Virginia was completely inexcusable, just like the George Floyd murder. I watched it all this AM on the News and just shook my head in complete fucking dismay... as in what was wrong with that stupid, Goddamned cop? Luckily, he didn't murder that soldier. As for the news in Los Angeles today? What they reported---EXACTLY---in Minnesota, was that Duante was pulled over for some minor infraction. When they ran his license they found an outstanding warrant. They THEN ordered him out of the car. Instead, he resisted arrest by taking off and was shot fleeing. That's EXACTLY what was reported on the News. If it went as YOU wrote it, and I have a hunch it went EXACTLY as you wrote it, then this is simply another major-league police fuckup. The problem lies in the training these police departments use because by now you'd think that every police officer in the country would be totally sensitive to the stakes at hand while stopping a black man...or anyone else for that matter. Something's fundamentally wrong in police training and procedures. Like knee to the neck choke holds for example.
There are far too many White police officers who are AFRAID of Black people. Every shooting has involved a White officer who could not abide having his authority (power) questioned by Black men or women. Today the lead defense attorney implied that Chauvin was using professional standards because George Floyd was a 6’2” large Black man who without being restrained by handcuffs in a prone position might have been more than the SIX officers at the scene could handle. White fear trumps Black lives. Literally.
It would be worthwhile for psychologists to study and try to find out WHY so many police officers are filled with rage, hatred and terror toward people of color. Do police departments attract disproportionate numbers of racists, sadists and psychopaths? Do they start out that way or do they become twisted on the job? Is there no way to weed these people out before they are given a badge and a gun?
I've been wondering if they're going to have to start issuing 'do not drive while black' warnings in certain states/towns from now on, because it's pretty apparent that some states cops are in battle mode against black people driving any kind of vehicle. I also wonder how anyone in their right mind could confuse a taser and a handgun, but I'm sure that the jury will be curious as well, because that kind of accident is really, really rare-unless you're black. Then it's more than likely. Disgusting and revolting how the cops are so trigger finger happy now. Like they're hunt for someone to shoot...
"Why can’t a taser be designed to look like, say, a TV remote control, instead of a lethal weapon?" Seriously! Why not? You're right about the militarization too. My fight-or-flight reflex kicks in when I see those "stormtroopers from some kind of near-future dystopian nightmare" on *video* facrissake. I believe their physical appearance is helping create the scenarios they're supposedly trying to avoid. Long time ago as a young antiwar activist in D.C. I faced off a few times against the city's Civil Disturbance Unit, often as a marshal (peacekeeper) whose job was to keep the police and the more hotheaded protesters apart. I was not one to call the cops "pigs," but in their riot gear their little eyes and protruding snouts looked remarkably porcine.
Y’know, I spent the 70s and 80s driving around looking very much like the hippie stoner Dead Head I was (am?). I was pulled over now and then, I was even arrested once or twice. But I was never abused, not once; the police were always formal and respectful.
As you’ve no doubt guessed, my family is from Europe, my skin is light-colored. Funny thing, huh? 🤔😉😊
Can’t say much more than you've already said except someday, whites like me will be the minority. Perhaps there will be many more interracial marriages or relationships that will skew the race population numbers. I mean, I think of the Census. Eventually, there will be no “just white” or “just black, brown or Asian”. Maybe then, the fighting with dissipate and our racist history will be gone. I know, I do wish for Utopia after what all we have witnessed and many have experienced. It’s tearing our hearts apart.
I have, for 50 years, participated against injustices. I never realized until The Don was elected how many ignorant, stupid , and hateful people share our space.
Having work with or around policing the last 40 plus years I can say with confidence the problem is police training, the mantra is constantly protection and go home to your family every day. The training emphasizes who and where danger comes from...the poor, the inner city, the drug addicted, the marginalized, and the black community. It is not consciously racist but comes from a knee jerk misconstruct of police experience with the edges of society.
Before we blame ALL the police (and, boy, are they ever militarized), let’s not forget that they face off with an American population that owns more guns and fire power than there are people. Racism is the easiest way to put a face on Hidden Fear that assumes ANY public encounter is fraught with danger. This is Gun Culture and its glorification of violence; the Us vs Them of warfare. And what’s the first thing people do in a “war” situation? They find ways to dehumanize and belittle the adversary. Racism is the symptom of a wartime mentality. For those at the tippy top, pulling strings, It’s one more way to consolidate and seize power—through fear mongering. Read The Shock Doctrine—or just read historic episodes on the rise of fascism.
My girl friend says that this is a generation of police raised on video games where cartoons die in splashes of blood, not human beings. Makes perfect sense. In other words, ZERO sensitivity when it comes to using a pistol instead of common sense when it comes to settling an issue. Reminds me of an incident many years ago on La Brea when an elderly and mentally retarded homeless woman challenged two policemen. She had a screwdriver in her hand. So, naturally they shot her to death because they were afraid for they lives. LAPD in its finest hour. Oh, and they got off.
A similar story happened here in Texas. A black man was stopped for not dimming his lights. He was very large and had difficulty complying with the officers. He told then he was trying but they tasered him multiple times until he died. He had congestive heart failure and he told them so.
Check out the 1st Amendment Auditors on You Tube...then check out police salaries and overtime...don't send your kid to university, this is the cash cow of all time!
