Cops Gone Wild! - Shootings Across the Country

As the average Black man, I'm obligated to comment on the recent police shootings across this great nation. This type of thing has been going on since I was a young boy back in Prichard, Alabaman and it is sad that it continues unabated today. Let's review.

In New York city, an unarmed Black man named Sean Bell was gunned down outside a strip club in a barrage of 50 gunshots. Bell, who was to be married that week, was in his car with two friends who were also seriously injured. An undercover cop was in the strip club and claims he heard an associate of Bell's remark of going to get his pistol. The undercover followed the men outside. Somehow, after the men were in their car, the cops drew their weapons on the threesome. Witnesses report that the police never identified themselves and no weapon has been recovered.

In Atlanta, Georgia the police shot a 92 year old woman. They entered her home under a "no-knock" warrant because they claim bought drugs there earlier. The elderly woman had been robbed on several previous occasions and afraid to even answer her door. She had old revolver that she had for protection. In full riot gear, they claim the old woman was enough of a marksman to shoot an officer in the face before they killed her. Most believe this was a case of police serving a warrant on the wrong house, killing the old woman, and creating a fantastic story to cover. We're supposed to believe that this fearful old woman, who walked with a cane, managed to get the jump on three officers in vests and riot shields. Not likely.

In Ft. Lauderdale, Florida the police unloaded into a stolen SUV of unarmed suspects. Even if the car was stolen and the men inside were the dregs of society; we can not condone cops being the judge, jury, and executioners.

This comes down to one thing kids-- fear. Cops are so afraid when it comes down to dealing with minority suspects that they draw down at a moments notice and shoot first, ask questions later. What is it about police training that makes cops feel that deadly force is the first option when dealing with minorities. Now, my friends on the right would have us believe all these incidents are coincidental and have no bearing on race. I reject that whole heartedly. This is not coincidence. How many times has an unruly soccer mom been pulled over and shot. How many unarmed, young college-aged white men have been gunned down mistakenly. Not too many. Let's admit the cold, ugly truth America and weed out this trashy element in the police force that our tax dollars pay for. After all, these people are supposed to protect us.