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The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating an incident where a group of its police officers brutally assaulted two Black men, leaving them both severely injured.According to the New York Post, the violence began Tuesday afternoon on Broadway near 169th Street. A civilian caught the episode on camera, which started with two officers confronting the men. Words were exchanged, and one of the officers used his baton to hit one of the men's head. The second officer followed suit, joining his colleague in the confrontation.Three plain-clothed individuals noticed the interaction and soon joined the fight. The NYPD disclosed these bystanders were two detectives and an off-duty deputy. Earlier Today ❗️ 😂 #funny #dominican NARRATORS 🇩🇴 #nypd #uptown #fights #fight #drama #washingtonheightsA post shared by THAT BOY LUCKY (@that_boy_lucky_) on Jan 8, 2019 at 7:07pm PSTBystanders said the men were smoking and blocking a stairwell. When authorities arrived at the scene and confronted the men, the fighting commenced. After reviewing the footage, New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio called the incident "really troubling." He received a briefing on the altercation and revealed early reports implied the two men "were creating a real problem for neighbors.""But that being said, the images I saw in that video were really troubling. And we need to know a lot more," Mayor DeBlasio said at a town hall on Wednesday. The New York Post identified the men as Aaron Grissom and Sydney Williams, both 36 years old. Williams has also been identified as William Sidney by other outlets. Speaking with The Post, Grissom claimed he was a victim of racial profiling and likened the attack to the brutal 1991 police beating of Los Angeles man Rodney King."I got beat down like I’m Rodney King," Grissom asserted. Grissom left the fight with three broken ribs and needed five stitches in his head. Williams suffered a bruised face. Following their detainment, Grissom and Williams were both booked with felony assault charges on a police officer, resisting arrest, menacing, disorderly conduct and loitering. NBC New York writes the NYPD union justified the excessive use of force by the authorities, as Grissom and Williams reportedly provoked the officers in order to become viral stars. Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Texas Mom Fighting Back After School Demands She Cut Her 6-Year-Old Son's LocsBlack Alabama Woman Is The First Known Transgender Person To Be Murdered In 2019Teen Boys Assault 11-Year-Old Girl For Refusing To Do Sexual Act As Her 'Friend' Posts The Attack On...

After President Donald Trump attempted to rescind the rights of Haitian immigrants to live in the United States, a trial in New York has begun to stall any further action.The Associated Press reports the suit revolves around the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to deem a foreign nation eligible for TPS if the country has a troublesome environment which could hinder its ability to function as a government entity. In this case, the 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 316,000 Haitians and left even more without resources deemed the island eligible for the program.In the wake of the earthquake, 50,000 survivors have been living and working temporarily in the United States. Much of the strife about Haitian immigrants allegedly overstaying their welcome triggered yet another racist remark from President Trump early last year. During an immigration reform meeting with lawmakers in January 2018, he famously asked, "Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries come here?" The AP obtained emails detailing how top officials in the Trump administration discounted just how dire the conditions were in Haiti. "The problem is that it reads as though we’d recommend an extension (of TPS) because we talk so much about how bad it is," Department of Homeland Security employee Kathy Kovarik wrote in an October 2017 email. A fellow administrator responded, "The basic problem is that it IS bad there. We can ... try to get more, and/or comb through the country conditions we have again looking for positive gems, but the conditions are what they are."The decision to end TPS for Haitian citizens has resulted in turmoil for migrants who worry about having to return to Haiti."It has been really stressful because we don't know how to plan our lives now," Haitian immigrant and recent college graduate Naischa Vilme lamented. Past administrations were reportedly more diligent about monitoring conditions in places affected by natural disaster or conflict before making decisions to renew or authorize TPS status to them. But the Trump administration has gone rogue, ignoring the well-being of nations benefiting from this program.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Trump Will Turn America Into A 'S**thole' Through His Racist Laws'It Is Chaos, It Is Fear': Two Haitian Activists On The Reality Of Living Under Trump's Racist Immigration PoliciesThis 10-Year-Old Activist Has A Message For Trump: 'Haitians Are Not...