Virginia was completely inexcusable, just like the George Floyd murder. I watched it all this AM on the News and just shook my head in complete fucking dismay... as in what was wrong with that stupid, Goddamned cop? Luckily, he didn't murder that soldier. As for the news in Los Angeles today? What they reported---EXACTLY---in Minnesota, was that Duante was pulled over for some minor infraction. When they ran his license they found an outstanding warrant. They THEN ordered him out of the car. Instead, he resisted arrest by taking off and was shot fleeing. That's EXACTLY what was reported on the News. If it went as YOU wrote it, and I have a hunch it went EXACTLY as you wrote it, then this is simply another major-league police fuckup. The problem lies in the training these police departments use because by now you'd think that every police officer in the country would be totally sensitive to the stakes at hand while stopping a black man...or anyone else for that matter. Something's fundamentally wrong in police training and procedures. Like knee to the neck choke holds for example.
There are far too many White police officers who are AFRAID of Black people. Every shooting has involved a White officer who could not abide having his authority (power) questioned by Black men or women. Today the lead defense attorney implied that Chauvin was using professional standards because George Floyd was a 6’2” large Black man who without being restrained by handcuffs in a prone position might have been more than the SIX officers at the scene could handle. White fear trumps Black lives. Literally.
its disgusting that its career trained whites guilty of promoting the new race war, same crew on 1/6/21
reprogram them all or release them of their duties and pensions
its a serious white supremacy issue
It would be worthwhile for psychologists to study and try to find out WHY so many police officers are filled with rage, hatred and terror toward people of color. Do police departments attract disproportionate numbers of racists, sadists and psychopaths? Do they start out that way or do they become twisted on the job? Is there no way to weed these people out before they are given a badge and a gun?
I've been wondering if they're going to have to start issuing 'do not drive while black' warnings in certain states/towns from now on, because it's pretty apparent that some states cops are in battle mode against black people driving any kind of vehicle. I also wonder how anyone in their right mind could confuse a taser and a handgun, but I'm sure that the jury will be curious as well, because that kind of accident is really, really rare-unless you're black. Then it's more than likely. Disgusting and revolting how the cops are so trigger finger happy now. Like they're hunt for someone to shoot...
"Why can’t a taser be designed to look like, say, a TV remote control, instead of a lethal weapon?" Seriously! Why not? You're right about the militarization too. My fight-or-flight reflex kicks in when I see those "stormtroopers from some kind of near-future dystopian nightmare" on *video* facrissake. I believe their physical appearance is helping create the scenarios they're supposedly trying to avoid. Long time ago as a young antiwar activist in D.C. I faced off a few times against the city's Civil Disturbance Unit, often as a marshal (peacekeeper) whose job was to keep the police and the more hotheaded protesters apart. I was not one to call the cops "pigs," but in their riot gear their little eyes and protruding snouts looked remarkably porcine.
Y’know, I spent the 70s and 80s driving around looking very much like the hippie stoner Dead Head I was (am?). I was pulled over now and then, I was even arrested once or twice. But I was never abused, not once; the police were always formal and respectful.
As you’ve no doubt guessed, my family is from Europe, my skin is light-colored. Funny thing, huh? 🤔😉😊
Can’t say much more than you've already said except someday, whites like me will be the minority. Perhaps there will be many more interracial marriages or relationships that will skew the race population numbers. I mean, I think of the Census. Eventually, there will be no “just white” or “just black, brown or Asian”. Maybe then, the fighting with dissipate and our racist history will be gone. I know, I do wish for Utopia after what all we have witnessed and many have experienced. It’s tearing our hearts apart.
I have, for 50 years, participated against injustices. I never realized until The Don was elected how many ignorant, stupid , and hateful people share our space.
I have long felt that the police killings of blacks is the current day lynchings of the not so distant, past. We haven’t progressed much, have we?
Having work with or around policing the last 40 plus years I can say with confidence the problem is police training, the mantra is constantly protection and go home to your family every day. The training emphasizes who and where danger comes from...the poor, the inner city, the drug addicted, the marginalized, and the black community. It is not consciously racist but comes from a knee jerk misconstruct of police experience with the edges of society.
Before we blame ALL the police (and, boy, are they ever militarized), let’s not forget that they face off with an American population that owns more guns and fire power than there are people. Racism is the easiest way to put a face on Hidden Fear that assumes ANY public encounter is fraught with danger. This is Gun Culture and its glorification of violence; the Us vs Them of warfare. And what’s the first thing people do in a “war” situation? They find ways to dehumanize and belittle the adversary. Racism is the symptom of a wartime mentality. For those at the tippy top, pulling strings, It’s one more way to consolidate and seize power—through fear mongering. Read The Shock Doctrine—or just read historic episodes on the rise of fascism.
Just "thanks" ...
My girl friend says that this is a generation of police raised on video games where cartoons die in splashes of blood, not human beings. Makes perfect sense. In other words, ZERO sensitivity when it comes to using a pistol instead of common sense when it comes to settling an issue. Reminds me of an incident many years ago on La Brea when an elderly and mentally retarded homeless woman challenged two policemen. She had a screwdriver in her hand. So, naturally they shot her to death because they were afraid for they lives. LAPD in its finest hour. Oh, and they got off.
A similar story happened here in Texas. A black man was stopped for not dimming his lights. He was very large and had difficulty complying with the officers. He told then he was trying but they tasered him multiple times until he died. He had congestive heart failure and he told them so.
Check out the 1st Amendment Auditors on You Tube...then check out police salaries and overtime...don't send your kid to university, this is the cash cow of all time!
Love your writing Lucian! LOL I would probably retweet every article but I'm looking for work and am trying to avoid retweeting curse words.