A House committee rejects an effort to provide a path to parole or retrial for the 1,500 Louisiana inmates who were convicted on non-unanimous verdicts before the practice was deemed racist and unconstitutional. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Protestors marched at the state capitol demanding justice for the death of Ronald Greene. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The House passes a bill banning K-12 and college trans athletes from participating in sports designated for biological females. Erik Piccoli has the story.
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”
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Legislation that would have provided a pathway to parole or retrial for the 1,500 Louisiana inmates with settled cases who were convicted non-unanimously is defeated in a House committee.
New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says Louisiana voters already deemed non-unanimous verdicts unconstitutional going forward, and that decision should be retroactive…
The US Supreme Court has also deemed non-unanimous verdicts unconstitutional but earlier this month ruled that states are not mandated to retry settled non-unanimous convictions.
Promise of Justice lawyer Jamila Johnson says her organization represents two-thirds of the 1,500 people in jail on non-unanimous convictions. She says their convictions were part of a racist policy.
Cut 5 (06)”…clients are Black.”
In its ruling that deemed non-unanimous verdicts unconstitutional the Supreme Court agreed that Louisiana’s non-unanimous felony convictions law was rooted in racist Jim Crow policy.
No one spoke against the bill in committee but it is opposed by the District Attorneys Association who say 1,500 retrials would be difficult, costly and harm victims. Johnson says that’s no excuse.
The final vote was 7-5.
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Some 200 protestors marched at the State Capitol Thursday demanding justice in the death of Ronald Greene, the black man who died during a 2019 traffic arrest in Union Parish by state troopers. Civil rights activists along with members of Greene’s family are calling on swift action to be taken for those responsible for his death. Eugene Collins with the NAACP…
Cut 7 (05) “…right now (cheering).”
Attorneys for the Greene family say they were initially told he died from injuries in a car crash after Greene led officers on a chase that ended in Union Parish. Body camera footage however later emerged showing Greene crying out he’s sorry as officers repeatedly punched, dragged, and used a stun gun on him while he was restrained.
Greene’s mother Mona Hardin joined protestors at the Capitol and thanked them for their support.
Baton Rouge Activist Gary Chambers called out elected leaders for allowing the cover-up of Greene’s death to go on for so long and put them on alert for not arresting the officers responsible for his death.
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement that he met with Hardin on Thursday and pledged that the state police are cooperating with the Union Parish District Attorney and the US Department of Justice in their investigations. ___________________________________
A bill prohibiting trans athletes from participating in K-12 and college girl’s and women’s sports passes in the House 77-17. Jefferson Representative Laurie Schlegel says the bill seeks to protect biological females and ensure a fair competitive environment…
Cut 10 (07) “…no longer exist.”
Opponents are concerned the bill would cause unintended economic consequences. New Orleans Representative Royce DuPlessis says businesses might be less likely to invest in Louisiana if this makes it into law…
Cut 11 (08) “…our business there.”
Schlegel says this won’t be an issue since states who have already passed similar legislation are hosting sponsored sporting events…
Cut 12 (07) “…Arkansas, Alabama, Tennesse.”
The bill has also been called discriminatory. Orleans representative Aimee Freeman says the legislation threatens to alienate an already vulnerable community…
Cut 13 (08) “…positive for them.”
The bill is headed to the governor’s desk where it’s expected to be vetoed.
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Police reform legislation covering a number of bases from body camera activation policies, to duty to intervene, and even bans on chokeholds is headed to the Governor’s desk.
The bill is the result of a policing policy reform task force established last year after the George Floyd Protests. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says it’s the result of a lot of discussion…
There was concern about the legislation’s limits on law enforcement’s authority to conduct nighttime no-knock warrants. James says it’s still allowed, but the process that must be followed to do so is now stricter…
The bill, by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields, cleared the House 97-1. The lone vote against came from Haughton Representative Dodie Horton. It cleared the Senate unanimously.