Quote:
Originally Posted by blueash
Really? I hope I never get you or your sister on a jury. Do you not understand the concept of the presumption of innocence? It is fundamental to our nation, our Constitution, and to most religions if not all of them.
"A 61-year-old man was shot to death by police while his wife was handcuffed in another room during a drug raid on the wrong house.
Police admitted their mistake, saying faulty information from a drug informant contributed to the death of John Adams Wednesday night. They intended to raid the home next door. "
Or if that's not bad enough
"Sleeping 7-year-old girl shot in head during no-knock police raid on wrong home
"They blew my granddaughter's brains out. They killed her right before my eyes. I watched the light go out of her eyes."
Or John Crawford, what did he do "wrong" other than be black and therefore by definition very scary while carrying a toy in Walmart?
How about Akai Gurley. I bet you've never heard of him either?
"Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said Friday that a grand jury will be impaneled in the case of Akai Gurley, who was fatally shot by a rookie NYPD police officer in a dark public housing stairwell.
Police Commissioner William Bratton called the shooting a tragic accident, with Bratton saying Gurley was "a total innocent."
How about Victor White?
Yvette Smith? She was not only shot by a cop when she was doing what she was told and was unarmed but the police after the event reportedly altered the cops training records to falsify what his training had been.
Or read this eyewitness to a 16 yo being shot 11 times because a cop was primed to see a gun that did not exist. Eyewitness: Police Shot Kimani Gray While The 16-Year-Old Was On The Ground | Village Voice
Was this kid completely compliant? Did he adjust his pants? Did he deserve to die? Is that the kind of policing you want for your grandchildren? Can you even begin for just a moment to understand that a black parent might fear his teen boy doing nothing more than hanging out might be the victim of a police "accident"? Sure you will point out that he is even more likely to be shot by a black gang member. Is that your best argument for excusing excess force by police against too may people of color?
Look, I like cops. One of my best friends is a former NYC cop who is obviously distressed by the murder of those two by a crazy person. But there are bad cops, there are poorly trained cops, and there are cops who when they see a black person especially a younger male, are too prone to use violence first. They are rare but they are there. And sadly when a person tries to point out these cases and that race plays a role and that black and brown people are the victims of that prejudice, some calling it playing the race card whereas I call it acknowledging reality and asking for justice. |
Yes there are bad cops, but not as many bad cops
by percentage than horrible law breakers of the group we cannot speak of. If I had to wish that one group would become stronger, it would be the police officers. It is sad when innocent people are killed, but the kind of emphasis you give these scenarios make it appear that you really don't like law enforcement and really are pulling for the folks who get arrested way too frequently because they are doing bad things. I like people for what they do, not the color of their skin or the uniform they wear. There is a HUGE issue with young men in poor areas who do not have a father's influence or an example of a family wage earner turning toward drugs, their use and entering into the business of dealing drugs.
THAT IS THE BIG PROBLEM HERE...certainly greater than police officers killing people which does happen and certainly is horrible but it is not the focus of law enforcement nor is it the mindset of the majority of law enforcement.
The media is barking up the wrong tree and the opportunity for the president to make a huge difference to these young people is rapidly slipping away. In this area, I am SO disappointed. Someone needed to holler at them like a dad would.