WORCESTER — Four protesters who blocked traffic in Kelley Square as part of a "Black Lives Matter" protest earlier this year have been summoned to court on charges related to the incident.
The protestors, identified by police as Robert Blackwell Gibbs, 39, of Worcester; Julius R. Jones, 34, of Worcester; Kevin M. Ksen, 48, of Worcester; and Sonya Conner, have each been charged with being a disorderly person and disturbing the peace.
"The summonses were a result of an investigation that's been going on since the incident occurred," Worcester Police Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said. "Based on the investigation and results, those four were charged."
Approximately 30 to 40 protesters crowded Kelley Square about noon Jan. 19, standing together and blocking traffic while singing a song called "I Can't Breathe," as part of national protests in response to Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City deaths at the hands of police. The protest — which lasted about 4½ minutes — came a few days after several people blocked traffic on Interstate 93 in Medford and Milton for a similar cause on Jan. 15.
Mr. Jones told a reporter on Jan. 19 that he and about two dozen people gathered for 4½ minutes to block the area near an Interstate 290 ramp. The number of minutes blocking the road signified each hour Michael Brown's body lay in the street after a police officer shot him dead in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.
The grand jury's decision last fall not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Mr. Brown in Missouri sparked national outrage. The "I Can't Breathe" movement grew a few weeks later, as news circulated of Eric Garner's death in Staten Island after an officer pinned him down in a chokehold. Mr. Garner was recorded on video telling officers 11 times before he died that he couldn't breathe.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson took to social media around that time to share a chant-like song for protesters to sing titled "I Can't Breathe." The lyrics include the line, "Calling out the violence of the racist police, we ain't gonna stop 'til people are free," which Kelley Square protesters sang during the Jan. 19 protest.
In a video of the Kelley Square demonstration posted on YouTube by the Future Focus Media Coop, some motorists honked their horns and seemed agitated as protesters held hands to form a human chain that spanned Route 122A outside the Hotel Vernon. At one point, the protesters parted to allow an ambulance, with its emergency lights on, to pass through the intersection. Then they resumed their positions blocking traffic.
Mr. Blackwell Gibbs was depicted in the video jumping up on a honking truck's cab when the driver pulled close to protesters and blared his horn. Mr. Blackwell Gibbs was seen screaming at the man. Then he jumped off the vehicle and walked away.
When reached for comment about the summonses today, Mr. Blackwell Gibbs wrote in a Facebook message to a reporter, “It is actually … an attempt by the city government and the police to repress the protest movement in this city, therefore silencing the people."
I do agree that you should stand up for what you believe in, but in a legal way jumping up on peoples cars and screaming at them is just the wrong way to go about it. That would probably attract more negative attention than positive which when you're trying to protest that is not what you want. You want as many people on your side as possible. The act also took place in one of the most retarded places i mean really Kelly Square is already complicated enough, it still works out though there doesn't need to be anything in the way of ongoing traffic. Maybe on the sidewalk it be safer for everyone and they had a huge sign i don't think people will miss it. So if you are thinking about raising awareness of a problem be safe and try not to break the law.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
current event 3 for third quarter
WORCESTER - Appearing on a panel before a legislative proponent of marijuana legalization, top prosecutors on Wednesday made impassioned appeals against loosening restrictions on the substance.
David Sullivan mug 2015
David E. Sullivan
"We ought to turn ourselves into Denver, Colorado, where gummy bears are littering the streets that are made of marijuana?" asked Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe.
O'Keefe suggested inviting to Massachusetts law enforcement officials from Washington and Colorado, states where the drug can be bought and used legally, to help educate the public and policymakers.
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said today's marijuana is so powerful it is defined as hashish, and he said youthful drug and alcohol use leads to future criminality.
Sitting across from the panel of top prosecutors at a budget hearing at Quinsigamond Community College was Sen. Will Brownsberger, a Belmont Democrat and a supporter of marijuana legalization.
"So based on that line of argument, should we turn the clock back and prohibit alcohol?" Brownsberger asked.
"We are living with alcohol and its effects on society and they're not particularly good, but why would we want to compound that with respect to marijuana?" asked O'Keefe.
Berkshires District Attorney David Capeless said raising the drinking age would "make sense," but would be "near impossible."
Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in 2008, legalized medical marijuana in 2012 and could determine whether to fully legalize the drug in 2016.
Brownsberger criticized the current laws, which criminalize minors possessing alcohol but not marijuana.
"Certainly we should fix that, right?" Brownsberger said, calling the situation "the worst of both worlds."
Sullivan said he believes possession of alcohol as a minor should also be decriminalized and said no one wants young people to receive a criminal record for "having a Budweiser."
Another prosecutor indicated he did not agree with Sullivan.
