Is It Open Season On Black Men?

UPDATE 11/26/2014: Much has been made of forensics saying that Michael Brown was not shot in the back. Forensic specialists conclude eye witnesses that say that Officer Darren Wilson shot at Michael Brown while he was running away, were simply wrong. They further conclude that because there were no shots in the back that Darren Wilson is credible and simply told the truth.

But we remember the testimony of Piaget Crenshaw who says that she saw and heard Darren Wilson shooting at Michael Brown.while Michael Brown was running away. Now, why would they conclude that she was wrong? There is only one reason...They ASSUME that Darren Wilson was an accurate shooter. If that is the case, then why are none of the shots that hit the target center mass of Mike Brown's body? It is quite easy to understand why there were no shots in the back. Darren Wilson was not a good shooter.

***THIS WAS TOP STORY ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS 8/11/2014***

18 Yr. Old Michael Brown

18 year old, UNARMED, Black youth Michael Brown, was killed by the Police in Ferguson, MO Saturday afternoon Aug. 9th, 2014. According to the police, Michael was a participant in an "altercation" with police when "someone" fired a shot at the police. The policeman, after being pushed into his car, responded by coming up and shooting multiple shots. Reportedly, Michael was hit by most of these multiple shots and killed.

Eyewitnesses however have somewhat of a different version of events which has stirred considerable controversy. One eyewitness, who happens to be the other young man whom the police stopped with Michael, Dorian Johnson, reported that the police initially stopped both the youths without provocation and proceeded to try to place Michael in the squad car forcibly. Michael resisted. The police evidently shot though no shots were fired at him/them. Johnson went on to say this:

“He shot again and once my friend felt that shot he turned around and put his hands in the air and started to get down, and the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots.”...“We wasn’t causing no harm to nobody [sic],”...“We had no weapons on us at all.”

Another witness affirms Johnson's account of the story by saying:

He kicked the door opened trying to hit him with the door. The door flew back and hit his leg. He pulled his gun out and shot inside the car, trying to hit [Mike]. [Mike] got out the car. Dude on his knees like this, “Bruh, don’t shoot me. Don’t shoot me.” Shot him dead in the head and then walked up to his body and shot him four more times. Looked at his eyes, paused for a minute and shot him four more times. They talking about [he] was running from the police. For one, [his] shorts was way down here, he got on flip flops, how the f-ck he running from the police?  

He wasn’t running from the police. The Ferguson market didn’t even call the police. He didn’t steal sh*t. The police just wanted to do the sh*t. He saw a black dude, like 300lbs, 6’4. He’s like f-ck it, I’m not going to fight him. Yeah, suicide type sh*t. My dude was already on his knees like, “Bruh, don’t shoot me.” His hands threw up. What kind of sh*t is that? Yeah a black dude got shot…it ain’t no this dude? He didn’t do [anything] to you. Y’all didn’t get sh*t like that. It’s more than that. Why you messing with no call.

Yet another female witness on NBC nightly News claims and affirms the alternate versions of the story are true. She claimed that Michael, was running away from the Police, stopped at their demand, turned around with his hands up, but was still shot in the head and the chest by the police and fell to the ground. 

In all cases, except for the police version, Michael was not resisting arrest in the end and was still shot to death by a police officer. 

Controversy & Unrest In The Community & Family

Needless to say that this event has sparked considerable outrage particularly from the inner city residents of Ferguson and even from residents of nearby St. Louis. As late as Sunday afternoon, what was slated to be a peaceful vigil in commemoration of Michael ended in multiple arrests, looting, destroyed business establishments, bottles and rocks being thrown at the police and a considerable community riot that continues to the time of this writing. The dissatisfaction has been leveled at the local police who came in riot gear and full force, over some 200 strong, with dogs, in effort to defend the city and bring order.

School, which was scheduled to begin again on Monday Aug. 11th, was cancelled for fear of the ongoing community unrest and violence in the streets. under direction of US Attorney General Eric Holder, the FBI has been called in to conduct a concurrent investigation into Michael's death looking for any possible civil rights violations which may have occurred.

According to all reports, the situation on the ground is yet touch and go and there is still yet violence and demonstrations in the streets of Ferguson, MO and STL. Michael's family (Mother & Father) have called for peace, due process and for citizens to let the process of justice work stating:

"The violence needs to stop. The support is needed, but not the violence. The violence needs to stop!" ~ Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown's Mother.  

