African descendants face plague of racism NYPD
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Caribbean Life, June 26-July 2, 2020 11
authoritarian regimes in the
world like Cuba, China, and Iran
have systemic racial disparities
in countries.
The western allies on the
UNCHR, including Australia,
Germany, Poland, and the European
Union, were swayed by the
US argument and thwarted the
Africa efforts.
The adopted resolution is a
disingenuous face-saving outcome:
how can the UNHRC back
away from its most intrusive
scrutiny mechanism, the creation
of commission of inquiry,
to that of a report.
To make matters worse, the
UNHRC assigned itself a full
year for the completion of the
report. It took just a week (June
22, 2020) for the reputable advocacy
group Amnesty International
to put together a comprehensive
report “USA: End
unlawful police violence against
Black Lives Matter protests” on
police brutality and the protest
movement in America following
the death of Mr. Floyd.
Credit however must be given
to the African states for initiating
the “urgent debate” on Mr.
Floyd’s murder and racial injustice
and police impunity in the
United States.
It is only the fifth time in
the UNHRC 14-year history
that such a debate has been
convened: the first one against
Israel over the flotilla incident in
June 2010; and the other three
on Syria, in February 2012, May
2013 and March 2018.
For a moment, it appeared
the debate might not happen
despite worldwide protests. First,
UN activities had been suspended
since the Covid-19 pandemic
first struck in early March 2020.
Second, senior UN leadership
vacillated on how to respond and
sent conflicting messages to UN
staffers on what role, if any, they
could play.
Beyond using tweets, António
Guterres, the current UN Secretary
General made no media
appearance or formal remarks
on the subject. Through his surrogates
some guidance was provided.
On June 3, the UN effectively
banned UN staff from engaging
in peaceful protest stating
that UN staff regulations makes
the “participation in public demonstrations
in the current circumstances
may not be consistent
with the independence
and impartiality required of . . .
international civil servants.”
The contradiction between
the UN ideals for civil rights and
the prohibitive guidance that
discourage action toward such
ideals became evident.
Sensing the civil rights disconnect
and dissatisfaction of
the UN staff, the UN reversed
course. Secretary-General
Guterres on June 9, sent a letter
to the UN staff and maintained
that the earlier guidance was
not a prescription for neutrality
or impartiality on the matter at
hand but rather that “the guidance
was meant to emphasize
the need to balance protest
activities with one’s best judgement
as international civil servants
and our official duties.”
In order words, protest
engagements could be carried
out but in a solely private capacity.
The guidance provided is
quite timorous and stands in
stark contrast to efforts by UN
staffers who participated in protest
movements of yesterday.
One such person is Ralph
Bunche, a co-drafter of the
UN Charter, the first African-
American Nobel Peace laureate,
in 1950, and an UN Under
Secretary-General for Special
Political Affairs who joined several
civil rights protest marches,
sometimes donning the UN flag
and publicly pledging the UN
support for the movement.
While not a panacea, a formal
international investigation
would have served as a clarion
call to end and repair racial
injustice and projected the UN
as an agent of change to institutional
racism.
It also would have signaled a
firm commitment by the world
organization to the promotion
of fundamental freedoms for all
persons as enshrined in the UN
charter, the organization’s constitution
which was signed some
seventy-five ago this month.
OP-EDS
defect in the manner in which
police in New York City are disciplined.
In addition, it should
not take seven years, as it did in
the Eric Garner case, for appropriate
discipline of a police officer
to be determined.
No longer should the NYPD
be permitted to police itself. It
has failed in that mission. What
is needed is an independent
Inspector General elected by the
public to determine the appropriate
internal discipline for
police officers who have committed
wrongful acts.
The New York City Charter
must be amended to create
that position with its purpose
to ensure swift discipline of
those officers who have violated
their oath. This will reinstate
the trust and respect which has
been badly damaged by acts of
brutality recently caught on
video. The public needs to have
trust in our police restored to
enable them to effectively perform
the very important mission
they have in our society.
Sanford Rubenstein, Esq.
Dr. Fell and her dedicated staff want to
welcome you back to the office for your
regular eye care treatments.
During the COVID pandemic we
necessarily limited care to patients with
urgent or emergent eye care needs. Telemedicine,
prescription refills and completion
of DMV forms were also provided. We are
happy to now be available for routine eye
care at our facility.
Due to our “new normal” all patients
are required to wear a mask to enter our
facility. Other safety procedures have also
been implemented to safeguard the safety
of both staff and patients.
• To limit crowding, patients can be
accompanied by only one family member
or attendant.
• Since we are attempting to keep
our waiting room empty, we encourage
patients to keep their appointments and
come on time.
• Upon arrival, patients will be asked a
series of screening questions, have their
temperature taken and asked to handsanitize.
• We are maintaining the recommended
six-feet social distancing in all areas of
the office.
• New plexiglass screens have been
installed in our reception area and on all
machinery to enhance safety.
• Each exam room is thoroughly
sanitized after each patient.
• Air purifiers have also been installed
throughout the office.
We recognize the uncertainty of
seeking an in-person eye exam during
this unsettling time. You can also take
advantage of our new tele-medicine
option where Dr. Fell conducts telephone
or video calls with patients. Just call our
office to determine whether you should be
seen in person or whether Dr. Fell can help
you virtually. It is surprising how many
patients can be helped this way!
Some urgent conditions include
symptoms of decreased vision, distorted
vision, an increase in new floaters or
flashing lights, a curtain coming down
in front of your eyes, double vision,
sensitivity to light, new trauma to the eye,
among others.
If you are not sure, call our office to
make an appointment at
718-339-6868
We are happy to help you!
Stay safe, wear a mask and remember
to maintain social distancing.
Millie R. Fell, MD
Brighton Eye Reopens with
Safety Measures to Keep You Safe!