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Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

Update on the Champaign Pepper-Spraying

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Nov 23 2011, 11:00 AM ET Comment

Yesterday I left the impression that the mayor was supporting the officer in this incident. That is false:

The Illinois State Police on Tuesday cleared a Champaign police officer after city officials asked for a review of the amount of force he used in a June 5 arrest, but Mayor Don Gerard is rejecting that investigation as "unacceptable." 

 State police officials concluded the officer's actions -- primarily the use of pepper spray in subduing the arrestee -- were consistent with the local department's policy. The announcement affirmed the finding made by Champaign police officials following the arrest. 

Gerard said his "jaw hit the table" when he read the state police findings.

My apologies for not being more precise, and ultimately, accurate. Thanks to the commenters for pointing out the error.


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