Houston Area Shooting Prompts Cries Of Racism

A false stolen vehicle report almost led to tragedy in the Houston area early Wednesday morning. The HoustonChron.com is reporting that 23 year-old Robert Tolan was the victim of racial profiling when he was shot by police early Wednesday morning. Tolan is the son of former Major League Baseball Player Bobby Tolan. Police stopped the younger Tolan and his cousin as they were exiting a 2004 Nissan Xterra and ordered them to the ground outside of his parents home. When Tolan's parents attempted to intervene, a police officer shoved Tolan's mother against a wall, Robert Tolan raised up in an apparent attempt to assist his mother when the police officer fired three shots with one of the shots hitting the 23 year-old. Tolan's injuries are not life threatening.

The officer involved in the shooting, Sgt. Jeff Cotton, has been placed on administrative leave, pending the results of an investigation. Neither Tolan or his cousin had a weapon on them, and since the police were acting on false information, the two young men were stopped without any true cause. I'm not sure the area police department can talk their way out of this one.

The Urban Debate Camp In Houston, TX

Inspired by the movie, The Great Debaters, Houstonian, Rodney Mays organized the Urban Debate Camp, which just concluded this week at Prairie View A&M University. Most of the participants came from the poorest neighborhoods of Houston, TX and earned a scholarship to enroll in the camp.

The lack of federal funding has eliminated many extra-curricular activities in the inner city school systems around the country. The idea of countrywide inner city debate camps would be an awesome way to impact the critical thinking and confidence of students. This would also give at risk children exposure to conditions outside of their normal environment.

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