Allegedly failed to signal giving a lane change. Video captures her saying you are slamming my head and the ground and an i can hear. She was then jailed with bond set at 5,000. Three days later, she was found dead in her jail cell. Authorities now say sandrabland committed suicide. Her family strongly disputes that account. We will speak with Sandra Blands sister Sharon Cooper and with the familys attorney cannon lambert. Any Blacklivesmatter Movement takes center stage. Lets be clear, every single day folks are dying. Not being able to take another breath. We are in a state of emergency. We are in a state of emergency and if we if you dont feel that emergency, youre not human. Amy we will speak with a three founders of the Blacklivesmatter Movement, Patrisse Cullors alicia garza and opal tometi for hosting a movement for black lives convening in cleveland this weekend. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In lafayette, louisiana, at three people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a packed movie theater. The shooter, described by authorities as a lone white male, killed two people and wounded nine others before fatally shooting himself. The shooting came the same day a jury in colorado unanimously concluded james holmes could face the Death Penalty for his mass shooting in an aurora movie theater, which left 12 people dead almost exactly three years ago. Just hours before the shooting in louisiana, president obama told the bbc the failure to pass gun control laws in the United States is his biggest frustration. If you ask me where has been the one area where i feel that i have been most frustrated and most stymied, it is the fact that the United States of america is the one advanced nation on earth in which we do not have sufficient common sense gun safety laws, even in the face of repeated mass killings. And, you know, if you look at the number of americans killed since 9 11 by terrorism, it is less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it is in the tens of thousands. Amy turkey has taken two major steps to escalate the war against the selfproclaimed Islamic State following mondays deadly suicide bomb attack in the turkish city of suruc. The turkish government agreed thursday to allow the United States to use two of the countrys air bases, a move that one Obama Administration official told the New York Times was a game changer. Turkish forces also carried out the countrys first direct attacks against the selfproclaimed Islamic State, shelling militants along the turkishsyria border and launching airstrikes against targets in syria. Meanwhile, the Turkish Police detained more than 250 people in turkey this morning in raids targeting both suspected isil members and suspected kurdish militants. In related news, syrian army has launched an offensive to recapture the historic city of palmyra, which has been under the control of the selfproclaimed Islamic State since late may. U. S. Defense secretary ash carter announced today that a u. S. Airstrike killed a senior alqaeda operational commander two weeks ago. The announcement comes as the u. S. Has stepped up its airstrikes in afghanistan this summer, despite obamas announcement earlier this year the u. S. Had officially ended combat operations in the country. President obama is arriving in kenya today in his first visit to his fathers birthplace since taking office. He is holding talks in the capital nairobi about trade security counterterrorism, and human rights before visiting ethiopia, working the first time a sitting president has visited the country. At least 10,000 Police Officers have been deployed across nairobi to ensure a obamas security. Obamas speech before the African Union will mark the first time a sitting u. S. President has addressed the body. In news from japan, the countrys former Prime MinisterTomiichi Murayama joined the protests aimed at stopping the government from rewriting japans pacifist constitution. The 91yearold joined a crowd of more than 2000 people gathered outside the Japanese Parliament building to denounce thursday the security bills passed by the parliaments lower house a week ago. The measures would clear the way for Japanese Forces to fight overseas for the First Time Since world war ii. He vowed to defend the peas constitution. I dont know how many years i have left, but as long as i live, i will do everything i can to protect the peace constitution. Lets all Work Together for this. Amy in news from mexico, the countrys independent National HumanRights Commission has found serious flaws in the states investigation of the disappearance of 43 students last year from the Southern State of guerrero. The commissions report, issued thursday, said that the Attorney Generals Office has failed to investigate the suspects in the case and has not even gathered basic information about the students from the teachers college, who authorities claim were killed by a local drug gang after being detained by local police. His reports appointed of the possible role of federal authorities. Their disappearance sparked mass protests and calls for a mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto to resign. Commission president gonzales spoke thursday. The case has proven the level of barbarity we have reached, in this is just one case. The abandonment of the law and forgetting justice. It waller joins other great situations that of happened before and others that of happened after that makes it evident