2 posts tagged “sean bell”

I've been meaning to title a post like that for a week now, and just never had the right subject for it.  I still dont, but I figure if I dont use it before week's end I'll end up forgetting.  Inevitably, something pisses me off.  Today I found this happy little article in the WashPo.

I should preface this with the quick and dirty details surrounding DeOnte Rawling's death.  He was shot.  In the fuggin head.  He was 14 years old.  He was stealing a minibike.  In what state, in what country, on what planet does stealing a bike = death by shot to the head?  Even if we play that game and say that he shot at the cops, with a gun that was never found leaving bullet holes (or even fucking bullets) that were never found, you still end up with the fact that he was shot in the head.  Police are trained to shoot at the arm, leg, torso, hand, foot... anything except the chest and head.  Murder is, largly, frowned upon, by cops. 

And I've already bitched and moaned about Sean Bell's murder, but it seems to be common nowadays that cops are getting away with much much more.  Mostly in the interest of "preventing terrorism".  They can harass at will as long as they have probably cause, which in many cases tends to be skin color.  Dont get me wrong... I will not pull the race card here.  I hate it.  Intensely.  And maybe one day I'll relate the story of one Mr. M. Rick Turner who apparently now has his own website where his scary mug is visible to the whole world.  But his story is one for another day.  Where was I?  Race Card!  Yes!  I hate it when people pull the race card.  And in all honesty, the majority of folks who are doing the shootings and murders in DC are African American.  But simply assuming that a thug kid stealing a bike is going to shoot you dead only angers the rest of the community, thereby making your job of protecting others that much harder. 

Fenty is in a difficult position.  He's a black mayor in DC with a white Chief of Police.  I'm positive that he found the FBI findings in this case more than ridiculous, like many folks in this area did.  But he cannot speak out about it.  He has a city to run.  The police, who came out squeaky clean, are being immature children.  They knew that Fenty had paid for this kid's funeral.  They must have known that Fenty was going to be pissed if the FBI found the cops innocent of all wrongdoing, and they sure as hell knew that Fenty was black.  So why invite him in the first place? 

I think they did so for the simple purpose to un-invite him later.  They did so because they are petty and childish.

I hope Fenty does appear today.  And I hope he embarresess them.  He has nothing to be ashamed of for showing up.  He'll simply be keeping his promise to show respect for the fallen police officers that protect his city, and the people in it.   

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Really, this picture says it all regarding how a very large portion of America feels about the Sean Bell verdict.  It shows how people feel.  It also shows how people will react... which will be with temporary activity and anger, followed by incredible inaction. 

The woman is crying.  She wrote this poster hastily, and is mad.  She wants action.  She wants active rebellion and for people to take notice.  However... she is not doing anything but holding a poster.  This is, sadly, the way many people view change and revolution.  They will cry, yell, shout and complain... but effectively wait for someone else to initiate the conflict. 

I agree that something has to be done about this shameful lack of justice... but I know, and have the foresight to realize, that protests rarely work.  You can shout, "1960s civil rights" at me until you are blue in the face, but what did that really accomplish?  Look at today.  A man, who was shot 30+ times while unarmed and very very drunk, died in vain.  His killers, and I'll have you notice that I am not making a judgement on whether the police were provoked or not, got off free.  Without even a manslaughter charge... which by definition is the unintentional act of killing another human being. 

I am saddened by this outcome.  It makes me doubt the justice system, even more so than when I had to deal with that douche of a commonwealth's attorney in C-Ville.