Black Leaders

Referencing the tragedy, Black leaders have all around the country have called for peace from the citizens. In a written statement NAACP President Cornell W. Brooks stated:

"Michael Brown was preparing to begin college, and now his family is preparing to bury their child — his life cut short in a tragic encounter with the police."..."Even as we call for accountability by those charged with protecting the community, we call on the community to act — collectively and calmly until we secure justice for the family of Michael Brown,"

Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network says that Michael's grandfather has reached out to him asking him:

“to come to St. Louis in light of the police killing of his grandson to assist the family in achieving a fair investigation and justice.”

Esaw Garner & Al Sharpton

One more thing on this, often when Black leaders speak up on issues, conservative Whites criticize them as "taking advantage of people's pain". While some of that may be attributable to the actions of some activists themselves, in many of these cases, including all them discussed in this article, if there was no Black leader or voice bringing things to attention, the ESTABLISHMENT, controlled primarily by White individuals would not give many of these issues the time of day. In most cases, unless we Black people, make it news and bring the issues to the forefront, it will stay in the background all day long. In addition, I see NONE of the critics providing relief for the families affected by these horrible tragedies, wiping the tears of the families or holding

their hands when survivors need relief.

After having performed over 40 community prayer vigils in my community since 2008, in which death by homicide was the cause of the community gathering, I can proudly say, that I am GLAD to be there for every family to speak toward the healing of the community and justice for the affected individuals. Just in case you haven't figured it out, these type of things affect ALL of us. 

So I am THANKFUL for these and other Black Leaders who make and take a stand on issues of national importance. THIS is one such issue among many that we, as a community, both Black and White, must address and overcome.

Open Season On Black Men?

The St. Louis area will certainly never be the same after this event, but there is even more to the whole set of events than meets the eye. This killing along with others in which Black men have lost their lives at the hands of authority in recent times, causes us to continue to question both the motive, motivation and operation of the police departments and authorities in general.

Here's a snippet of the concern:

Social commentor Marc L. Hill notes that a Black man is killed by "authorities" in America on average every 28 hours and in most cases the man being killed is not rioting or inciting community violence. That is alarming all by itself but let me reference some recent examples:   

According to the website Hip-Hop & Politics, between Jan. 1st and March 31st 2012, 28 Black men were killed by police, security officials, or self appointed community "peace keepers". Of the 28 people killed, 18 were unarmed, and 8 were alleged to have been in possession of non-lethal weapons. 7 of them appeared to be emotionally disturbed and 10 of them were engaged in illegal or potentially illegal activity.

One of the more popular murders that occurred during that time (in 3 months) was the murder of Trayvon Martin, who's killer, George Zimmerman was acquitted, but who has also faced considerable legal troubles since.

Although Trayvon Martin was in Florida, there seems to always be problems in New York as well. Recently, Eric Garner, a 43 year old Black man AND FATHER OF 6, was choked to death by police in Staten Island, NY. This was after the police engaged him and AFTER he broke up a fight on the street. Although this murder was caught on video the police initially denied what was clearly obvious to all of us looking on; that they and their strong arm tactics used by the NYPD were the cause of Mr. Garner's death. The whole incident arose from "suspected" sale of individual cigarettes by Mr. Garner to an unnamed  person or individual. The tactics were initiated by police whom Garner knew and claimed that had been otherwise "harassing" him. The police, still yet defending themselves said this:

Eric & Esaw Garner

"We believe, however, that if he (Garner) had not resisted the lawful order of the police officers placing him under arrest, this tragedy would not have occurred." ~ Patrick "Lynch",  President of the City's Patrolman's "Benevolent" Assn. (quotations added)

Even though NYC Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has vowed to retrain all officers in the use of force, he continues to justify the officers use of force by stating that they should continue to uphold policy regarding even minor violations such as selling loose cigarettes.

The fact is that we think so too, but KILLING a man over a cigarette simply isn't a good way to make a difference in the community, unless that difference is intended to terrorize certain segments of the community.

Next? Death over the 17oz drink cup????

Are Black Men Safe At Walmart?

On Tuesday Aug. 5th in Beavercreek, OH a 22 year old Black man, John Crawford,  was considering buying a Crosman MK-177 Air Rifle that was sold at the local Walmart. Evidently Mr. Crawford was not moving quickly enough to purchase, and being Black with a gun was far too dangerous of a combination both for the police and the customers of the store. The Beavercreek police shot and killed Mr. Crawford claiming that he was unresponsive to their demands for him to drop the weapon (which he was purchasing). In the process another customer, 37 year old Angela Williams, died, (probably of a heart attack) as she tried to dodge the incident.

In this case it was a 2 for one deal...the BLACK LIGHT'S OUT SPECIAL! That story and news links can be found HERE

Community Policing & The "Broken Windows" FAILURE!

Many do not know that there are community policing tactics and a community policing philosophy. One of those tactics is the tactic called "Broken Windows" this philosophy seeks to connect public disorder to crime rate and therefore making the case. This is why in every situation, police are not only interested in doing police work, they are also interested in telling people where to stand, go, how to look, what to do and not to do, much of which is well above and beyond typical police duties. Now, go back and look at the video links above and ask yourself why it was more important for the police to control certain individuals in the crown than to give Eric Garner medical care? They told everyone to get back while they themselves stood over the body, flipping Mr. Garner back and forth, claiming that he was breathing although he was clearly unresponsive. 

This FAILURE of a policing philosophy was introduced to the public by social scientists James Wilson and George Kelling in 1982. The tactic revolves around abject control through the incitement of fear and raising even "petty" offences to a high level, and addressing those offences with overwhelming force. This tactic is used and adopted by communities of all sizes, but is primarily implemented within Urban areas (areas where there are a lot of Black folk or cross racial diversity) and is used as a deterrent to crime by instilling fear in the heart of the criminals (by way of the entire community even their family members) and making those individuals come under subjection by eliminating community "disorder" (as they define it) readily and quickly. 

NY City Mayor de Blasio (lft)
NYPD Police Commissioner Bratton 

When we look at Commissioner Bill Bratton's reluctance to condemn the over-heavy handed actions of his police over a "suspected" single cigarette sale, we shouldn't be surprised. Not only has Bratton's NYPD adopted "Broken Windows" as a community policing tactic, but Bratton has also called one of the co-authors of the tactic, George Kelling, his "intellectual mentor"! Is it any wonder why NYPD has had such an overwhelming record of killing Black men over the years? 

On the other hand, (and THANK GOD that there is more reasonable thinking than that of Bratton and others who have adopted the sorry policy of "broken windows") Ralph B. Taylor in his BOOK, "Breaking Away from Broken Windows: Baltimore Neighborhoods and the Nationwide Fight Against Crime, Grime, Fear, and Decline" [ISBN 0813397588] asserts that if a community is looking to make a long term impact to decrease crime that community leaders should work together to assure the economic futures of the individuals or citizens that live in the affected areas. 

In other words, when it is found that individuals have to sell single cigarettes to live, wouldn't it be more wise to address the economics of the situation? What is the cost of living? Is it too high? Then does this man have a JOB? Is he ill and can't work, or can the community find a way to give him job training so that he can work?  instead of any of these things, we are supposed to believe that it is everyone's "best interest" to kill a man and then say, you simply "followed policy"??? R U SERIOUS???

Conclusion:

As you can see, after a topical examination of the issues, community policing and the seeming state sanctioned murder of Black men is an important issue for not only the Black community, but the entire community. We should ask our police departments, "What is your community policing strategy?" This is vitally important to know and the stability of our entire community hangs in the balance.

How the police engage the community is of necessary and utmost importance. Believe me, we want police work to work in our favor, and no one suggests undermining police authority, but we also want FAIRNESS and JUSTICE, and we want the killing of Black men to stop. 

Maybe, this and other strategies, such as the "war on drugs" is an extension of slavery, when the Black population had to be "controlled" by the established powers. We can only speculate and look at the evidence. What we do know is that when a Black man is confronted by the police, the Constitutional question of "probable cause" and "unlawful search and seizure" does not seem to mean too much.

I have had to tell my son, who is BLACK like me, to not give police anything by which they may have an opportunity to look at you twice. Don't even question, simply take whatever punishment they dish out and handle it later...that is SAD...SAD because, no one payed any attention to Dr. Martin L. King Jr...There is NO ATTENTION paid to the content of one's character...SMH!!!!!!

Blessed!   

MSNBC VIDEO:

Read:

20 Unarmed Black Men Shot by police

Broken Windows & Eric Garner