After what she says were years of racial discrimination that include a request from a fellow teacher to speak in "slave talk," a Black educator in New York is fighting back.According to NBC News, Andrea Bryan has been a high school English teacher with the Cormack School District on Long Island for 17 years. In those 17 years, she was the only Black teacher at her school, and she says she has faced a parade of prejudiced remarks made by both faculty and scholars. In the lawsuit filed on December 19, Bryan asserts the discrimination became worse soon after she reported a grievance against the Cormack High School English department's head teacher in 2015. The Hill reports Bryan made the complaint after the teacher asked,  “Andrea, can you translate slave talk for me?” in front of their department as they made preparations to teach students The Crucible. In her suit, Bryan says the incident made her feel "humiliated, degraded and embarrassed."According to Insider, the very same teacher told her she couldn't have any of the food left out on the table in the English faculty lounge because it was "for whites only."That teacher was demoted following an investigation into Bryan's complaints. However, Bryan claims little action has been taken against students who have hurled slurs at her. For instance, her suit details a 2016 incident when a student called Bryan "Aunt Jemima" in front of a number of other students in the school cafeteria. While she sought a punishment for the student, the district decided not to take any action. The school district refused to comment on the allegations contained Bryan's lawsuit, telling NBC it is investigating the teacher's grievances. In a statement it said, "The district takes any allegation of discrimination seriously and, as a matter of policy and practice, acts swiftly in response to any claim."Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:New St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell Fires Attorney Who Presented Evidence In Michael Brown CaseFlorida Teen Accused Of Cheating by Educational Testing Officials After Her SAT Scores ImprovedIn A Historic First, 17 Black Women Have Been Sworn In As Judges In Harris County,...

A New Yorker is being lauded for making a citizen's arrest after a woman began attacking a passenger on a subway train, the New York Post reports. On Tuesday, 40-year-old Anna Lushchinskaya boarded a New York City subway train. Not long after, she began cursing at another woman. In footage captured by fellow rider Juan Ayala, the woman appeared to ignore Lushchinskaya until the 40-year-old hit her phone out of her hand.From there, Lushchinskaya increased the intensity of her attack, kicking the woman and hitting her with an umbrella as other passengers tried to get her to stop. The victim of the attack attempted to defend herself.So this happened yesterday #mta #36st #nyc pic.twitter.com/h3AqY6IP1n— PL∆T∆NO M∆N™ (@PlatanoMan) December 12, 2018Bystanders worked to separate the two women; however, things escalated again when Lushchinskaya, who is white, called the other woman, who is of Asian descent, a "f"**king c***k."pic.twitter.com/Hyv35HTUyT— PL∆T∆NO M∆N™ (@PlatanoMan) December 12, 2018Later during the ride, Lushchinskaya directed her insults toward Ayala, likening him to Mohamed Atta, one of the ringleaders behind the deadly September 11 terrorist attacks, writes The Gothamist. This interaction was captured and posted to Twitter by a user named Fabe:pic.twitter.com/4hsCHROpR5— Fabe (@BlipintheCosmos) December 13, 2018"What? B***h, I'm Dominican," Ayala said after Lushchinskaya made the comparison.The incident endded when Ayala accused Lushchinskaya of spitting at him. He told her he's "not the one" swept her to the floor, restraining her and making a citizen's arrest.Then she tried me so I had to detain her until the cops showed up 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/C3UybusAxaUpon exiting the train in Ayala's custody, Lushchinskaya was met by New York Police Department (NYPD) officials who immediately arrested her. She was booked on felony assault charges.The New York Daily News reports Lushchinskaya was arrested aboard the same train earlier this year in June. In that arrest, she also picked up assault charges.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Liking this content? Check these out:White Florida Students Made Racist Threats Against Their Black Teacher And Now They're Facing Hate Crime ChargesHomophobic NYC Man Who Attacked Woman For Same-Sex Kiss Charged With A Hate CrimeMother Speaks Out After 1-Year-Old Was Snatched From Her During Violent...

Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is promising to put her money where her mouth is when she settles in her new role as representative to New York's 14th district next month.Using her favorite social media platform of Twitter to deliver the good news, the future New York representative said that unlike other members of Congress who misinterpret intern help as free labor, she is vowing to pay her interns for their services. Time to walk the walk. Very few members of Congress actually pay their interns. We will be one of them. https://t.co/BuKCDSai0K— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 5, 2018"Very few members of Congress actually pay their interns. We will be one of them," her tweet read.She then called out her colleagues on the opposition regarding their stance on masking "fiscal responsibility" by employing an underpaid staff.It is unjust for Congress to budget a living wage for ourselves, yet rely on unpaid interns & underpaid overworked staff just bc Republicans want to make a statement about “fiscal responsibility.” If that’s the case, they can cut down on staff to pay them well. Or raise the MRA.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 3, 2018The next day, Ocasio-Cortez's chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, confirmed to the Washington Post that the incoming representative would pay her interns "at least" $15 per hour. In a celebrated move, Ocasio-Cortez was very transparent to her nearly two million Twitter followers, revealing the amount congressmen are given for operations needs, explaining what the funds are supposed to cover. Each member of Congress gets around $1.2 million (give or take a bit) for their entire operating budget. That’s supposed to cover all salaries (DC and district), rents for district offices, travel home, tech devices, services, contracts, etc. Members decide how it’s all spent. https://t.co/TUbN72m01x— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 5, 2018"That’s supposed to cover all salaries (DC and district), rents for district offices, travel home, tech devices, services, contracts, etc," her tweet read.Pay Our Interns, a website aimed at discussing the disparity between a substantial congressional budget and the lack of funding for staff, released that a 2017 report, detailing that "just 51 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats in the Senate pay their interns." As for the House, only 8 percent of Republicans and 3.6 percent of Democrats provide a paid internship experience. This revelation was first reported on by The Cut.In a tweet on Monday, Pay Our Interns also called out long-time Senator Chuck Schemer (D-NY) for posting a job description looking for an "unpaid intern."1. @SenSchumer came to Congress in 1969, as a *drum roll* PAID INTERN ($1,800/mth). source: https://t.co/WfLwJb63UH 2. As a the minority leader he has always had the funds to pay his interns. 3. He's receiving $65,000 to pay his interns for 2019. #cutmycheck #payourinterns pic.twitter.com/1VpbiqWHD5— Pay Our Interns (@payourinterns) December 3, 2018 After considerable backlash, a spokesman for the senator spoke with Rolling Stone and said the ad was published "in error," and when the 116th Congress assumes office on January 3, 2019, they will be paying their interns.Blavity fam, if you would like to be a part of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's team, there are plenty of open positions for your consideration. Positions are based in both the Bronx, New York and Washington, D.C. If you find a posting you fit the qualifications for, you can apply here. Best of luck!Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Liking this content? Check these out:Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Says Combating Climate Change Will Be 'The Civil Rights Movement Of Our Generation'3 Reasons Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Influence On Young POC Has The Opposition Quaking'Black Panther' Stars Surprise Inglewood Teen With Scholarship In Quest To Make The World 'More Like...

Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has not only shaken up the United States Democratic Party, but also the narrative around how the boomer generation communicates and works in the era of millennials. From the moment the nation was introduced to the energetic, bold candidate in June, it was clear her impact was meant to extend far beyond her home state of New York. At 29 years of age, her midterm election win means, when she is officially sworn in as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on January 3, 2019, she will be the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress.From bartender to congresswoman in less than a year, her come-up is nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout her campaign, the Bronx native has been met with a fury of criticism from the opposition. Whether the conversation focuses on her wardrobe or her lack of experience, each of Ocasio-Cortez's expertly worded clapbacks only strengthened her mental toughness, which is a character trait any freshman representative should possess.Even better, her growing legacy is something to be admired for young people of color who are serious about pursuing a role in the political arena. Though historically it’s been implied that the role of lawmakers is reserved for old, white men, Ocasio-Cortez absolutely does not shy away from unsettling those who have become comfortable with that perception. She has yet to officially vote on a single issue in Congress, but here are three reasons why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is undoubtedly the vibrant, intelligent leader young people of color didn't know we needed.1. Ocasio-Cortez Quotes Cardi B, Proving That Real Recognizes RealWhile plenty of Bronx natives have found fame in their craft, no other name readily comes to mind quicker than Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, aka Cardi B. In the span of three years, the former stripper has released a platinum-selling debut album, welcomed a baby girl, and has found a forever home on the Billboard charts.Between Cardi and Ocasio-Cortez, it's impossible to declare who is living out their dreams the most. Nonetheless, the incoming representative paid homage to the "Money" rapper by tweeting lyrics from Cardi's "Best Life" song, featuring Chance the Rapper. I never had a problem showin' y'all the real me/ Hair when it's messed up, crib when it's filthy/ Way-before-the-deal me, work-to-pay-the-bills me/ 'Fore I fixed my teeth, man, those comments used to kill me/ But never did I change, never been ashamed/— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 20, 2018First of all, we stan a relatable lawmaker.That didn't sit too well with some members of the Twitter world, as many felt the need to instruct Ocasio-Cortez on how she should run her own Twitter account.Perhaps tweeting rap (from others) is your thing. I suggest you leave the public service to qualified persons (perhaps adults with their brain fully matured). Come back when you have learned a thing or two. We all believe in second chances.