was one in Boston the following day, and another in Portland, Ore. — a dozen in two weeks. In cities including New Orleans; Chicago; and Bowling Green, Ohio, musicians and community organizers have continued to host violin vigils — almost 20, and counting — in honor of Mr. McClain, attracting hundreds, sometimes thousands, of participants.
As a Black man, Mr. Floyd was accustomed to being agonized by cases like that of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old who died while being detained by the police in Aurora, Colo., last summer. But as he read in June about the case, one of many deadly encounters between Black people and the police that are receiving new scrutiny in recent months, a detail grabbed Mr. Floyd: Mr. McClain had been a violinist, just like him.
“All I remember is praying for peace,” Mr. Floyd said on a recent Zoom call. “I felt like that boy could have been me.”
He tossed and turned all night after he found this out. And when he learned through social media the following morning about an upcoming vigil in Aurora, where violinists and other string musicians planned to perform at a park to honor Mr. McClain’s memory, Mr. Floyd decided he had to be there.
Ashanti Floyd, who helped organize the musicians at a violin vigil last month in honor of Elijah McClain, outside his home in Marietta, Ga.Credit...Anissa Baty for The New York Times
He booked a flight from Atlanta and packed his violin. When he landed in Colorado, he was picked up by a friend and fellow violinist, Lee England Jr., who had just arrived from New York. After they spoke with the people putting the event together, they began creating sheet music.
“We worked in partnership with the organizers,” Mr. England said on the same Zoom call as Mr. Floyd. “But when it came to the music, we basically took over.”
When they arrived at the vigil on June 27, the pair performed with dozens of other string musicians, playing songs like “Amazing Grace” and “Hallelujah.” Onlookers recorded videos of the performance, which members of the McClain family attended, and also captured footage of the Aurora Police Department intervening with riot gear and tear gas canisters after officers declared the gathering unlawful. Demonstrators locked arms in a circle around the players.
“We could hear them as we were playing,” Mr. England said. “But I knew I was just going to continue playing.”
The incident went viral. Mr. Floyd and Mr. England hadn’t expected similar vigils elsewhere — but now one was scheduled in New York, two days later. Then there was one in Boston the following day, and another in Portland, Ore. — a dozen in two weeks. In cities including New Orleans; Chicago; and Bowling Green, Ohio, musicians and community organizers have continued to host violin vigils — almost 20, and counting — in honor of Mr. McClain, attracting hundreds, sometimes thousands, of participants.
Knicksman20
Superstar
“I remember just making a poster for the vigil on my phone,” said Karla Mi Lugo, a performance artist who helped organize the initial event in Aurora. “I’ve had at least 10 different people in different cities who have reached out to me about organizing their own.”
The renewed attention to the circumstances of Mr. McClain’s death has had an impact. Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the case. And three Aurora police officers have been fired over photos taken near a memorial set up in Mr. McClain’s memory that show two of them grinning and mocking his death.
As the violin vigils proliferate, hordes of classically trained performers are at the ready: Concert halls have been closed for months because of the spread of the coronavirus, leaving musicians out of work around the country. Organizers in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland all reported a similar pattern: Events planned in just a few days are receiving swift bursts of response, and impressive turnouts.
“We had no idea this was going to happen,” Mr. Floyd said. “We didn’t think we’d create these waves. But I guess that’s what happens when you’re a musician and all you have is time on your hands.”
Alexandra Newman, a lead organizer of the Chicago vigil, pointed to two local classical music standbys that were canceled this summer, the Grant Park Music Festival and the Ravinia Festival, as an explanation for the interest in the event there.
“There are people who want to hear music, and there are people who want to perform it,” Ms. Newman said. “There’s also a community aspect, and it’s a way to bring out that connection.”
Without any national umbrella organization, the vigils have been put together by local residents. While organizers have tended to handle the logistics, picking the location and spreading the word, musicians have created sheet music and distributed it. Violins, of course, have been the most popular choice at the events, though violas, cellos and other string instruments have made appearances. There has been an effort to include music by Black composers, or songs that are important to the Black community, like “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“It’s been something we’ve been trying to change, not using so many European composers,” said Kevin Hagans, a violinist who is Black and Japanese and helped organize the vigil in Columbus. “The issue is that we’ve always had to go searching for these composers; they’re not taught to us like white composers are.”
