Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead Offers weak Apology to Victims of Police Brutality

By Kelli Anne Busey,

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed and Questioning community were offered an apology for the police brutality during the raid on the Rainbow Lounge. Many in the community wonder about the timing and value of Chief Halsteads apology and do not aggree with opinion being expressed in this video. We are also wondering why this apology has taken so long to be made.


Source NBCDFW

We are also wondering why Mayor Moncrief asked the Texas Attorney General to conduct a independent investigation and why the Attorneys Generals office took so long to reply.
What Happens in Ft. Worth Isn’t Staying There.

Clearly a Mayor of a major city would know or be advised that the attorney general would refuse such a request.

I would like to know why it took the attorney Generals office so long to respond.

We would like to know if the FBI was asked to investigate as the Attorney General suggested and what the FBI's response is.

I would like to know why it took two weeks for Mayor Moncrief to hold a public forum were the Rainbow Lounge incident could be discussed and why Mayor Moncrief was surprised when the LGBT community would not wait until the wee hours to discuss police brutality.

Yes Mayor Moncrief you may have to throw QueerLiberaction members out of council meetings again if you beat us, falsely arrest us, trample on our civil rights ND THEN ATTEMPT TO IGNORE US.
Gay Activists Kicked out of Council Hearing on Rainbow Lounge Raid.

Mayor Moncrief must be held accountable for the actions of men and woman who are empowered by the city to up hold the law.
Fort Worth TABC Supervisor steps down in wake of Rainbow Lounge Raid

The police chiefs apology IS weak. The officers who decided to wear unauthorized uniforms and beat up American citizens must be fired and arrested for breaching criminal and civilian law.

Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally at Tarrant County Courthouse


Top Blog Sites 'Police Brutality'

Dwight R. DeLee receives max of 25 years for shooting death of Lateisha Green

TLDEF Statement on Sentencing in Lateisha Green Trial

"NEW YORK, NY - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today welcomed Judge William Walsh's sentencing of convicted killer Dwight R. DeLee to the maximum term of 25 years in prison in connection with the shooting death of Lateisha Green. Green, a 22-year-old African American transgender woman was shot and killed by DeLee on Nov. 14, 2008 in Syracuse, NY. On July 17, a 12-member jury found 20-year-old DeLee guilty of manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon. DeLee's conviction for committing a hate crime is the first involving the death of a transgender person in New York State. It is only the second such conviction in United States history. In addition to the sentence for manslaughter, DeLee was sentenced to a concurrent term of 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison on the weapon possession conviction."

"Today, a measure of justice has been delivered for Lateisha Green and her family with the imposition of the maximum sentence for this crime," said TLDEF Executive Director and attorney Michael Silverman. "While nothing can make up for the loss Lateisha's family has suffered, this sentence helps to bring some closure to Lateisha's family. The sentence sends a clear message that violence targeted at transgender people will be heavily penalized."

"Silverman has been working with the family since Lateisha's death in November. He was on the ground in Syracuse throughout the trial working closely with Lateisha's family. TLDEF collaborated with its sister organizations, including the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Empire State Pride Agenda and the Rainbow Alliance of Central New York."

"Transgender Americans continue to face a serious risk of violence and discrimination. African American transgender women are at particularly high risk," added Silverman. "Neither New York State law nor federal law includes gender identity or expression as hate crime categories and that sends a dangerous message that it is acceptable to leave part of our community vulnerable to hateful acts of violence simply because of who they are. We call upon our state and federal lawmakers to ensure adoption of transgender-inclusive legislation that will protect everyone regardless of their gender identity and gender expression."

Following the sentencing, Lateisha Green's family released this statement:

"Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that violence motivated by anti-transgender bias is unacceptable and wrong. It affects everyone in a community and it has left many hurt and distraught. We can only hope that Teish’s story will prevent any more loss of life simply because someone is different."

"It has been a little over nine months since Teish was taken away from us. On November 14, 2008, Dwight DeLee aimed a rifle and shot Teish. All it took was one bullet to pierce her heart. That one bullet ended Teish’s life and all of the possibilities that could have been a part of her future."

"That one bullet took away our brave and beloved family member and friend. But it also pierced our hearts and left us all feeling fearful, sad and angry. All of our hopes and dreams that we had for Teish were taken away from us simply because Teish was transgender. One bullet shattered all of our lives."

"Every possibility for Teish slipped away when Dwight DeLee shot and killed her. But today’s sentencing by the judge has left us to believe that new possibilities have replaced old ones. A possibility to begin a conversation for reconciliation and understanding in Syracuse. A possibility to pass state and federal laws that would protect everyone from this kind of violence. A possibility to share Teish’s story so that nobody will ever have to know the feeling of losing a child because of that child's gender identity."

"We want to thank everyone who supported our family during this difficult process and helped us to share Teish’s story. No legal proceeding can provide full closure for us. But we know that closure will come into our hearts as we continue to share this story with the world. We can only hope that more conversations about Teish and her life will prevent another bullet from taking another life. Though Teish left us 9 months ago, she has given us all the possibility to work towards a better tomorrow.
Thank you."

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund