Tuesday, April 07, 2015

I am grateful for the news coverage of these injustices. I am grateful for the Black voices, too.

I don't see the difference between this murder and the murder of Michael Brown, Jr. I really don't. Both were unarmed, both were involved with very minor charges and both were shot at a distance from the police officer.  

April 7, 2015
By Andrew Knapp

Investigators collect evidence after a North Charleston police officer fatally shot a man Saturday morning.

Monday’s developments (click here) filled in some of the blanks in what was South Carolina’s 11th police shooting of the year. Authorities publicly identified Slager, an officer with the city since December 2009, and gave his reason for the traffic stop that led to the fatal confrontation. Police documents also revealed that Slager announced within seconds why he had fired.
“Shots fired, and the subject is down,” he said into his radio, according to an incident report. “He took my Taser.”
Walter Lamer Scott, 50, of Meadowlawn Drive in West Ashley died soon after the encounter near Craig Street and Remount Road.... 

This murder charge would not have happened without the video. This is the conduct of police and people in the USA now. 

The police are at the very least beginning to be charged, but, that won't necessarily stop this behavior. I really feel helpless about it. The only common factor regarding these killings is the fact they seem to happen in the daylight to Black men.

Mr. Scott was allowed to die. There was no call for an ambulance. There was no CPR. There was nothing done for Mr. Scott to even try to save his life, he was going to die and that was decided. The police officer even had a scenario mapped out for the murder. This murder is very disturbing.  

A broken tail light and he paid for it with his life. It is disgusting. Where were they so far away from the car? The cars are nowhere in the video. Mr. Scott ran? For a broken tail light? He ran from the police officer because of a broken tail light? The police are doing something to escalate a situation out of control and then kills the men. 

I don't want officers engaging minor infractions in the law anymore. People jaywalk at their own peril. The tail light isn't even an issue. Take a photo with the police car video camera and send it to DMV over the internet to write a summons to the owner of the car which is known by the license plate. I want these people to be left alone. In the case of Michael Brown, Jr.; the shop owner should have submitted information to the responding officer and it could be filed for insurance purposes. The insurance is going to be tapped anyway. Or, it's a loss on the business income tax. People are not to pay with their lives anymore for minor charges.

I ask myself how such minor problems in our society can escalate into a death. I don't want dead people anymore over a broken tail light or stolen Cigarillos or vigilantism as occurred with Trayvon Martin. There was a time in the USA when vigilantes would be arrested and tried. That isn't happening anymore.

People need to be left alone, ESPECIALLY, if they are African American Men. Leave them alone, they are not who these police officers think they are. 

Video technology is mandatory now on the streets of the USA. They aren't inexpensive either. The monthly cost can be significant, but, if Americans want justice they have to carry video capable telephones.