The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. October 26, 2015 Cornel West Responds to Comey's Claim Scrutiny of Police Increases Crime ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Governor Christie's remarks came after FBI Director James Comey said added scrutiny and criticism of police officers amid protests over police brutality may have fueled an increase in violent crime because officers are less aggressive. On Saturday, as thousands rallied in New York City against police brutality as part of Rise Up October, I asked Professor Cornel West to respond to Comey's remarks. Cornel West: "He has no empirical data whatsoever. I think he's lying, and it's part of the backlash of our resistance. Thank God the spirit of Ferguson is still strong. And in the name of all of those, the Tourés and the Tef Poes and others, we're going to keep this movement strong and intense, and you can see it among our wonderful folk here." The leader of the New York Police Department's union has called for a boycott of director Quentin Tarantino's films after Tarantino participated in the Rise Up October protests Saturday. Meanwhile, civil rights leader Al Sharpton and his National Action Network rallied Saturday to honor the African-American police officer shot and killed last week in East Harlem. The New York Daily News reports Sharpton will speak at Officer Randolph Holder's funeral next week in a call for unity. .