— Yana Nar (@MeNJulioDownby) November 21, 20182. The Future Rep Knows How to Leverage Instagram (and Her Strategy Doesn't Include Selling Teas and Bundles)One remarkable note about Ocasio-Cortez is that she built her entire campaign from grassroots influence, meaning that she relied on authentic interaction to drive her base. According to a report from Gothamist, Ocasio-Cortez “held more than 280 campaign events in addition to debates and town hall meetings” all around New York's 14th district — which she will now go on to represent. Successful due to the support of over 1,000 volunteers at her side, one team member described how Ocasio-Cortez's relationship with the public will help alter and influence the personal connection between an elected official and their voters."This massive volunteer effort lays the groundwork for a new kind of relationship between an elected representative and [their] constituency — one founded not on favor trading and machine politics, but instead on movement building and radical power sharing," Gabe Tobias, a field team leader for the Ocasio-Cortez camp, told Gothamist reporters.It appears as though the future rep fully intends on keeping that same energy while in office, and she has already taken creative measures to connect with a broader base. Recently on her Instagram Live, Ocasio-Cortez documented herself making black bean soup. In the kitchen of her own apartment, she simultaneously cooked herself a meal while encouraging reportedly 5K viewers to ask her any questions about the democratic process. What's refreshing about this approach is how it offers the ability to learn alongside Ocasio-Cortez.Unless it directly benefits them, millennials might not be particularly concerned with the idiosyncrasies of Congress. For Ocasio-Cortez, her brand is modeled around lending a full-time voice to people of color who Congress often ignores when they aren't pining for their votes. Those individuals who are regularly treated as a prop in a campaign ad are the same ones who the congresswoman-to-be fully intends on empowering so that they do not become even more of a silent minority.Because they seem to have to find a problem with everything, this approach has angered some conservatives. Outside of calling her aloof and unfit for the impending responsibilities of a lawmaker, they never miss a beat, when it comes to shaming Ocasio-Cortez for every minuscule thing she does. Funnily enough, the same cowards dragging her for seemingly living her life will never attract even half the likability or popularity Ocasio-Cortez has eclipsed this year alone.3. Living Ain't Cheap, and Ocasio-Cortez's Honesty Resonates With the Very Crowd the System Tends to NeglectAs I'm sure Ocasio-Cortez can relate: Pay day is like a mini Christmas that occurs every other week. After rent, bills and other necessary expenses, millennials are left slowly counting down to the next pay day, and the one after that. Ocasio-Cortez was brutally honest with how expensive it could be to live in Washington, D.C. According to reports from Curbed, the median rent in D.C. is about $2,700.CNBC recently tried her when it wrote about how Ocasio-Cortez had less than $7,000 in savings to her name. While breaking down her campaign assets, the financial site also income-shamed her in the same feature. This naturally invigorated the Twittersphere, with folks immediately rallying around Ocasio-Cortez's defense..@CNBC 21 Millennials have answered this so far and not one of us has $7k in savings. Stop focusing on @Ocasio2018’s finances and focus on the change she’s causing. Thanks.— C. Donovan Copeland (@cxcope) November 20, 2018CNBC gave air time to two people who complained that @Ocasio2018 didn't have a year's salary or "anywhere between $8,750 and $30,000" in savings — all while ignoring the fact those unrealistic/unattainable numbers are why millennials are entering politics in the first place.— Kat Bee (@katbeee) November 21, 2018Unfortunately, the absence of savings is a sad reality for many millennials of color. According to an article by Inc., "A 2014 survey conducted by Prudential found that, when compared to the general population, Hispanics typically have less access to workplace-based retirement plans (72 percent versus 83 percent)." Not only did the survey reveal that Hispanics had a very poor of wealth management, but 67 percent of those surveyed also said they financially back someone else — minor or adult children, grandchildren and so on — with 42 percent of non-American Hispanics sending money to family in their home country.For Black millennials, the numbers don't fare any better. Fast Company revealed that while in 2013 Black Americans had a spending power of $1.2 trillion, those same households only held a median of $11,000 in assets.No matter how the opposition will attempt to justify this income gap, Ocasio-Cortez's forthcoming actions will quickly remind them that unlike how they choose to define representation, she actually exemplifies someone with the intentions to create a better future for people her age.The orders Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces are nothing short of tall. However, there is a spirit about her that's been sorely absent in the United States Congress, and the issues she chooses to tackle in her freshman term will undeniably be the blueprint for any future representative looking to develop a similar level of clout with marginalized audiences.Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.Liking this content? Now, check these out: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Destroys Fox News Anchors Mocking Her Living SituationNew York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Becomes New Chairman Of The Democratic CongressAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tells GOP Senator He Needs To Pay A Visit To D.C.'s African American Museum...

