Racist Police Response to Ferguson Protests

[Izzy.nyc]

Wonder how the situation is in Utah with the similar incident


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[BVS]

He was at least wearing a body camera.


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[AEON]

Originally Posted by DaveC

... or would it be LA 1993 all over again?

I'm thinking it will be more like this, only in numerous major cities.

[BVS]

It all depends on how it's handled. If he walks away and there still isn't any real info released? Then yeah, it could be bad.


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[Diemen]

Originally Posted by AEON

Really? Even with Holder looking over everyone's shoulder?

Honestly, yes. I think the history of trials against police officers kind of speaks for itself, even in cases where the evidence seemed compelling enough to convict. The laws governing police tactics are often written in such a way that give way more benefit of the doubt to police than a regular citizen would get in the same situation. And some of that is no doubt necessary due to the difficulty of the job and the potential for coming into contact with violence, but obviously it can be and historically has been abused by some officers.

I think if Holder does his job then this starts a process of meaningful nationwide reassessment and restructuring of police procedures and the protocols behind the use of force, deadly or otherwise.

[AEON]

Originally Posted by BVS

It all depends on how it's handled. If he walks away and there still isn't any real info released?

I think this makes sense. At this point, there is going to need to be some forensic evidence released that PROVES Michael was still advancing. Some African-American eyewitnesses testimony that syncs with this evidence would also help calm people down - if Darren Wilson isn't charged.

If he is charged, and it goes to trial, and it seems it could either way (Zimmerman trial) - and he gets acquitted, I think that would also cause rioting.

[AEON]

Originally Posted by Diemen

The laws governing police tactics are often written in such a way that give way more benefit of the doubt to police than a regular citizen would get in the same situation.

I see your point. The defense (if it comes to that) probably has A LOT to work with regarding the right of the officer to engage with deadly force.

Just about every cop I've seen interviewed states that if Michael wasn't complying - and kept walking/charging toward the officer (especially after Michael already "wrestled/hit" the officer) - the officer was justified to keep firing until Michael was stopped (which in this case meant death).

It really all comes down to that - did Michael move toward the cop after he froze. If he did, then it seems, from what I've heard, the officer won't be charged with anything.

[Diemen]

Here's a pretty compelling reason why 1)dashcams are necessary and 2)police protocol should be changed so that dashcam recordings must be turned in as evidence in court:

The Investigators: Dashcam video clears NJ man; Cops now indicted | 7online.com

[cobl04]

So what about this man Dillon Taylor, a white/Hispanic bloke who was killed by police in Utah. I assume this is what annoys AEON, that there is a big focus on Michael Brown, as he was a black killed by a white, but there has been less coverage about Dillon Taylor. I was going to post a link, but so far the two most prominent ones I've seen are from Fox News (whose bias I know about) and Washington Times. I have no idea who owns or what the bias is for the Washington Times, but judging by their reporting of it I get the feeling they are very much a Fox News/NY Post style paper.

I haven't got the time to do more researching, has Taylor's death got much coverage?

[Kieran McConville]

The Moonies used to own the Washington Times, not sure who owns it now.

[Izzy.nyc]

There's bias most everywhere.


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[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by cobl04

So what about this man Dillon Taylor, a white/Hispanic bloke who was killed by police in Utah. I assume this is what annoys AEON, that there is a big focus on Michael Brown, as he was a black killed by a white, but there has been less coverage about Dillon Taylor. I was going to post a link, but so far the two most prominent ones I've seen are from Fox News (whose bias I know about) and Washington Times. I have no idea who owns or what the bias is for the Washington Times, but judging by their reporting of it I get the feeling they are very much a Fox News/NY Post style paper.

I haven't got the time to do more researching, has Taylor's death got much coverage?

The Washington Times is extremely biased. It's not considered a serious mainstream paper, however many GOP sources will leak to the WT in order to start with the spin they want. It's essentially Fox News inn printed form.

To say that "everything" is biased and therefore everything is the same is nonsense.

