In New York, Thousands Protest Officer Liang’s Conviction

[Blue_Tires]

On the vast lawn of the plaza near the courthouse in Brooklyn where Peter Liang, a former New York City police officer, was convicted in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man just over a week ago, a crowd of several thousand people gathered on Saturday.

They chanted, “No scapegoat! No scapegoat!” and carried signs bearing the same message. Some said they had never had a reason to protest before, while others said they had taken the day off from work or had come by train and bus from across the city — or as far as New Jersey and Connecticut — to take part in the demonstration at Cadman Plaza Park to show their support for Officer Liang.

Prosecutors had described Officer Liang’s behavior as reckless when he fired his gun inside a public housing complex, and argued that after the man, Akai Gurley, had been shot, the officer seemed more concerned about his career than in helping Mr. Gurley, who was 28.

Yet Officer Liang’s conviction has gripped many in the city’s Chinese-American community, who believe that he had been targeted for prosecution because of his race. They followed the case closely and have been denouncing the jury’s verdict, arguing that Officer Liang, 28, was a victim himself. Supporters of Officer Liang noted the strained relationship between the police and African-Americans across the country, after a string of incidents in which unarmed black men were killed by officers, many of whom were never charged.

Officer Liang, in their view, was the one who had to pay the price. One of the printed announcements for the rally read, “In the wake of so many unfortunate deaths of unarmed black men, some cops gotta hang.” The evidence against Officer Liang, his supporters contend, did not seem as clear-cut compared to the cases of other officers who have not been prosecuted. Some also believed that the gunfire had been an accidental discharge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/nyregion/in-new-york-thousands-protest-officer-liangs-conviction.html?_r=1

Wait.... WHAT?

[Glassunion]

1. So in a nutshell... He should not have been convicted because white cops get away with murder all

the time?

Because the officer was not white, the police and defense did not work hard enough to cover up this officer's crime?

Did I get the gist of it?

[hfojvt]

2. poorly written story

the shooting was accidental.

Probably should include that word somewhere in the beginning.

[Blue_Tires]

3. Yes, an "accident"...

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/22/3751975/police-officers-blame-akai-gurley-for-causing-his-own-death/

At least call it criminally reckless or negligent... I thought the second commandment of gun use was to know what you were potentially shooting at?

Nevermind the fact that his behavior after the incident was questionable at best...

[NobodyHere]

4. Indeed reckless.

His finger should've never been near the trigger.

I'm not even sure if the gun should've been drawn in the first place.

[hfojvt]

6. and what if you didn't intend to shoot at anything?

I know, I know, people are supposed to be perfect, especially cops.

God forbid somebody not make the perfect decisions that we the judgmental would have made in a similar circumstance (which most of us have never faced).

[NutmegYankee]

8. Pretty sure that nobody on DU would draw a gun because it's dark.

In fact, most of us got over a fear of the dark at an early age.

[Downtown Hound]

10. As someone who was given his first gun for my birthday when I was 12

You never draw your gun unless you intend to use it. First thing my dad taught me. If this officer hadn't intended to shoot anybody, he should have left his gun in his holster. But that's kind of the problem with police in a nutshell: too quick to use violence.

[Blue_Tires]

11. I thought the first commandment of guns

was don't pull it out of the holster if you aren't prepared to fire?

I mean damn, the dude is supposed to be a trained professional... If he got deficient or negative training from the NYPD, then that's another issue for discussion...

And we can talk "perfection" all day, but nothing excuses their actions after the shooting, which could be described as indifferent at best...

[CBGLuthier]

19. The prosecution argued that the shooting was not an accident. That he fired when he heard a noise.

The jury convicted him based on that argument.. He claimed it was an accident but according to the outcome of the case it was not an accident and he lied.

[geek tragedy]

5. tribalist assholes nt

[NutmegYankee]

7. It was a proper conviction, the Officer was negligent and cost an innocent man his life.

He was convicted because the victim was completely blameless. He was struck by a round that the Officer discharged by accident, but the case hinged on why the officer had his weapon out and finger on trigger in the first place. Clear negligence on his part.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. ok, imagine you are asian and have watched all these white cops get away with murdering black kids

and the only one being punished is a rookie Asian cop. it might seem to you that justice only occurs when both parties are of color.

he should have been punished, but punishing only the one Asian while letting all the white guys get away with it, does seem not quite kosher.

not saying i agree with them, i'm saying i understand the concern.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. Two wrongs don't make a right. N.T.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. and unequal justice remains unequal. nt

[geek tragedy]

13. I don't see black folks protesting because the Freddie Gray officers were black nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. because that would be an insane protest, however, black friends have commented

that is ironic that only POC get punished when POC are victims. and not just black friends.

[NutmegYankee]

17. There was a difference in victims.

In the typical cases where the cop got off, the police could put blame on the victim or vilify them as partly responsible for the shooting. It sucks, but it plays well with juries, especially those chosen to be deferential to police.

In this case, the victim was absolutely innocent. He was not under arrest or being questioned or even suspected of any crime. He was walking out of the building he lived in, a pure wrong place wrong time.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. as i said, i don't agree with them, i just see where they are coming from

guy should be punished, no question about it.

[brooklynite]

15. It wasn't the shooting that convicted him...

...it was his attempt to cover it up with the hel of his Union reps.