dentonrc.com || Denton Record-Chronicle Thursday, January 7, 2021 7A BRIEFLY Activists for racial justice seek new laws U.S. AND THE WORLD

By Amy Forliti and Michael Tarm Crump said “the whole crim- Louisville, Ky. to serve a no-knock search war- Associated Press inal justice and legal system 2 detectives involved in rant. None of the three white KENOSHA, Wis. — A Wis- engages in the intellectual jus- officers who fired into her home consin prosecutor’s decision not tification and discrimination to Taylor’s death are fired were charged by a grand jury in to bring charges against the offi- support this legalized genocide Two more officers involved her death. cer who shot Jacob Blake in the of colored people.” in the fatal shooting of Breon- Investigators said Cosgrove back came as little surprise to While states have leeway in na Taylor have been fired — a fired 16 rounds into the apart- some activists for racial justice, altering laws surrounding the detective believed to have fired ment after police breached the who predict laws must change illegal use of force by police, that the fatal shot and another who front door and Taylor’s boy- before police are truly held ac- Supreme Court precedent could sought the search warrant that friend fired a shot at them. countable for using force against complicate efforts for radical led to the deadly raid, authori- Black men. overhauls. ties announced Wednesday. Amsterdam After the Aug. 23 shooting Crump, who has represented The announcement came EU panel greenlights that left Blake paralyzed, the many people whose loved ones moments after city officials said decision on whether to charge were killed during encounters the former Atlanta police chief Moderna vaccine Rusten Sheskey came down to with police officers around the would soon take over the Lou- The European Union’s exec- a familiar question: Was the Courtesy photo/Adria-Joi Watkins via AP country, previously offered a isville Police Department after utive commission gave the green Kenosha officer justified in- us Jacob Blake poses with his second cousin Adria-Joi Watkins range of comprehensive recom- months of unrest over Taylor’s light Wednesday to Moderna ing force to protect himself? in a September 2019 family photo in Evanston, Ill. A police mendations for police reform. death. Erika Shields served in Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine, pro- Kenosha County District officer shot Blake in the back multiple times after respond- Those included requiring body Atlanta for 25 years, including viding the 27-nation bloc with a Attorney Michael Graveley said ing to a domestic dispute on Aug. 23. On Tuesday, a Wiscon- cameras and dashcams, a stan- more than three years as chief. second vaccine to use in the des- Tuesday that he was. Graveley sin prosecutor declined to file criminal charges against the dard protocol for independent Her tenure ended when she perate battle to tame the virus said he couldn’t disprove Shes- officer who shot Blake. investigations and an easy-to- resigned in June after Atlanta rampaging across the continent. key’s contention that he feared access database of disciplinary officers fatally shot a Black man The European Commission Blake would stab him as he tried creases the urgency for immedi- lives happening.” actions. named Rayshard Brooks in a granted conditional marketing to stop Blake from driving away ate change. The needed chang- Ben Crump, an attorney for One proposed change, he restaurant parking lot. authorization for the vaccine. with three children in an SUV. es, they say, include considering Blake, does not dispute Grave- said, would be to create a federal Detectives Myles Cosgrove, The decision came against a It’s a conclusion consistent not only the moment an officer ley’s conclusion that his client obstruction of justice charge for who shot Taylor, and Joshua backdrop of high infection with a landmark 1989 U.S. Su- pulls the trigger but also should had a knife. However, he said officers who do not turn on their Jaynes, who sought the war- rates in many EU countries and preme Court ruling that found apply to such things as rules for citizen video of the shooting body cameras during instances rant for the March 13 drug raid, strong criticism of the slow pace officers “are often forced to wearing body cameras or exe- does not show Blake extending of excessive force. were informed of their firings on of vaccinations across the region make split-second judgments” cuting no-knock warrants. the knife and fails to demon- “You have to have a system Tuesday. Their dismissals follow of some 450 million people. and that an officer’s reasonable “Every day that we wait is strate in a reasonable way that that doesn’t protect killer cops that of officer Brett Hankison, “We are providing more fear of a threat in the heat of a day too late,” said Wisconsin Sheskey was attacked. when the victims are margin- who was fired in September COVID-19 vaccines for Europe- the moment is relevant, even if Rep. Shelia Stubbs, a Madison “This was not surprising, but alized people of color,” he said. after being indicted by a grand ans. With the Moderna vaccine, hindsight shows there was no Democrat who co-chairs a state it was appalling,” Crump said. “It’s not like some complicated jury on charges of endangering the second one now authorized actual threat. Assembly task force created af- “For him to say that they could mechanism of law that we have Taylor’s neighbors by firing