Also, while a hate crime is a hate crime, white-on-black crime hits an especially sensitive spot in US due to our rather unique history, both 400 and 40 and 4 years ago.


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[AEON]

Originally Posted by Irvine511

white-on-black crime hits an especially sensitive spot in US due to our rather unique history, both 400 and 40 and 4 years ago.


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True...but at some point, we will all have to simply move along. Unfortunately, there is still some money to be made in playing this movie.

I can only claim so much pride in my great-great-grandfather fighting for the Union in the Civil War. And I can only feel so much guilt for my non-blood relatives bringing slaves into this region. Eventually, we have to let the past be the past.

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by AEON

True...but at some point, we will all have to simply move along.

I suspect blacks who are still suffering the effects of the leftovers of systemic racism might rankle at the idea that things would get better if they just "move along," don't you?

[BVS]

Originally Posted by Diemen

I suspect blacks who are still suffering the effects of the leftovers of systemic racism might rankle at the idea that things would get better if they just "move along," don't you?

I guess this begs the question if AEON and others believe there are effects leftover from systematic racism? I find some of the attitudes in here very dismissive, and I'd be curious if some just don't believe there are still existing effects?


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[AEON]

Originally Posted by Diemen

I suspect blacks who are still suffering the effects of the leftovers of systemic racism might rankle at the idea that things would get better if they just "move along," don't you?

There are more than a few outspoken leaders in the black community that essentially say the same thing, that it this point in America - personal responsibility is your most important asset.

Perhaps we are still multiple generations away from "moving along" - or perhaps we will never "move along" on this issue. Am I being too optimistic that we're fairly close to realizing MLK's dream?

[AEON]

Originally Posted by BVS

I guess this begs the question if AEON and others believe there are effects leftover from systematic racism? I find some of the attitudes in here very dismissive, and I'd be curious if some just don't believe there are still existing effects?


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The law is clear - we cannot discriminate. Beyond that, we each have to always examine our own hearts for how we actually feel and act toward any individual.

The only racial hatred you hear anymore is in the anonymous comments on news sites. While unfortunate - at least it shows that it is no longer publicly acceptable to say such things.

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by AEON

The law is clear - we cannot discriminate. Beyond that, we each have to always examine our own hearts for how we actually feel and act toward any individual.

The only racial hatred you hear anymore is in the anonymous comments on news sites. While unfortunate - at least it shows that it is no longer publicly acceptable to say such things.

Perhaps, but that doesn't mean that there isn't still plenty of talk going around publicly that helps perpetuate negative racial stereotypes. And while it stops short of racial hatred, when you hear right wing politicians talk about welfare queens, they're certainly not talking about the poor white population who tends to vote Republican.

[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by AEON

True...but at some point, we will all have to simply move along. Unfortunately, there is still some money to be made in playing this movie.

I can only claim so much pride in my great-great-grandfather fighting for the Union in the Civil War. And I can only feel so much guilt for my non-blood relatives bringing slaves into this region. Eventually, we have to let the past be the past.

but you reap the benefits of this history every day of your life. and will continue to do so.

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by AEON

The only racial hatred you hear anymore is in the anonymous comments on news sites. While unfortunate - at least it shows that it is no longer publicly acceptable to say such things.

While you don't hear "Kill all the (insert race here)!" openly shouted anymore (at least not without it being immediately put down as deplorable, as was the case when racist flyers were distributed around the GTA a few weeks ago), I can assure you that I most certainly hear a lot of more subtle racism on the streetcar ride into downtown Toronto (talk of immigrants "taking jobs" - even from other recent immigrants, people assuming Aboriginal people getting on the streetcar are drunk/homeless, incredible stereotyping and generalizations about various racial groups, etc). This is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and in general we encourage people to keep and celebrate their cultures when they immigrate to Canada, so many groups are very distinct. There truly is no racial or ethnic majority here (in terms of the experience, not hard statistics), and this kind of racist talk comes from literally every single ethnic group, age, economic status. The only common denominator between racist people is stupidity.