While many musicians are joyful at getting any chance to perform after months without concerts, they noted that this occasion is somber. “I’m really conflicted,” Zack Brock, a violinist for the band Snarky Puppy, said about his experience helping organize the vigil in Maplewood, N.J. “It felt horrible that the first time I got to perform since the pandemic was because a Black man was killed by the police. I missed playing for people, because it’s been so long. But I was really just there because I wanted to help.”
This sentiment is shared by Mr. Floyd and Mr. England, who were at first concerned that people might confuse the vigils for self-promotion or celebration. “It’s all in the name of Elijah McClain,” Mr. England said. “And I really hope that people see that there’s more than just one way to protest. We don’t want this to just be some P.R. thing.”
Mr. England recalled an exchange with the Aurora mayor’s communications office, which contacted him a few days after the vigil there. The mayor’s office, he said, knew that they “had messed up” because the police department had interfered with the protest, and wanted to “make it up” — to him and Mr. Floyd.
“I told them that they need to do what needs to be done for the McClain family,” Mr. England said. “It’s not about any of us. We were there for the family.”
Violin Vigils Honor the Memory of Elijah McClain
The renewed attention to the circumstances of Mr. McClain’s death has had an impact. Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the case. And three Aurora police officers have been fired over photos taken near a memorial set up in Mr. McClain’s memory that show two of them grinning and mocking his death.
As the violin vigils proliferate, hordes of classically trained performers are at the ready: Concert halls have been closed for months because of the spread of the coronavirus, leaving musicians out of work around the country. Organizers in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland all reported a similar pattern: Events planned in just a few days are receiving swift bursts of response, and impressive turnouts.
“We had no idea this was going to happen,” Mr. Floyd said. “We didn’t think we’d create these waves. But I guess that’s what happens when you’re a musician and all you have is time on your hands.”
Alexandra Newman, a lead organizer of the Chicago vigil, pointed to two local classical music standbys that were canceled this summer, the Grant Park Music Festival and the Ravinia Festival, as an explanation for the interest in the event there.
“There are people who want to hear music, and there are people who want to perform it,” Ms. Newman said. “There’s also a community aspect, and it’s a way to bring out that connection.”
Without any national umbrella organization, the vigils have been put together by local residents. While organizers have tended to handle the logistics, picking the location and spreading the word, musicians have created sheet music and distributed it. Violins, of course, have been the most popular choice at the events, though violas, cellos and other string instruments have made appearances. There has been an effort to include music by Black composers, or songs that are important to the Black community, like “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“It’s been something we’ve been trying to change, not using so many European composers,” said Kevin Hagans, a violinist who is Black and Japanese and helped organize the vigil in Columbus. “The issue is that we’ve always had to go searching for these composers; they’re not taught to us like white composers are.”
While many musicians are joyful at getting any chance to perform after months without concerts, they noted that this occasion is somber. “I’m really conflicted,” Zack Brock, a violinist for the band Snarky Puppy, said about his experience helping organize the vigil in Maplewood, N.J. “It felt horrible that the first time I got to perform since the pandemic was because a Black man was killed by the police. I missed playing for people, because it’s been so long. But I was really just there because I wanted to help.”
This sentiment is shared by Mr. Floyd and Mr. England, who were at first concerned that people might confuse the vigils for self-promotion or celebration. “It’s all in the name of Elijah McClain,” Mr. England said. “And I really hope that people see that there’s more than just one way to protest. We don’t want this to just be some P.R. thing.”
Mr. England recalled an exchange with the Aurora mayor’s communications office, which contacted him a few days after the vigil there. The mayor’s office, he said, knew that they “had messed up” because the police department had interfered with the protest, and wanted to “make it up” — to him and Mr. Floyd.
“I told them that they need to do what needs to be done for the McClain family,” Mr. England said. “It’s not about any of us. We were there for the family.”
Violin Vigils Honor the Memory of Elijah McClain
Knicksman20
Superstar
Elijah McClain and the invisibility of ‘different’ Black and brown boys
They don’t see him. They can’t see him.
Those were my first thoughts when viewing the disturbing video of the police assault and subsequent murder of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old, Black violinist from Aurora, Colorado.
My immediate next thought was of the daily invisibility suffered by the many “different” Black and brown men and boys who I represent in courtrooms. My clients are all too often not seen for who they are, but rather viewed as reflections of stereotypical Black masculine prototypes.
Teachers, school administrators, judges, therapists, psychiatrists, are all seemingly impervious to the unique and individual needs of these neurodiverse, special and “different” Black men and boys.
I heard Elijah say with his last breaths – before he is forcibly injected with 500 mg of ketamine causing his death – “I’m an introvert. I’m just different.”