bul- in the EU, we will have a further But activists and Blake’s sup- ter Blake’s shooting and is work- not charge because of a self-de- to come up with.” lets that went through her home 160 million doses. And more vac- porters say the decision not to ing on bills that would increase fense claim made by police is ab- The NAACP called Grave- and into an adjacent apartment. cines will come,” European Com- charge Sheskey further expos- accountability. “It’s a state of solutely asinine and it flies in the ley’s decision “foul and shame- Taylor, a 26-year-old Black mission President Ursula von der es systemic racism within the emergency. … I’m sick of seeing face of all common sense when ful,” and local activists expressed emergency medical technician, Leyen said in a statement. criminal justice system and in- the constant disregard for Black you watch the video.” similar outrage. was killed as officers attempted — The Associated Press

From Page 1A the company has broadened its donation base: fashion maga- WHAT TO DONATE Thistle zines and some vintage books, Thistle Creative Reuse, a new containers, DIY tools, gift wrap, Denton company, is looking to alumni — Heather Leigh gently used gift bags and a whole sell secondhand art, crafting Hoskins, the education and art lot more. and office supplies. The com- director for Thistle, and Jeanna “So we have a donation pick- pany will pick up: Dunlap, the reuse and recovery up form on our website,” Dunlap ■■architecture and design director for Thistle. Hoskins said. “When you fill out the form, items was the education coordinator you tell us what day we can pick ■■art supplies for SCRAP, and Dunlap was the up stuff from them. We just ask ■■some books and magazines reuse supply manager before it that it is neatly organized in a ■■collage/scrapbooking closed. container we can keep.” supplies The women named the com- Dunlap said pickup days are ■■crafting supplies pany Thistle as a tip of the hat to Wednesdays and Saturdays. ■■containers the gangly but charming plant, Thistle is also modeled after ■■DIY tools with its habit of blooming where SCRAP’s philosophy about part- ■■fabric it’s planted without much ex- nering with artists and groups in ■■floral supplies travagance. Hoskins, a sculptor Denton. ■■gifting supplies who earned her master’s degree “Even though it doesn’t ■■jewelry/beads from University of North Texas, have 501(c)(3) status, Thistle ■■media has taken to painting the robust is going to be very centered on ■ plant. Thistles survive in Den- community. We’re going to give ■some metal ton’s dry, hot soil, and the wom- back to the community,” Meyer- ■■notions en liked the association. cord-Westerman said. “We want ■■office supplies They just weren’t sure how to be a resource for people who Unsplash/Rhodi Lopez ■■paper the company would emerge. can benefit from the materials Thistle Creative Reuse is a new Denton business with roots in SCRAP Denton. The creative ■■plastic and wood “For a little while, we talk- we save from the landfill.” reuse company sells donated art, crafting and office supplies (among other materials) ■■yarn and fibers ed about starting a nonprofit,” The company already has through a new online shop. For a complete listing, visit Meyercord-Westerman said. an online application for people Thistle’s donation page online “We discovered it wasn’t going and groups that might need sup- It’s just not safe right now,” Mey- wrap. She also is offering private gone into the landfill, I feel like at thistlecreativereuse.com. to happen, not as fast as any of plies for educational programs, ercord-Westerman said. workshops for groups. that would be a big deal,” Mey- us wanted to. We felt we needed classrooms and nonprofits. “We’re dreaming about the “A big part of what we’re do- ercord-Westerman said. to do something. With Heather Thistle doesn’t have a store- day we open a physical space,” ing is teaching people how to get “For me, it would be having now,” she said. “We’re doing ev- and Jeanna, they lost their jobs. front. Right now, it is selling Hoskins said. “In the meantime, more out of the things around people know what Thistle Cre- erything from the online store We talked, and we felt like we items from an online shop at it’s all online.” them, and showing people more ative Reuse is and what we do,” to the pickups and shipping. It could try it as an LLC and have thistlecreativereuse.com. The Hoskins has already planned sustainable ways of doing sim- Hoskins said. “If the community might take us some time to fig- it be very community-centric.” company is starting out with two virtual workshops. She’ll ple things,” Hoskins said. knows us, that would be a major ure this all out.” So Thistle Creative Reuse is a an online store that will deliver lead a card-making workshop The owners said they will win.” new local business that won’t fix within Denton and will ship all on Jan. 23. In February, she’ll measure their first year’s success Dunlap said donors should LUCINDA BREEDING what wasn’t broken at SCRAP. over the region. teach a virtual class on making by a few simple things. be patient as they apply for a can be reached at 940-566- Thistle will accept donated art, “We do want to have a brick- beeswax wrappers, a reusable “If we collect 1,000 pounds pickup. 6877 and via Twitter at @ crafting and office supplies. But and-mortar [store] someday. replacement for plastic food of materials that would have “It’s just the three of us right LBreedingDRC.

