I dont like commenting on cases without reading over the evidence first, but the Michael Brown and Eric Garner deaths are symbolic of a much larger national problem. Both are tragedies at every level of our justice system. Whether Brown was innocent or had been an evil mass murderer - I have to focus on the START of the confrontation. If the police officer had used common sense and what Im sure is police dept policy, he should have called for backup and not confronted him until backup arrived. Had he not tried to be a hero, I honestly have to think things would have turned out differently. Today, a Staten Island jury failed to agree on any indictments for the officer who killed Eric Garner in a choke hold. This is despite the entire confrontation being videotaped, the medical examiner ruling the death a homicide by choking, and choke holds being against police dept procedures. Garners alleged crime was selling untaxed cigarettes. In this case, it seems that plenty of backup had arrived, yet the plain clothes officer keeps him in a choke hold until he loses consciousness. Yes, he was a big man - but there were plenty of cops on the scene to control him and they didnt even try other non-lethal means. I havent seen the evidence in either of these cases, but I have personally witnessed so much police brutality over the years. Not all cops are bad cops, but it only takes a few bad ones to completely ruin the relationship with the community they are supposed to serve. When the justice system fails to even reprimand the bad ones, all hope for change is lost and that is why so many people are angry and taking to the streets. While the names of Brown and Garner are on all of the wagging tongues, I want to re-emphasize the fact that they are only symbols of the larger problem. Peaceful protests in the streets are important to show solidarity, but they also have to happen in the right places in order to ever result in change. They need to be outside the city councils, the police departments, the offices of state leaders, and in front of anyone else who is charged with representing the people. They have to protect and serve ALL OF THE PEOPLE! If you havent seen the video of Garners death, here is a link: https://youtube/watch?v=pvATEjsf41g
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 06:31:34 +0000
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