Top 5 Live –WURD Friday March 13
1. Giuliani: Darren Wilson should be ‘commended’
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani argued on Thursday that
Darren Wilson, the white police officer who last summer shot and killed unarmed black teen Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, should be praised for doing his job.
“What happened in Ferguson is a man committed a robbery, attempted to assault a police officer and the police officer — to save his life — shot him,” Giuliani said on Fox News’ “American Newsroom. “The police officer did his duty. The police officer should be commended for what he did.”
The Republican’s remarks came the day after Ferguson was again rocked by violence when two police officers were shot and injured outside the city’s police department. The violence occurred as protesters began to disperse after a demonstration surrounding the resignation of Ferguson’s police chief Tom Jackson.
2. Secret Service agents disrupted bomb investigation at White House
Two Secret Service agents suspected of driving under the influence and striking a White House security barricade disrupted an active bomb investigation and may have driven over the suspicious package itself.
These and other details about the March 4 incident emerged Thursday, prompting questions from lawmakers, including whether a Secret Service supervisor ordered officers to let the agents go home without facing sobriety testing.
An investigation is centering on two senior agents, including a top supervisor on President Obama’s protective detail.
3. Philly buses ordered to accept ads featuring Hitler
Philadelphia’s transit system has been ordered to accept provocative ads that include a 1941 photograph of Adolf Hitler with a former Arab leader after a federal judge ruled in favor of a pro-Israel group’s free-speech lawsuit.
The proposed bus ads carry a tagline saying: “Jew Hatred: It’s in the Quran.”
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority believes the ads violate “minimal civility standards” and will consider an appeal.
The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported on Wednesday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg.
4. Univision fires anchor for racist Michelle Obama insult
The Spanish-language network announced that Rodner Figueroa, an Emmy Award-winning host and presenter, had been fired for the remarks he made on Wednesday.
“Yesterday during our entertainment program ‘El Gordo y La Flaca’ Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision’s values or views,” Univision said in a statement. “As a result, Mr. Figueroa was immediately terminated.”
In a broadcast on Wednesday, Figueroa said, “Michelle Obama looks like she’s part of the cast of ‘Planet of the Apes.’” Figueroa made the comments as a photo of the first lady was shown on screen
5. State, county police take over Ferguson protest security after shooting
With tensions running high after the shooting of two officers in Ferguson, Missouri, St. Louis County Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol will assume command of protest-related security, while Ferguson Police will remain responsible for routine policing services.
The takeover comes less than a day after two police officers standing guard outside Ferguson police headquarters were shot in what St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar called an “ambush,” spurring a manhunt for those responsible.
“We could have buried two police officers,” Belmar told reporters. “… I feel very confident that whoever did this … came there for whatever nefarious reason that it was.”
Click here to read these stories on 900amWURD.
Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com and morning host on 900 am WURD radio. Click here to learn more about Solomon
