US POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY

Submitted by ub on

The New York City police force is once again under investigation for a second restraint-related death. This one reportedly took place on July 13 involving a drugged and emotionally disturbed Ronald Singleton, four days before a fatal videotaped choke-hold that fueled community outcry and led the department to overhaul its use-of-force training.

45 year old Singleton's death drew little attention at the time. But this homicide ruling places it into the category of police-related deaths under scrutiny after the July 17 chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island and the Aug. 9 fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

A United Nations racism watchdog is urging US public safety officials to stop the excessive use of force by police.

Minorities are victims of disparities, according this U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. These are their findings following the examination of current U.S. records.

"Racial and ethnic discrimination remains a serious and persistent problem in all areas of life from de facto school segregation, access to health care and housing".

In its conclusions this U.N. panel said "Stand Your Ground" Laws, a controversial self-defense statute in 22 U.S. states, should be reviewed to "remove far-reaching immunity and ensure strict adherence to principles of necessity and proportionality when deadly force is used for self-defense".

The U.N. monitors compliance with a treaty ratified by 177 countries including the US.