1. U.S. and Texas Politics and Constitution Civil Rights II February 12, 2015
J. Bryan Cole
POLS 1336

2. Announcements Short Assignment #1 Midterm Exam I
Short Assignment #1 is due Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 11:59pm
ONLY those students who signed up for this Short Assignment will actually complete it
Please consult the master assignment list on Blackboard if you forgot which assignments you are to complete
If you still need to sign up for short assignments, please Delaram Peimani at
Midterm Exam I is on Thursday, February 19, 2015; we do NOT have class that day
If you have not already signed up for a CASA reservation to take Exam I, please do so
You are responsible for adhering to all CASA policies
Study guide now appears on Blackboard in the folder “Syllabus and Other Handouts”

3. Recent Events Concerning Race Relations
As a nation, where are we today in terms of race relations?
What does the controversy over the Brown and Garner deaths say about today’s race relations?
Where do we go from here?

4. Death of Michael Brown
On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, 18, shot by Officer Darren Wilson (Ferguson, Missouri, PD)
Conflicting accounts:
Brown was advancing toward Wilson
Brown was standing still, hands up

5. Protests Follow
Numerous protests occurred in the days following the shooting
A grand jury heard evidence as to whether to indict Officer Wilson, but it declined to do so on November 24, 2014
Later, federal officials revealed that they would not charge Officer Wilson with civil rights violations

6. Death of Eric Garner
On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, 43, died, following NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placing him in a chokehold during an arrest
A bystander used his cell phone to record this footage
On December 4, 2014, a grand jury declined to indict Officer Pantaleo in connection with Garner’s death

7. Race in America Today
President Obama addressed the nation, just after the Ferguson grand jury's decision was announced
Polls reveal deep racial divides over these issues, CBS News, December 10, 2014

8. Today’s Readings
Please read and discuss the editorial/op-ed/article that you have been assigned
Be prepared to explain the following to the class:
The reading’s thesis statement (the main point)
The author(s) and publication in which it appeared
Upon what evidence does s/he base this statement?
Do you agree or disagree with the position advanced in the reading? Why or why not?

9. Editorials and Op-eds to Discuss
Gwen's Take: After Ferguson - What I Learned. Gwen Ifill. PBS News Hour. September 26, 2014.
When Whites Just Don't Get It. Nicholas Kristof. New York Times. August 30, 2014.
The Unnecessary Death of Eric Garner. Editors. National Review. December 4, 2014.
Grand Juries Should Be Abolished. LaDoris Hazzard Cordell. Slate. Dec. 9, 2014.
Black people had the power to fix the problems in Ferguson before the Brown shooting. They failed. Charles Cobb. The Washington Post. September 18, 2014.
Beyond 'Black Lives Matter.' Charles M. Blow. New York Times. February 9, 2015.

10. Broader Questions to Consider
What does this case say about race relations in the United States today?
How can we, as individuals, act to move the nation forward?

11. Generally good Generally bad Don’t know
Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?
Generally good
Generally bad
Don’t know

12. Don’t know enough to say Don’t know
From what you know, do you think the shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson was justified, or not justified, or don’t you know enough to say?
Justified
Not justified
Don’t know enough to say
Don’t know

13. Satisfied but not pleased Disappointed but not angry Angry Don’t know
How do you feel about a grand jury's decision to not indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown --are you pleased, satisfied but not pleased, disappointed but not angry, or angry?
Pleased
Satisfied but not pleased
Disappointed but not angry
Angry
Don’t know

14. Satisfied but not pleased Disappointed but not angry Angry Don’t know
How do you feel about a grand jury's decision to not indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner --are you pleased, satisfied but not pleased, disappointed but not angry, or angry?
Pleased
Satisfied but not pleased
Disappointed but not angry
Angry
Don’t know