we go now to chicago where we are joined by sharon cooper, who is sandra bland's sister. also with us is cannon lambert the attorney representing sandra bland's 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 the's 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

. >> joining us now, sandra bland's mother, geneva reid veal and sandra bland's sister sharon cooper attorney representing this family. first of all, to mother and sister, i'm very, very sorry for your loss. i'm sorry to be having to talk to you in circumstances like this. but mrs. reid veal, tell us what it's like now that the funeral is over and you're hoping to move forward with getting more answers to what happened to your daughter. what is it that you hope to happen next? >> what i hope to happen next is that i really get answers, because up to this point, i don't have any answers that i could say i am comfortable with or that i can really understand right now. there's been something new every day. and in my grieving process, i opted not to watch any news pieces on this. so i just have to say to you that i really would like to have the answers, what happened to my daughter? what happened to her from the time she was taken from the street to the jail cell until the time she was found in the cell. >> and sharon cooper, could you share with us what your sister's funeral was like? e

and so sharon cooper, that would raise the question if there if this really was in her system how did the jail cell? >> lawrence it's a great question, and it is it's those kinds of things that are the impetus for our concerns. to have that come to light, now i have greater concern about the standard operating procedures of the jail. that is something that you would expect to be found on her at booking. so my concern is that the jail has a bigger contraband issue, coupled with the level of access that inmates have to things that are just inappropriate for them to have access to while they are in jail. >> so attorney lambert, it certainly raises the question, if that happened in jail and if that toxicology report is accurate, which is a question you have to get through before you get to this but if it is then what else could happen in that jail cell in? >> that's very right. the reality for us is we are trying to figure out exactly what did happen, when you do have a situation that if that's accurate, that someone was able to access marijuana and then provide it to her, arguably if the

sharon cooper, first of all, i'm sorry for your loss. i understand how difficult this has to be for you to watch a video like that and now discuss this situation. that video has been around, has been available to us now for 24 hours a little more than 24 hours. could you give us your reaction to having seen it? as you continue to see it what your reaction is to it as you watch it. >> overall my reaction to the video -- and thank you for your condolences -- i'm just wild at this point based off the video, also all of the new updates have seemingly come out in the last couple of hours here. quite frankly, the decision to pull her over for her failure to signal, you know, to use her turn signal is a baseless reason, in my opinion. i think it's -- i think the officer was picking on her. in terms of the type of rhetoric and discourse the officials have engaged in over the last couple of hours has pretty much just wowed me. i'm baffled by the engagement in the derogatory comments to vilify her character and shift the focus from the real issues

but sandra bland's sister sharon cooper, and the bland family attorney say the facts don't add up. >>ll we have to do is look at the video, and it's easy to see she was completely unfairly treated. he asked her to put out a cigarette and because she said well, i don't see why i have to put my cigarette out, he responded by way of opening her door and forcing her out, requiring her to get out. and i think the reality is is that that was not appropriate. i think everyone can clearly see that's the case. the other part of it is is i frankly speaking do agree when you have local, state, and even national leaders that are able to speak to the fact that this is just an example of a long history of instances where african americans have been targeted and mistreated by police you know, i think that -- you know that it's very clear that there are some concerns that we as a nation have to address. >> i think it is because she can't significant call correctly, and she was unapologetically assertive in knowing her rights. the timing that the message trickled out was in poor taste and more than an

we will be able to lay her to rest but the work is just beginning. >> sharon cooper and cannon lambertk you for your time tonight. >> thank you. >> and sharon i'll be speaking to your mother about how she is handling all this later in the show. >> thank you. >> thank you. >>> first, hillary clinton says planned parent hood is under a concerted attack on right. >> first, a senator compares carry kerry to pontius pilate? we'll be checking the scripture. that's what pushes us to deliver smarter simpler faster sleeker earlier fresher harder farther quicker and yeah even on sundays. what's next? we'll show you. are you moving forward fast enough? everywhere you look, it strategy is now business strategy. and a partnership with hp can help you accelerate down a path created by people, technology and ideas. to move your company from what it is now... to what it needs to become. if you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis like me... and you're talking to a rheumatologist about a biologic this is humira. this is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage

joining me now is andre bland's sister sharon cooper and the attorney for the bland family kenny lambertank you both for being here. >> thank you so much rev. >> thank you. >> sharon let me first say how sorry i am for your loss and how many of us around the country are really concerned about this matter. first of all, how is your family doing tonight? >> thank you, rev, and i appreciate that and we receive that. i will tell you that we are doing as good as you possibly can be doing in the situation given. we've had the opportunity to be a part of some great community efforts down here where we had dig dig tarries and the lieutenant governor here. we had the state congresswoman here. we had so many people here the mayor of prairie view was here. they feel like something just simply does not add up. >> now, attorney lambert, i spoke with you briefly on friday and you seemed like a very careful and methodical lawyer that wants to make sure you not only protect your clients but uphold the truth and i understand you watched the dashcam video that has not been released. can you walk us throug

sandra bland's sister sharon cooper and the bland family attorney says the facts doesn't add up. >> all we have to do is look at the video. it is very easy to see she was completely unfairly treated. there was an ask that the officer issued. he asked her to put out a cigarette and because she said well i don't see why i have to put my cigarette out he responded by way of opening her door and then forcing her out. requiring her to get out. and i think that the reality of it is that that was not appropriate. i think that everyone can clearly see that's the case. the other part of it is, is that i frankly speaking do disagree that you know when you've got local and state and even national leaders are able to speak to the fact thats this just an example of a long history of instances where african americans have targeted and mistreated by police. i think that it's very clear that there are some concerns that we as a nation have to address. >> i think it's because she didn't signal properly, i think it was because she was unapologetically assertive in terms of asserting her rights. i think t

. >> reporter: after watching the video sharon cooper said she understands why her sister was upset. >> when you tell me you're going to light me up, i feel extremely threatened and concerned. >> reporter: cooper urged supporters to keep using social media. overnight twitter blew up when "selma" director ava duvernay tweeted "i edit footage for a living but anyone can see that this official video has been cut." seeing moments like this where a car disappears. this morning texas officials said they weren't edits but they were technical glitches, and reposted it. we watched it with houston defense attorney rusty hardin, who's a former prosecutor. he said it's legal for the trooper to ask bland to get out of the car or put out her cigarette but he should have tried to calm her down. >> a lot of things law enforcement will tell you they could have done. ma'am, i'm just going to give you a warning, put out the cigarette, please, just put your hands where i can see them, i'm going to write you a warning and you are on your way. >> you were getting a warning. until now. you're going to jail

bland's sister sharon cooper doesn't believe it. >> my sister was somebody who was full of life, who so much to live for. that's why it's unfathomable based off of the person i know. >> reporter: the trooper has been placed on desk duty for violating procedures during the arrest. charlie, the district attorney says he will present all evidence in this case to a grand jury as early as next month. >> rose: thanks, don. today flags atop the white house and other federal buildings around the country were lowered to half-staff on orders from the president. it is to honor the five u.s. service members shot to death last thursday in chattanooga. there is a memorial service in marietta, georgia, this evening for marine lance corporal skip wells. scientists are trying to unlock the mysteries of alzheimer's disease, including why it affects so many more women than men. a new study out today finds older women with mild memory problems worsen about twice as rapidly as men. we asked dr. jon lapook to look in and tell us more. >> i got it. >> reporter: allan and clare vann retired early from caree

. >> sharon cooper and kenneth lambert, condolences for your loss and thank you for joining us. >> thank you >>> hillary clinton, donald trump topping the polls in their respective parties, does it mean anything when it comes this early in the game. we look at what is in store on the game trail for the week ahead. >> it was known as the paris of the middle east. today something stinks on streets of beirut and there's only a handful of people that can help. elp. >>> welcome back to al jazeera america i'm del walters in new york here is a look at the top stories - president obama is in ethiopia on the second leg of his trip to east africa. he became the first sitting u.s. president to visit that company. he's expected to focus on security and anti-terror initiatives. >>> syria's president bashar al-assad today saying the military has to give up areas as it battles i.s.i.l. and opposition. the army is spread thin. there are reports of death and draft dodging. some have half as many soldiers as it did when the war began in 2011. turkey convenience an emergency meeting of n.a.t.o. on tuesday.

