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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat I Did After Police Killed My Son
After police in Kenosha, Wis., shot my 21-year-old son to death outside his house ten years ago and then immediately cleared themselves of all wrongdoing an African-American man approached me and said: If they can shoot a white boy like a dog, imagine what weve been going through.
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Yes, there is good reason to think that many of these unjustifiable homicides by police across the country are racially motivated. But there is a lot more than that going on here. Our country is simply not paying enough attention to the terrible lack of accountability of police departments and the way it affects all of usregardless of race or ethnicity. Because if a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy that was my son, Michael can be shot in the head under a street light with his hands cuffed behind his back, in front of five eyewitnesses (including his mother and sister), and his father was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew in three wars for his country thats me and I still couldnt get anything done about it, then Joe the plumber and Javier the roofer arent going to be able to do anything about it either.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/08/what-i-did-after-police-killed-my-son-110038.html#ixzz3AXy7qgDU
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)made my heart sink
countryjake
(8,554 posts)What an amazing way to turn his personal tragedy into something good for everyone. I do admire that man, but feel incredibly sad for the lesson he was forced to learn.
My kid was taught from the time she was born to be wary of cops; she's pushing forty, now, and has several instances from her own experiences that solidify that healthy distrust, but at least she lived thru them.
I cry for Michael Bell, both of them.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)All 3 had their guns drawn...I was reluctant to comply, and everytime I tried to ask a question...they would yell at me..it was dark and at night, As I started to get out the car, and they saw I was female...they started backing off...apparently, I did not match a suspect they were looking for...and he was male..bastids did not even apologize, just put guns back and jumped in their cars and left.
In my younger days, I would have mouthed off...I'm older and wiser...my distrust of them prevails..
countryjake
(8,554 posts)I've got a felony to prove it.
At least ten feet away, hands on my hips, said, "what's going on?"... that's called assaulting a police officer.
He was at least six feet tall and over 250 pounds...me, five foot, under 100 pound.
The bastard broke my jaw and I had to shake his fucking hand at the end of the trial.
stonecutter357
(12,698 posts)4. Am I Free To Go? - As soon as the police officer ask you a question ask "am I free to go?" You have to ask if you're "free to go," otherwise the police officer will think that you're voluntarily staying to talk with him. If the police officer says you're being detained or arrested tell the police officer "I'm going to remain silent."
Kurska
(5,739 posts)damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)One day they will mature and suddenly realize. This is when their own personal hell swallows them whole.
dembotoz
(16,864 posts)marble falls
(57,390 posts)kas125
(2,472 posts)considered my little brother. Patrick was 17 years old and was shot in the back because he was walking with two friends and there had been a report of three people stealing tires from an auto dealership. He wasn't guilty, he didn't steal, he did nothing wrong, but he was murdered by a detective named Joseph Eisele who went on to have a long and fruitful career. They always get away scot free while the rest of us are left to our sadness forever.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)kas125
(2,472 posts)It's been a long time, but all this is bringing sadness and anger back to the surface for me. There was no justice for Pat, hopefully there will be for Michael Brown.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)That's awful thay your friend lost his life and that his murderer went free. So very sorry.