A Black woman was brutally beaten and stabbed by a white man yelling racist remarks.Ann Marie Washington, 57, was hospitalized Sunday after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung due to the attack, according to NBC4 New York.Witnesses say the assault occurred as Washington stepped off the Church Avenue stop in Brooklyn on Friday evening. The assailant, a white man, reportedly punched her in the mouth and stabbed her in the chest while calling her a "Black b***h," bystanders report. Washington, a mother of two, is a native of Trinidad. Following the assault, the attacker vanished on the Q train, according to the police. The white man, who appeared to be in his early 30s, stands at about 5 feet, 3 inches tall and seemed to have been wearing gray and black sweatpants and a black hooded sweatshirt. The police were hesitant to initially label the attack a hate crime, which angered neighborhood residents who addressed the media in a news conference Sunday."If this [were] a white resident, a new gentrifier to this neighborhood, there would be swarms of cops here," remarked Imani Henry of Equality for Flatbush. "But when it is a Black person who is attacked by a white racist, there isn't anything."The New York Police Department said its Hate Crimes Taskforce would further investigate. At the time of the ambush, police said they did not have all the details to identify a motive. Witnesses say Washington didn't realize she had been stabbed until she returned home. Even then, she figured she had been scratched in the chest until she woke up the following morning, recalls bystander Kezia Bernard-Nau.“Her daughter found her and was like we need to take you to hospital, like what is going on? They rushed her to the hospital, and that’s when she found out that she was indeed really hurt and her lung collapsed because of it,” Bernard-Nau said according to CBS New York.Eyewitnesses say a video of the ambush was filmed, and there should be surveillance video of the suspect. However, police have not yet released anything. Now, check these out:Man Arrested For Sending Dozens Of 'Terroristic' Death Threats To Don LemonBlack Drake University Student Receives Racist Threat, Demanding Them To Leave Or ElseWhite Residents Trying To Form New Town Near Atlanta Say They Aren't Racist, They Just Want A Cheesecake...

While voters across several states were left feeling defeated by Tuesday's election results, New York made history by electing the first Black person and first woman of color into one of its state offices. With more than 81 percent of precincts reporting voting results just after midnight Wednesday morning, Letitia "Tish" James bested Republican opponent Keith Wofford by a staggering 59.7—34.3 margin. Long before cruising to history on Tuesday, the Brooklyn native had already reached a monumental accomplishment by becoming the first Black woman elected to a citywide office in 2003. The seat became vacant after former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned earlier this year following four women accusing him of sexual assault.James, 60, spoke with Ebony late last month about her decision to run for one of the state's highest offices."I had set my eyes on running for mayor in 2021. That was the plan, but then things changed," she said. "As I traveled and spoke to individuals throughout the city, including my neighbors, [there] was just this fierce urgency of now, particularly since my immigrant neighbors were under attack, hiding in the shadows of government. The voices of a number of my former law professors who talked about civil rights and the training we received at Howard University were cemented in my mind."In her acceptance speech on Tuesday night, James vowed to probe into President Donald Trump's real estate sales, holding him accountable for any malpractice. "New Yorkers, we can spot a con man," James said to an enthusiastic crowd in Brooklyn. "We can spot a carnival barker. I will shine a light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings and every dealing."James' historic win is yet another accomplishment to add in the ever-growing encyclopedia of #BlackGirlMagic. Congratulations, Attorney General James!Now, check these out:Ayanna Pressley Becomes The First Black Woman From Massachusetts Elected To U.S. CongressRepublicans To Retain Control Of Senate As Democrats Projected To Gain Power Of The HouseBen Jealous And Andrew Gillum Lose Gubernatorial Races And Other Election Night...