From Page 1A cy last year. Lord & Taylor shut down, and even Nordstrom, Macy’s considered among the strongest department stores, closed 16 Golden Triangle is one of the locations permanently last year, most visible and accessible proj- including one in Texas at North ompassionate ects in the market, and since we East Mall in Hurst. began working on the mall near- Last year, Macy’s closed 29 ly a decade ago, we’ve operated of its 544 namesake depart- and caring with a plan of action to strength- ment stores and two of its 54 en and position it for the future.” Bloomingdale’s department C services The mall, which was recently stores. It also closed two more remodeled, has other planned Bloomingdale’s furniture stores. with dignity openings for 2021, Weitzman The retailer’s other off-mall said, including a new location of stores include 166 Blue Mer- Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill. Al Key/DRC file photo cury beauty concept stores, 19 We offer services and Macy’s store employees who Shoppers walk around Golden Triangle Mall in August Bloomingdale’s The Outlet and arrangements in keeping aren’t transferred to nearby stores during tax-free weekend. Macy’s at Golden Triangle Mall is six free-standing Macy’s Back- with your wishes. We will receive severance and offered slated to close by the middle of this year. stage stores. The Backstage are here helping people outplacement, the retailer said. off-price concept has also been in our community during “The decision to close a store becomes vacant, Ian Pierce, vice said in September that he believes added inside some Macy’s stores is always a difficult one, but Ma- president of communications the best malls in the U.S. “will with separate entrances, such their time of need cy’s is honored to have served for Weitzman, said more an- thrive,” but the retailer will focus as the one at Town East Mall in We’re here on weekends to help with our customers and the commu- nouncements are expected in on e-commerce and smaller-for- Mesquite. pre-planning and decisions. nity over the past 29 years at the coming months for new mat stores such as Market by Ma- Staff writer Jenna Duncan Macy’s Vista Ridge and 17 years concepts at the mall. cy’s. A similar small concept is in contributed to this report. at Macy’s Golden Triangle,” a “The industry as a whole is in a the works for Bloomingdale’s. This story was originally spokeswoman for Macy’s said period of transition,” he said. “The Department stores have published in The Dallas Morn- in an email. “We look forward to mall’s location is good, and good been struggling for years, and ing News. “Continuing the continuing to do so at neighbor- real estate is good real estate.” Macy’s was a big consolidator Commitment of ing Macy’s locations.” Macy’s will still operate nine of regional brands in the early John Lawhon The Denton store first department stores in Dallas-Fort 2000s, giving it a national foot- Family Service” opened as a Foley’s and transi- Worth plus its new off-mall con- print. But mall traffic has been Estate Attorney Bill DeBerry, Jr. tioned into Macy’s. When Gold- cept called Market by Macy’s at in decline, with e-commerce Wills • Trusts • Probate en Triangle Mall first opened, Southlake Town Square. That and competition from newer the 108,310-square-foot anchor store was the company’s first outlet and outdoor centers. Board Certified space was a Montgomery Ward Market by Macy’s in the U.S., J.C. Penney recently closed Estate Planning Bill DeBerry department store. and it opened just before the more than 150 stores as part of & Probate Law This is now the second an- pandemic last year. A second lo- its bankruptcy reorganization. Texas Board of Legal Funeral Directors chor in three years to close at cation is planned in Fort Worth. Neiman Marcus also has closed Specialization the mall. While there are not yet Jeff Gennette, CEO of Macy’s, six full-line and 22 Last Call 2025 W. University • 383-4200 specific plans for when the space which also owns Bloomingdale’s, stores as part of its bankrupt- (940) 387-4401 Denton www.deberryfuneraldirectors.com DE-32189