this cheryl nanton and lavaugn moley, bland's friends, followed by her sister, sharon cooper. >> i douspect there was foul play and i believe we all are 100% and believe that she did not do harm to herself. >> were very suspicious and very upset that this is happening and it seems like nothing is really being done about it. quick each one of us feels like we have lost a part of ourselves and it is hard. it is going to be hard for very long time. inigo sandra bland was 28 years old. she was outspoken member of the black lives matter movement. she produced a series of videos called "sandy speaks" in which she discussed social justice and racism on her facebook page. >> i want the white folks to really understand out there black people are truly -- we're doing as much as we can. not all of us, but some of us are really doing as much as we can. and we can't help but getting -- when you see situations where it is clear that black lives did not matter. or those of you questioning, why was he running away? because in the news that we've seen as of late, you can stand there, surrender to the

some family members, as you may have heard from her older sister sharon cooper say that the video is only prompting more questions and creating more distrust. ms. cooper said after watching the video she felt the officer's ego was bruised. 4th never once was threatened business her sister but it escalated to the degree it did. can you understand though why, this is raising more concerns seeing this video? >> it did. i completely understand that and i agree. the first time i watched the video, i was disappointed in what i saw from the trooper. i concur with the department and i was also disappointed in ms. bland's behavior but in that respect, as a trouper, as public servants we don't have a right to be offended and we don't have a right for people to like up. when i did i was disappointed. >>> let me ask you a question that i think some of the members would be interested in your answering if not about this is it -- do you think blackings and whites are treated equally? waller county? >> i do. >> by law enforcement? >> that hits close to home. yes, i do s. by my office, i do. in fact o

. >> sharon cooper and cannon lambert, our condolences for your loss and thank you for being with us. >> thank you sir. >> las vegas hotel fire,. >> unbelievable, being cosmopolitan hotel. once again open to the public, the blaze sending plumes of smoke high into the air tbof the strip. two people were treated for smoke inhalation, most of the guests were unhurt. hillary clinton and donald trump, does it mean anything this early in the game, a look at what's in store on the campaign trail np our week ahead segment. plus methamphetamines, a fight against what is known as yabba. . >> investigating a dark side of the law >> they don't have the money to puchace their freedom... >> for some...crime does pay... >> the bail bond industry has been good to me.... i'll make a chunk of change off the crime... >> fault lines al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> today they will be arrested... >> ground breaking... they're firing canisters of gas at us... emmy award winning investigative series... chaising bail only on al jazeera america >> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm del walters in

today the sister sharon cooper said the family had been working expeditiously to get her out of jail before her death. the family lawyer denied that she had issues with depression. the texas senator said she never should have been taken into custody while the recommendive noted she should be alive today. and while there was concern the dash cam video provided by the texas department of public safety had been edited, they were they were technical issues caused during transfer and a newly released video solved the problem. now for a closer look at the video. officer encinia having made another traffic stop in which he issued a warning. bland's car is the white one see there. it is not long before her car makes a lane change without signaling. a matter which becomes a key part of the interaction. about 2:30 after she pulls over and after the officer has asked for her drivers license and returned to his car, the officer goes back to bland's vehicle and the following exchange takes place. >> are you okay? >> i'm waiting on you. >> you seem very irritated. >> i really am. i was getting out

. >> cam lambert and sharon cooper, thank you for talking with us.bout your loss. >>> still ahead, witnesses react to the verdict in the movie theater shooting case. >> i felt so much relief. i felt so much uplifted. >> james holmes' jury will begin the deliberation of the penalty phase in just a few minutes. >>> she kicks an officer right there and she sues him. we'll look into that investigation. all to grow our economy and create jobs. see how new york can give your business the opportunity to grow at ny.gov/business i want my yoga pants to smell like i sweat money. i want to smell the way champagne tastes. i love champagne. infuse your laundry with... ...up to 12 weeks of luxurious long-lasting scents... ...unstopables in wash scent booster. i want my foyer to smell more like a foyer. i want his bedroom to smell like he's away at boarding school. surround yourself with up to 6 hours of luxurious, long-lasting scents... ...introducing new unstopables air refresher. ugh! heartburn! no one burns on my watch! try alka-seltzer heartburn reliefchews. t