This execution occurs all because of his perceived “agitated mental state” and his decision to not stop walking and engage with police officers, who had not yet placed him under arrest or in custody.
I hear those words, I see that outcome, and – as an empathetic lawyer and human being – I worry for my clients, all of whom have disabilities. I worry about the deadly assumptions of hypermasculinity and aggressiveness assigned to them, through no fault of their own, which could jeopardize their safety. What happens when someone says that they are “acting suspicious” because they are repeating words and movements, or lack understanding of social cues, which are all common symptoms of autism?
I replay the video of Elijah’s body stiffening to the touch and invasion of his space by police officers. He states, “please, respect my boundaries,” and I think of my autistic clients who are triggered by people who touch them or invade their personal space. I worry, because I know that the world has no safe haven for “different” Black and brown men and boys. And as an attorney in disability cases, I worry about the impact their invisibility has on their diagnoses, on their ability to get needed services after their diagnoses, on their therapy records, and on the perception of the judges who will decide their cases.
I worry about how many missed social cues are listed as defiant behavior. I wonder how often poor eye contact and silence due to speech difficulties are perceived as disinterest in therapy sessions or disability hearings. I think about how my clients’ use of seemingly misplaced statements are marked or described as inappropriate and/or threatening in their individualized education plans (IEPs) and school records. They are not seen, and being invisible and/or misrepresented is not a neutral state of being.
To be clear, I am in no way attempting to diagnose Elijah McClain, who died on August 24, 2019. I do not have knowledge of his medical records, and his family has not made that information public. Maybe he did not have a diagnosis and maybe he is not on the autism spectrum at all, but there are many Black and brown men and boys who share behavioral characteristics with Elijah who do have diagnoses, and who are punished for them.
I have appeared before judges who were not able to appropriately recognize autistic symptoms in my clients. I have seen autistic clients’ medical records and therapy notes that are replete with misdiagnoses and misrepresentations of their mental and behavioral health symptoms. Many of my autistic clients were diagnosed at later-than-average ages, although they held many of the common symptoms.
Also, it is not lost on me that white children are about 19% more likely than Black children and 65% more likely than Hispanic children to be diagnosed with autism, although they have similar prevalence rates.
We can partially attribute the difference in rate of diagnoses to the lack of access to diagnostic services for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) children. We also know that if and when a BIPOC child is diagnosed, it occurs later in their life and results in them requiring longer and more intensive intervention. This means that there are some Black and brown men and boys who do not have diagnosis due to institutional racism.
We couldn’t save Elijah McClain. However, we can save many self-described “different” Black and brown men and boys, who are in need of our collective help. I call on teachers to better educate themselves on autism and other mental/behavioral health disorders, especially regarding Black and brown boys with perceived behavioral issues. I ask that therapists and psychiatrists educate themselves on how racial biases can impact a diagnosis, and continue to progress in identifying autism earlier in Black and brown children.
I call on judges in disability hearings to analyze their own biases, that may be connected to intersectional racial and gender stereotypes, in their assessment of SSI claimants. And I challenge you to educate yourself on the impact that racism has on behavioral and mental health misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, and treatment.
Lastly, I challenge all of us to see, and I mean really understand and appreciate, the uniqueness and individual qualities of different Black and brown boys. The more we see them, the more we create a world that affords them the ability to stay alive.
Why I worry about Black men and boys like Elijah McClain
They don’t see him. They can’t see him.
Those were my first thoughts when viewing the disturbing video of the police assault and subsequent murder of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old, Black violinist from Aurora, Colorado.
My immediate next thought was of the daily invisibility suffered by the many “different” Black and brown men and boys who I represent in courtrooms. My clients are all too often not seen for who they are, but rather viewed as reflections of stereotypical Black masculine prototypes.
Teachers, school administrators, judges, therapists, psychiatrists, are all seemingly impervious to the unique and individual needs of these neurodiverse, special and “different” Black men and boys.
I heard Elijah say with his last breaths – before he is forcibly injected with 500 mg of ketamine causing his death – “I’m an introvert. I’m just different.”
This execution occurs all because of his perceived “agitated mental state” and his decision to not stop walking and engage with police officers, who had not yet placed him under arrest or in custody.
I hear those words, I see that outcome, and – as an empathetic lawyer and human being – I worry for my clients, all of whom have disabilities. I worry about the deadly assumptions of hypermasculinity and aggressiveness assigned to them, through no fault of their own, which could jeopardize their safety. What happens when someone says that they are “acting suspicious” because they are repeating words and movements, or lack understanding of social cues, which are all common symptoms of autism?