Sen. Michael Moore, a Millbury Democrat, encouraged O'Keefe to "come out with the same passion" if marijuana legalization is on the ballot, and O'Keefe said lawmakers and others should help spread the word about marijuana's dangers.
"What kind of message are we sending to kids when the adult community, the responsible people, give the imprimatur that this drug is not a serious drug?" O'Keefe said, contrasting the recent relaxation of marijuana laws with the widespread concern about opioid addictions and overdoses.
Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey have all recently expressed their opposition to full marijuana legalization.
Everyone has an opinion on everything different people grew up with different morals and were taught different things. Legalizing marijuana is a very big thing right now there are some studies saying it's not good for you and many others saying it is. Personally I believe that marijuana is not only natural, unlike prescription pills that are filled with chemicals that could cause long term or even permanent effects, that it has many good uses to it. It helps people who have A.D.H.D., depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain from any kind of injury and so much more. Tommy Chong used marijuana oils to cure his cancer and he is now 99% cancer free! Theres also another story I read about where a father gave his daughter with cancer a controlled amount of marijuana and though he was arrested for it because she was a minor it worked. Hemp can also be used to make cloth. I think that the government has been trying to prevent the use of marijuana for so long because of the fact that it is so useful, it could solve so many problems and even save money, but it is all about power,"There is more money to be made in treating a disease than curing it, why cure someone of cancer in a day when we can bill them for a lifetime", I heard this on family guy but it do belive that it is a true statement though I disagree with it very much. Though I do believe it should be legal I do also believe there should be an age restriction. If it is used for say helping cure a childs cancer I agree children should be able to use it as long as it is controlled and only distributed by a parent or guardian.
David Sullivan mug 2015
David E. Sullivan
"We ought to turn ourselves into Denver, Colorado, where gummy bears are littering the streets that are made of marijuana?" asked Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe.
O'Keefe suggested inviting to Massachusetts law enforcement officials from Washington and Colorado, states where the drug can be bought and used legally, to help educate the public and policymakers.
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said today's marijuana is so powerful it is defined as hashish, and he said youthful drug and alcohol use leads to future criminality.
Sitting across from the panel of top prosecutors at a budget hearing at Quinsigamond Community College was Sen. Will Brownsberger, a Belmont Democrat and a supporter of marijuana legalization.
"So based on that line of argument, should we turn the clock back and prohibit alcohol?" Brownsberger asked.
"We are living with alcohol and its effects on society and they're not particularly good, but why would we want to compound that with respect to marijuana?" asked O'Keefe.
Berkshires District Attorney David Capeless said raising the drinking age would "make sense," but would be "near impossible."
Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in 2008, legalized medical marijuana in 2012 and could determine whether to fully legalize the drug in 2016.
Brownsberger criticized the current laws, which criminalize minors possessing alcohol but not marijuana.
"Certainly we should fix that, right?" Brownsberger said, calling the situation "the worst of both worlds."
Sullivan said he believes possession of alcohol as a minor should also be decriminalized and said no one wants young people to receive a criminal record for "having a Budweiser."
Another prosecutor indicated he did not agree with Sullivan.
Sen. Michael Moore, a Millbury Democrat, encouraged O'Keefe to "come out with the same passion" if marijuana legalization is on the ballot, and O'Keefe said lawmakers and others should help spread the word about marijuana's dangers.
"What kind of message are we sending to kids when the adult community, the responsible people, give the imprimatur that this drug is not a serious drug?" O'Keefe said, contrasting the recent relaxation of marijuana laws with the widespread concern about opioid addictions and overdoses.
Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey have all recently expressed their opposition to full marijuana legalization.
Everyone has an opinion on everything different people grew up with different morals and were taught different things. Legalizing marijuana is a very big thing right now there are some studies saying it's not good for you and many others saying it is. Personally I believe that marijuana is not only natural, unlike prescription pills that are filled with chemicals that could cause long term or even permanent effects, that it has many good uses to it. It helps people who have A.D.H.D., depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain from any kind of injury and so much more. Tommy Chong used marijuana oils to cure his cancer and he is now 99% cancer free! Theres also another story I read about where a father gave his daughter with cancer a controlled amount of marijuana and though he was arrested for it because she was a minor it worked. Hemp can also be used to make cloth. I think that the government has been trying to prevent the use of marijuana for so long because of the fact that it is so useful, it could solve so many problems and even save money, but it is all about power,"There is more money to be made in treating a disease than curing it, why cure someone of cancer in a day when we can bill them for a lifetime", I heard this on family guy but it do belive that it is a true statement though I disagree with it very much. Though I do believe it should be legal I do also believe there should be an age restriction. If it is used for say helping cure a childs cancer I agree children should be able to use it as long as it is controlled and only distributed by a parent or guardian.
current event 2 for third quarter
WORCESTER -- A man armed with a gun was apparently more interested in the cash than the sandwich he just ordered inside a Subway sandwich shop Wednesday night on Stafford Street.