i'm joined now by sandra bland's sister sharon cooper and the family's attorney, canon lambert. thank you both for joining us on this eve when you will say goodbye to your sister. let's talk about this toxicology report that the assistant d.a. and the district attorney seemed to focus on so much. you heard their argument on why this is relevant. what is your response to the claim that if there was marijuana present, they want to examine her mood and whether or not her mood was altered because of this drug. is that even relevant to you at this point? >> absolutely not. i'll tell you a few things. i'm thrilled that they're finally releasing the autopsy report. i just would have loved to have seen it firsthand myself legal counsel and my family. that would have been phenomenal. we've been publicly asking for it since we were informed of her death. when we receive it will be the first time you all receive it. i don't think there is any question about her state. there is nothing on that dash cam that states that she was in a different mood. i think she was very lucid, very much herse

. >> your name and -- >> sharon cooper. i just would like to address the question.e video -- i've seen the video in its entirety. sandy was pulled over for failure to proper -- indicate a proper lane change. and in looking at that as her sister i simply feel like the officer was picking on her. point-blank, period. and i personally think that it's petty petty. >> do you believe he pulled her over because she was black. >> i think he pulled her over because she was an out of state resident. that is what i think. >> ms. cooper when you see your sister crying out in anguish, what was your response? >> i'm in furted and everybody else should be infuriated as well. from the petty charge to the officer asking her -- let's be clear. he asked her, can you put your cigarette out for me please. that is not a instruction. that is not a summanceonsummons. he asked her and she simply responded no i don't have to put my cigarette out. i'm in my own car. >> did she have a court date. did she make an appearance in court. >> she did make an aferns. and had been given bond at that ti

joining us now from chicago is a member of her family sandra bland's sister sharon cooper joined by theircenter for medicine, health and society, and professor of vanderbilt university, and thank you for staying with us. sharon, we will start with you on this. we know the times are not easy and services were held yesterday and the sound was played which is difficult for many to listen to. how is the family coping with this? >> i don't mean to sound trite, and thank you for having us on this morning, the service was great and it was overwhelmingly heart warming to have so many people to come out and celebrate sandra's life. >> right. >> to be in a position where the church was filled at capacity and folks had to be turned away due to the fact there was no parking or no seating, and it was overwhelmingly joyous for my family and i to put her to rest in such a peaceful way, and it was celebratory in nature and we just -- the gratitude that we continuously express just cannot say thank you enough and the family is doing still as well as can be expected in light of the ongoing investigation su

joined now by sandra bland's sister sharon cooper and the family's attorney cannon lambert.hanks for joining me. i know you're preparing for your sister's funeral and we extend our condolences. >> i appreciate it. >> we saw that report the police report your sister told the police she tried to commit suicide after losing a baby. did you know anything about that? >> what i did know george was that she did lose a baby in may of 2014 and that's the most that i do know. >> any kind of history of depression. you talked about the highs and lows. no clinical depression no treatment for depression? >> absolutely not, george. >> ryan mentioned that independent autopsy has not been released yet. have you seen the results? >> i have not. i have not seen the results. i do know the preliminary results show that she did have deep tissue bruising to her back. >> to her back. >> which is consistent with the officer having his knee in her back. >> and you're prepare -- >> that's all we have so far. >> you're prepared to accept the results of this independent autopsy? >> we are. >> tell -- i

cooperated could this all have been avoided? >> could i answer that question, please? >> sharon poof. i just would like to address the question.eo, i have seen the video in its entirety. sandy was pulled over for failure to indicate a proper lane change and in looking at that as her sister i simply feel like the officer was picking on her. point-blank, period. i personally think that it's petty. >> reporter: do you believe he pulled her over because she was black? >> i think he pulled her over because she was an out-of-state resident. that's what i think. >> ms. cooper when you see your sister crying out in anger. >> i'm infuriated and everything else should be as well. from the petty charge to the officer asking her, let's be clear, he asked her, can you put your cigarette out for me, please? that's not an instruction, that's not a summons, that's an ask. he asked her and she simply responded no i don't have to put out my cigarette. i'm in my own court. >> reporter: was there an court date? >> she did make an appear yams in cord and had been given bond at the time, which we were working on expeditiously to give her. it has no