that as long as authoritys do not watch after human rights when they occur, we will continue to be witnesses to similar incidents that we do not want. Amy meanwhile, in two related incidents this week, mexican soldiers are being accused of fatally shooting a 12yearold boy on sunday in the western indigenous state of michoacan and for being involved in the kidnapping of 7 people found dead saturday in the Northern State of zacatecas. Law enforcement officials in Waller County, texas, say the cause of Sandra Blands death in Police Custody was suicide. Bland was initially stopped for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. Dashcam footage shows texas state trooper Brian Encinia forcibly removed her from her car and threatened to light her up after she failed to put out her cigarette. On thursday, assistant prosecutor Warren Diepraam said preliminary autopsy results indicate bland hanged herself in jail. The only injury which was president on her head or neck was what is called a ligature thorough, or ligature mark. This is consistent with a suicide and according to the institute of Forensic Science because the mark on her neck which i will show pictures of at the completion of this discussion, is a uniform and consistent mark around the neck of ms. Bland. Had this been a violent struggle or a murder, you would most likely not expect to see a consistent and uniformed ligature mark around her neck. Amy Sandra Blands family has questioned the official account, saying they dont believe she committed suicide. We will speak with Sandra Blands sister, Sharon Cooper, and the familys attorney, after headlines. House lawmakers have passed a measure to block states from requiring labeling of genetically modified foods. The measure would nullify existing gmo labeling laws which have passed but not yet taken effect in vermont, connecticut and maine. , dubbed the denying americans the right to know or dark act, the bill was backed by corporate food interests, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association and monsanto. Democratic president ial candidate Hillary Clinton may face a criminal investigation over the private email account that she used while serving as secretary of state. Two inspector generals have asked the department of justice to open an investigation over whether she mishandled classified information by using a private email address and private server. The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will take up the investigation. Meanwhile, in more news from the clinton campaign, the intercept is reporting that at least one of clintons top campaign lobbyists is also a registered lobbyist for the private prison giant geo group, raising questions about the candidates recent statement that, if elected, she would work to end mass incarceration. And in chile, a judge has charged former military officers 10 in the 1973 murder of the beloved singer and political activist victor jara. A member of the communist party, jara was brutally murdered after the coup of u. S. Backed dictator augusto pinochet. Soliders cut off his fingers broke his hands and wrists and finally shot him more than 40 times. His family has long sought justice in his case. Following the judges announcement, four of the ten former officers turned themselves in immediately. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. Nermeen welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Law enforcement officials in Waller County, texas, have concluded that the cause of 28yearold africanamerican woman Sandra Blands death in Police Custody was suicide. Bland was initially stopped for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. In a nationally televised press conference thursday, assistant prosecutor Warren Diepraam said preliminary autopsy results indicate bland hanged herself in her jail cell three days after the traffic stop escalated into an arrest. The only injury which was present on her neck or head was what is called a ligature thorough or a ligature mark. This is consistent with a suicide according to the institute of Forensic Science because the mark on her neck, which i will show pictures of us completion of this discussion, is a uniform and consistent mark around the neck of ms. Bland. Had this been a violent struggle or a murder, he would most likely not expect to see a consistent and uniformed ligature mark around her neck. Nermeen diepraam said the report showed no defensive injuries that are typical in cases of violent homicide. But he said it did find indications bland had tried to harm herself before. Suicide has become a possible issue in this particular case. As to that, there were on her left arm what they pathologist conducting the autopsy described as cut marks. There were approximately 30 cut marks on her left wrist, which were also in a state of healing. These roughly 30 cut marks were both in a state of scarring and scabbing indicating they may have been placed on her body roughly two to four weeks prior to her incarceration. Nermeen earlier this week Waller County sheriff glenn smith said bland told jailers she had previously attempted suicide, but blands family and friends dispute claims she was suicidal and have called for a second autopsy to be conducted. They also say there is no evidence she previously tried to kill herself. Many argue bland should never have been arrested in the first place. She was in Waller County to begin a new job at prairie view a m, a historically