A New York man is jobless and apologetic after a video of him berating a Black Lyft driver went viral.It all started when Robert Ortiz got upset because driver Shaun Lettman wouldn’t change the music. Ortiz went on a 16-minute tirade filled with threats, racial slurs and even a 911 call. “Tell me why I'm in a Lyft and the n****r pulled over. The n****r's recording me,” he said to a friend over the phone.Ortiz also said he is “a legal citizen that voted for Trump” and expressed disdain for the Black Lives Matter movement.“All that Black Lives Matter is bulls**t. I bet you if I was Black — and Black Lives Matter he would have put the music on. F**k Black Lives Matter — every life matters … all I asked for was music,” he shouted.He also accused Lettman of profiling him because he’s gay and Puerto Rican. The driver sat silent for the tirade with the exception of his reminder to Ortiz that a sign in his vehicle states his rides are recorded on video camera."It's either, I'm going to endure 16-minutes plus of this assault, and I can suck it up and go home, or I can respond the way he wanted me to, and I'll probably be in jail for two to three years for assault,” Lettman said to PIX11.Lettman’s Lyft driver account was suspended for two days while the company investigated, resulting in lost wages. He started a GoFundMe campaign to help with his bills. The page has received over $45K in donations, more than double its $20K goal.Lettman posted the video online on October 2, and it went viral. Ortiz was fired from his job at CityMD, an urgent care company.“CityMD exists to build healthier and kinder communities. This behavior does not represent the values of our team or the values we hold dear,” the company wrote on Facebook.“This individual is no longer affiliated with CityMD.”He was also banned from Lyft for life. He told PIX11 he regrets his behavior.“At the end of the day, my actions were unjustifiable. There's nothing I can say behind that to say, 'but this.' No. I was drinking. A lot of the stuff I said, I didn't even remember until the next day,” he said.Ortiz claims he isn’t racist because he “grew up in the projects” and still believes Lettman is the bigot."I'm Puerto Rican," said Ortiz. "I'm from the Bronx. I'm gay. Like, we know discrimination. You just smell it in the air. You know when someone is uncomfortable around you."Lettman doesn’t have any hard feelings toward Ortiz."Even though I should be the victim in this situation, I didn't find it very amusing that he lost his job," he said.Now, check these out:GOP Candidate For Minnesota's U.S. Senate Seat Once Made A Racist Comment About Michelle ObamaMissouri Woman Who Tried Blocking Black Man From Entering His Apartment Gets Blocked From Her JobAfter Apologizing For Falsely Accusing 9-Year-Old Of Groping Her, Teresa Klein Says She's Pressing Charges Against His...

A court has overturned the conviction of a Jewish man who was sentenced to four years for his role in the group beating of a gay black man.Mayer Herskovic was sentenced in September 2016 after Taj Patterson identified him as the man who stuck a thumb in his eye and blinded him during the beating, according to the New York Post. Patterson claimed he was jumped and beaten by an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group because he was falsely accused of vandalizing cars in a Brooklyn neighborhood.An appellate court threw out the conviction due to Patterson’s “inability to positively identify any of his attackers, the varying accounts regarding the incident and the DNA evidence, which was less than convincing.”“Notably, the complainant and others who testified at trial gave conflicting accounts of the assault,” the jurists continued. “Among other things, the complainant testified that the person who pulled off his sneaker was the same person who shoved a thumb into his eye. He referred to this person as the ‘ringleader’ and one of the men who initially chased him. However, he also testified that the person he identified as the ringleader was not the defendant.”Herskovic was the only member of the group to take his case to trial. Two men took a plea deal that resulted in no jail time, and charges were dropped against two others.Donna Aldea, Herskovic’s lawyer, released a statement praising the decision.“Mayer is overjoyed,” Aldea, said. “The decision means that, for all intents and purposes, he is innocent.”The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said they “respect the court’s decision.”Patterson said he needs “time to process” and refused to give any additional comments to The Post. His lawyer, Andrew Stoll, filed a lawsuit against the city for showing favoritism toward the group. It is still pending.“Our civil suit continues against the city for the ‘get out of jail free’ cards it hands out to the ultra-Orthodox communities in Brooklyn,” Stoll told The New York Times.Now, check these out:Samira Wiley Reveals She Was Accidentally Outed By A Fellow 'OINTB' Cast Member: 'I Cried A Lot'Twin Sisters Become Twin Brothers After Undergoing Transition TogetherHere Are The Sociopolitical Issues Young Americans Care Most...