I replay the video of Elijah’s body stiffening to the touch and invasion of his space by police officers. He states, “please, respect my boundaries,” and I think of my autistic clients who are triggered by people who touch them or invade their personal space. I worry, because I know that the world has no safe haven for “different” Black and brown men and boys. And as an attorney in disability cases, I worry about the impact their invisibility has on their diagnoses, on their ability to get needed services after their diagnoses, on their therapy records, and on the perception of the judges who will decide their cases.
I worry about how many missed social cues are listed as defiant behavior. I wonder how often poor eye contact and silence due to speech difficulties are perceived as disinterest in therapy sessions or disability hearings. I think about how my clients’ use of seemingly misplaced statements are marked or described as inappropriate and/or threatening in their individualized education plans (IEPs) and school records. They are not seen, and being invisible and/or misrepresented is not a neutral state of being.
To be clear, I am in no way attempting to diagnose Elijah McClain, who died on August 24, 2019. I do not have knowledge of his medical records, and his family has not made that information public. Maybe he did not have a diagnosis and maybe he is not on the autism spectrum at all, but there are many Black and brown men and boys who share behavioral characteristics with Elijah who do have diagnoses, and who are punished for them.
I have appeared before judges who were not able to appropriately recognize autistic symptoms in my clients. I have seen autistic clients’ medical records and therapy notes that are replete with misdiagnoses and misrepresentations of their mental and behavioral health symptoms. Many of my autistic clients were diagnosed at later-than-average ages, although they held many of the common symptoms.
Also, it is not lost on me that white children are about 19% more likely than Black children and 65% more likely than Hispanic children to be diagnosed with autism, although they have similar prevalence rates.
We can partially attribute the difference in rate of diagnoses to the lack of access to diagnostic services for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) children. We also know that if and when a BIPOC child is diagnosed, it occurs later in their life and results in them requiring longer and more intensive intervention. This means that there are some Black and brown men and boys who do not have diagnosis due to institutional racism.
We couldn’t save Elijah McClain. However, we can save many self-described “different” Black and brown men and boys, who are in need of our collective help. I call on teachers to better educate themselves on autism and other mental/behavioral health disorders, especially regarding Black and brown boys with perceived behavioral issues. I ask that therapists and psychiatrists educate themselves on how racial biases can impact a diagnosis, and continue to progress in identifying autism earlier in Black and brown children.
I call on judges in disability hearings to analyze their own biases, that may be connected to intersectional racial and gender stereotypes, in their assessment of SSI claimants. And I challenge you to educate yourself on the impact that racism has on behavioral and mental health misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, and treatment.
Lastly, I challenge all of us to see, and I mean really understand and appreciate, the uniqueness and individual qualities of different Black and brown boys. The more we see them, the more we create a world that affords them the ability to stay alive.
Why I worry about Black men and boys like Elijah McClain
That hurt to read bro. The point of society is to look out for those that are not as able bodied as the rest of us. It's corny but you only as strong as your weakest teammate and if we was a team America would be the Cleveland browns or the early 90s Oakland As or Anaheim Angels.
Knicksman20
Superstar
Ex-Justice Department Lawyer Will Lead Elijah McClain Probe
An investigation spurred by the death of a 23-year-old Black man in suburban Denver after police stopped him last year will be led by a former U.S. Justice Department lawyer.
In this July 3, 2020, file photo, a memorial site across the street from where Elijah McClain was stopped by Aurora, Colo., Police Department officers stands along Interstate 225 before a news conference in Aurora, Colo. The local investigation in connection with the death of the 23-year-old Black man who died after police stopped him on the street in suburban Denver last year will be led by a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw its investigation of police in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
AURORA, Colo. (AP) — An investigation spurred by the death of a 23-year-old Black man after suburban Denver police stopped him last year will be led by a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw its investigation of police in Ferguson, Missouri following the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
Jonathan Smith, the executive director of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, will lead the three-person panel reviewing policing policies at issue in the death of Elijah McClain, Sentinel Colorado reported Tuesday.
Three officers stopped McClain as he walked down an Aurora street on Aug, 23, 2019 after a 911 caller reported him as suspicious. Police placed him in a chokehold, and paramedics administered 500 milligrams of ketamine, a sedative, to calm him down.
He suffered cardiac arrest, was later declared brain dead and taken off life support. His death generated renewed attention after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis in May stirred worldwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality.