black university. On her way to campus, she was pulled over for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. Dashcam video of what turned into her arrest shows texas state trooper Brian Encinia approaching the drivers side of blands car and asking her why she appears to be irritated. Bland responds, acknowleding she is a little irritated because , you were speeding up, tailing me, so i move over, and you stop me. Moments later, encinia tells bland to extinguish her cigarette. Bland objects and points out shes in her own car. At that point, encinia orders bland out of her car. When bland refuses, encinia threatens to forcibly remove her. You seem very irritated. I really am. I was getting out of your way. You were telling me, so i move over, and you stop me. Yeah, i am a little irritated. But that doesnt stop you from giving me a ticket, so. Are you done . You ask me what was wrong and i told you, so now im done yes. Ok. Do you mind putting out your cigarette, please . If you dont mind . Im in my car, why do i have to put out my cigarette . Well, you can step on out now. I dont have to. Step out of the car. Why step out of the car. You do not have the right to do that. I do have the right. Nermeen as the dashcam video continues, officer encinia escalates the situation when he threatens to light her up why am i being apprehended . I am giving you a lawful order. I am going to drag you out of here. Your threatening to drag me out of my own car. Get out of the car i will light you up amy a video taken by bystander shows sandra bland singh she was slammed to the ground and can no longer here. You slammed into the ground. I cant even hear. You slammed me into the ground and everything. Amy sandra bland was then taken to jail. She had 5,000 bond set. Three days later, her body was found in her jail cell. Sandra blands body was returned to the chicago area after the first autopsy, where she lived. Her funeral will be held there saturday. As her case continues to draw national scrutiny. We go now to chicago where we are joined by Sharon Cooper, who is Sandra Blands sister. Also with us is cannon lambert the attorney representing Sandra Blands family. We welcome both of you to democracy now sharon, first, our condolences to your family on this terrible loss. Thank you very much. Amy can you respond to the texas authorities saying that sandra committed suicide using the plastic garbage bag liner that was in her jail cell . I wish that i could provide you with a thorough response. Unfortunately, we have not received a copy of their completed autopsy or any type of the luminary report. Everything we have received to this point has been through the media, so i steal feel very i still feel very misinformed. Amy what was your reaction to thes conference yesterday and to you feel they should have met with you before they held a News Conference . We would love to have documentation to at least look through it, understand it, and post questions. To this point, they have not provided us with anything, although we have asked time and time again since we were initially notified last monday that our sister passed away in their custody. Nermeen Sharon Cooper, your response to the claims or sister had a previous Suicide Attempt . What we have seen in the jail documents that have referenced again, have been seen only through the media, nothing has been given to us directly. What i have seen i can assure you that it doesnt contain her signature, so we question the authenticity of those documents as well. Nermeen i would like to ask cannon lambert, the attorney representing Sandra Blands family, if you could talk about your response to the per luminary results of the autopsy report, and what the significance is legally of the fact that they claim that a lot of marijuana was found in sandra bland system . First, thanks. I will be honest with you, the trickling of information relative to the autopsy is a little troubling. Normally what will happen, you will get the full autopsy and then youre able to review it as opposed to just getting snow information. That being said, as a result as it relates to the legal aspect of marijuana being in her system, frankly, im not sure it has any real relevance to either of the two circumstances that we find ourselves in. If you look at, for example the stop. Theres no question about the fact she was lucid. Theres no question that she was not in any way intoxicated. The officer did not look to try and arrest her on those grounds and in fact, the documentation they. 2, though we dont know the authenticity of it as mentioned, they dont make a reference to it of her being intoxicated or having been arrested because of intoxication. If you look at her responses you can see she is responsive in a very real way, in a way that psychologically or otherwise she is not altered in any way. And then when you move to the jail aspect of this case, you know, the thing is, practically, on a legal front, it is a must better for a civil litigation case if in fact she were to have obtained marijuana in the jail. That just allies any sort of belies any sort of real logical that they were doing what they needed to do at the jail if she were able to do that. So you also ask yourself about whether or not they did inadequate search. Presumptively, there wonder tell us she did. How would she have brought marijuana into the jail to consume it as has been kind ofs adjusted . There is no real legal relevance as far as im concerned a