Police are now looking for the robber, who they said went into the store at 120 Stafford St. around 9:30 p.m. and ordered something to eat.
"The suspect then went into the bathroom and came out brandishing a semi-automatic handgun," police said. "He demanded money from the clerk and jumped over the counter. The suspect proceeded to take the cash out of the register and place it in his pockets."
No one inside the sub shop was injured. The suspect ran off toward Webster Square.
Police described the suspect as a white male, possibly in his mid-20s, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a large build. The man wore a blue hooded-sweatshirt, baseball hat, a bandana over his face, jeans and black sneakers.
Anyone with information can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.
Too many people are committing crimes because of many different reasons. Though they could be seeking help. There are many organizations out there designed to help people in need. If you are homeless, or on the verge of becoming homeless, if you are jobless, if your family is dysfunctional and many more. There is no reason these people can't be helped, but many may not know that and a lot of them aren't willing to seek out the help. so they resort to committing criminal acts. I think we should promote help to people who need it more often and help people in need more. If you find the man who committed this crime the numbers to reach authority are in the story above.
Police are now looking for the robber, who they said went into the store at 120 Stafford St. around 9:30 p.m. and ordered something to eat.
"The suspect then went into the bathroom and came out brandishing a semi-automatic handgun," police said. "He demanded money from the clerk and jumped over the counter. The suspect proceeded to take the cash out of the register and place it in his pockets."
No one inside the sub shop was injured. The suspect ran off toward Webster Square.
Police described the suspect as a white male, possibly in his mid-20s, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a large build. The man wore a blue hooded-sweatshirt, baseball hat, a bandana over his face, jeans and black sneakers.
Anyone with information can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.
Too many people are committing crimes because of many different reasons. Though they could be seeking help. There are many organizations out there designed to help people in need. If you are homeless, or on the verge of becoming homeless, if you are jobless, if your family is dysfunctional and many more. There is no reason these people can't be helped, but many may not know that and a lot of them aren't willing to seek out the help. so they resort to committing criminal acts. I think we should promote help to people who need it more often and help people in need more. If you find the man who committed this crime the numbers to reach authority are in the story above.
current event 1 for third quarter
A quarrel at a large party in Worcester led to a shooting that left one man dead and one woman injured early Sunday morning, police said. Police went to an apartment on Narragansett Avenue about 5 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a problem at a large party, according to a statement. At the scene, which was covered in empty beer bottles, police learned that multiple gunshots had been heard coming from inside the apartment and that a 28-year-old woman had recently arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound.Police entered the apartment through a door that had been left ajar and found Christian Omar Puello-Rosado, 27, of Worcester, on the floor with a gunshot wound. Puello-Rosado was pronounced dead at 5:18 a.m., police said. No one else was found inside the apartment. Police said the female victim was uncooperative with the investigation, but witnesses said Puello-Rosado and an unknown person or persons had a quarrel at the party, during which someone fired a gun, striking Puello-Rosado and the female victim. A friend quickly pulled the injured woman from the apartment and took her to the hospital. Everyone else at the party fled.
March 22-23 this took place not too far from my house. The woman who was shot was brought to the hospital I live behind, her car was left in my driveway! Besides the fact that i was awoken at 5:30 in the morning because of the police investigating the car, i think it is upsetting how much crime is committed in Worcester and it has a very different effect on your life when the crime takes place near you or your family. Me being nosy listened to everything the police said outside of my house though at times when I could not make out what they said the story got very confusing so much that i thought the woman had been killed and dumped on my lawn near my tree. That was not the case though. Although I did hear that the person who brought the young woman to the hospital left shortly after bringing her.
It's scary to think how close all this is to the people that we care about. That could have been you or your family. Hopefully some day we can do something about all of this gun violence and just stick to hunting animals, let the army worry about shooting people.
March 22-23 this took place not too far from my house. The woman who was shot was brought to the hospital I live behind, her car was left in my driveway! Besides the fact that i was awoken at 5:30 in the morning because of the police investigating the car, i think it is upsetting how much crime is committed in Worcester and it has a very different effect on your life when the crime takes place near you or your family. Me being nosy listened to everything the police said outside of my house though at times when I could not make out what they said the story got very confusing so much that i thought the woman had been killed and dumped on my lawn near my tree. That was not the case though. Although I did hear that the person who brought the young woman to the hospital left shortly after bringing her.
It's scary to think how close all this is to the people that we care about. That could have been you or your family. Hopefully some day we can do something about all of this gun violence and just stick to hunting animals, let the army worry about shooting people.
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