Smith was the chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department from 2010 to 2015, according to Smith’s biography on the Washington Lawyers' committee’s website. The Justice Department division is responsible for investigations of civil rights violations by law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health and disability agencies.
His selection was announced Monday night as the Aurora's city council unanimously backed the scope of the investigation. Smith is expected to start his work ahead of the selection of two other panel members.
Aurora's investigation will focus mainly on city policies at issue in McClain's death, including use of force and the use of ketamine, while the state attorney general’s probe examines whether criminal charges are warranted in McClain's death.
Last year, the local district attorney said he could not file charges against the officers because a pathologist could not determine whether the officers' actions caused McClain's death.
Federal authorities recently revealed they have been researching since last year into whether they should launch a civil rights investigation into McClain’s death.
Officials have had difficulty determining who to select to serve on the panel to be led by Smith because they are seeking experts who do not have conflicts of interest, said city council member Allison Hiltz.
One leading expert on ketamine was rejected by city officials because that person has lived in Denver for 20 years. They are trying to find experts from outside Colorado.
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/arti...artment-lawyer-will-lead-elijah-mcclain-probe
An investigation spurred by the death of a 23-year-old Black man in suburban Denver after police stopped him last year will be led by a former U.S. Justice Department lawyer.
In this July 3, 2020, file photo, a memorial site across the street from where Elijah McClain was stopped by Aurora, Colo., Police Department officers stands along Interstate 225 before a news conference in Aurora, Colo. The local investigation in connection with the death of the 23-year-old Black man who died after police stopped him on the street in suburban Denver last year will be led by a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw its investigation of police in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
AURORA, Colo. (AP) — An investigation spurred by the death of a 23-year-old Black man after suburban Denver police stopped him last year will be led by a former Justice Department lawyer who oversaw its investigation of police in Ferguson, Missouri following the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
Jonathan Smith, the executive director of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, will lead the three-person panel reviewing policing policies at issue in the death of Elijah McClain, Sentinel Colorado reported Tuesday.
Three officers stopped McClain as he walked down an Aurora street on Aug, 23, 2019 after a 911 caller reported him as suspicious. Police placed him in a chokehold, and paramedics administered 500 milligrams of ketamine, a sedative, to calm him down.
He suffered cardiac arrest, was later declared brain dead and taken off life support. His death generated renewed attention after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis in May stirred worldwide protests over racial injustice and police brutality.
Smith was the chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department from 2010 to 2015, according to Smith’s biography on the Washington Lawyers' committee’s website. The Justice Department division is responsible for investigations of civil rights violations by law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health and disability agencies.
His selection was announced Monday night as the Aurora's city council unanimously backed the scope of the investigation. Smith is expected to start his work ahead of the selection of two other panel members.
Aurora's investigation will focus mainly on city policies at issue in McClain's death, including use of force and the use of ketamine, while the state attorney general’s probe examines whether criminal charges are warranted in McClain's death.
Last year, the local district attorney said he could not file charges against the officers because a pathologist could not determine whether the officers' actions caused McClain's death.
Federal authorities recently revealed they have been researching since last year into whether they should launch a civil rights investigation into McClain’s death.
Officials have had difficulty determining who to select to serve on the panel to be led by Smith because they are seeking experts who do not have conflicts of interest, said city council member Allison Hiltz.
One leading expert on ketamine was rejected by city officials because that person has lived in Denver for 20 years. They are trying to find experts from outside Colorado.
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/arti...artment-lawyer-will-lead-elijah-mcclain-probe
I can mirror some of these thoughts. This story haunted me for a few weeks. It moved me to tears so bad that I had to call my mother, because it was a harsh reminder that our skin is a threat to these pieces of shyt. I've never encountered an officer that wasn't confrontational over the most basic traffic stops, and again... this reminds me that because of the color my skin, this could have been me on a number of different occasions.
For every new story of an Elijah McClain or a Breonna Taylor... I see someone that I know. Sometimes I've seen myself... my younger brother, my mother, my cousins, former classmates. You name the victim, and there's always 6 degrees of separation between us. My father was stationed in Aurora. Retired there and owned a home there for a while. I spent a few Summer and Winter breaks there as a kid. The movie theater that James Holmes (who they managed to arrest) terrorized? Saw a few movies there years before. Given the age gap between me and Elijah, I doubt me and him ever crossed paths, but I wouldn't be surprised if me and his elders have. My heart goes out to him and I'm definitely riding for that family. This shyt has to stop. I'm tired of it. This is not "progress."