Less than 24 hours after police officers fatally shot a black male in possession of a gun, another black male was shot and killed by police gunfire after telling the officer he had a licensed firearm on him.
The brutal aftermath of Philando Castile's murder was recorded on cell phone by his girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds, and broadcasted live on Facebook, their 4-year-old daughter in the back seat witnessing the whole exchange. The couple were pulled over for a broken tailgate by St. Anthony Police in Minnesota, and when the officer asked for identification from Castile, he told officers he had a concealed carry permit and a gun. This completely legal and helpful information somehow led the police to feel threatened and fire on the victim when he moved his arms slightly while trying to retrieve his wallet.
The fatal encounter with the police has eerie similarities to the very recent death of Alton Sterling, killed by police after someone called 911 over a man brandishing a gun. Besides both being caught through amateur footage, but both men were shot for being in possession in gun while simultaneously not being in violation of any violent laws. Even within these legal boundaries, the National Rifle Association has remained silent on these two exchanges with law enforcement over guns.
So while the NRA has fought endlessly in states for guns to be available to anybody and be carried anywhere, the group is mostly missing from protests or the discussion on social media. They are in the middle of an awkward position of who to be in solidarity with, either black individuals legally armed and killed or law enforcement that are setting a precedent for shooting at people carrying firearms. Not too surprising, many Second Amendment supporters align with the police force, justifying that those in blue can do no wrong and the victims had done something wrong that ultimately caused their deaths.
But really it's because white gun enthusiasts don't feel threatened by the police, and they know the police aren't threatened by them as much as a black person in possession of a gun. White gun owners know police trust them unlike black people, thinking they own their gun for protection while black males are more prone to violence and crime. They are not wrong on many of these points, white privilege expands as far as owning a gun, but many are incorrect in thinking black males arm themselves because of gangs or drugs. They need it to protect themselves and their family from looming threats, now increasingly becoming the police.
Showing posts with label Alton Sterling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alton Sterling. Show all posts
7/07/2016
7/06/2016
You Killed My Father: Vengeance for Murdered Loved Ones
Alton Sterling was murdered by two white police officers last night, captured by a witness’ cellphone, the footage now broadcasted across the web for the rest of the world to see. Another video concerning this incident has been making the rounds, coverage of the press conference given by Sterling’s wife about this senseless act, and her grieving teenage son his mother and community say. As he will be forced into adulthood a mistrust and fear for law enforcement will manifest, regardless of the outcome from a federal investigation. If said investigation brings no charges as recent history has come to show, then he won't believe in justice. He will learn from this experience that just like his father, he has a target on his back if he does not immediately comply with a police officer’s command.
The incident has already brought numerous comparisons to Eric Garner, a black man in his 40s choked to death over selling loose cigarettes (originally catching the police’s attention after breaking up a fight in the street). Both Garner and Sterling committed low level crimes yet were aggressively taken down by police force resulting in their deaths. A major difference between the two cases is Sterling was apparently in possession of a gun, although eyewitness accounts say the gun was never shown or reached for. It serves as another example of overreaction by police officers who feel justified in their actions when any potential act of violence is deemed possible.
The loss of a loved one to an authoritative presence is similar to experiences felt by relatives to those killed by airstrikes committed by the United States military. Inhabitants of third world countries where the buzz of drones has become all too common, they don't understand war or why their people are being targeted. They are subjected to witness the death of loved ones without logic and outright blame the President Obama and the United States, vowing to bring death and destruction to those that brought the same to them.
Although these are two vastly different scenarios considering location and historical background, they arguably show similarities in creating an atmosphere of hate and insecurity. This lack of trust and belief in one’s good intentions stifles any chance of mediation or justice, leading to a greater sense of disparity and disrespect between authorities and their victims. Police killings and war on terrorism are hardly ever spoken in the same context, but they share in their effect to beget more violence and divisiveness rather than then their original intent to keep order and bring peace.
Most of all, these secondary victims of violence will learn that life is ephemeral, transient and tenuous; that it can be ripped from their hands at a moments notice. That justice and reason are not a part of their world, only death and destruction. Hopefully those in power will learn that these institutions must be re-evaluated and reconstructed if they are serious about a just and civil world. If instead the number of killings by the police and the military continue to rise, so will those that see these pillars of society as unfit for democracy.
The incident has already brought numerous comparisons to Eric Garner, a black man in his 40s choked to death over selling loose cigarettes (originally catching the police’s attention after breaking up a fight in the street). Both Garner and Sterling committed low level crimes yet were aggressively taken down by police force resulting in their deaths. A major difference between the two cases is Sterling was apparently in possession of a gun, although eyewitness accounts say the gun was never shown or reached for. It serves as another example of overreaction by police officers who feel justified in their actions when any potential act of violence is deemed possible.
The loss of a loved one to an authoritative presence is similar to experiences felt by relatives to those killed by airstrikes committed by the United States military. Inhabitants of third world countries where the buzz of drones has become all too common, they don't understand war or why their people are being targeted. They are subjected to witness the death of loved ones without logic and outright blame the President Obama and the United States, vowing to bring death and destruction to those that brought the same to them.
Although these are two vastly different scenarios considering location and historical background, they arguably show similarities in creating an atmosphere of hate and insecurity. This lack of trust and belief in one’s good intentions stifles any chance of mediation or justice, leading to a greater sense of disparity and disrespect between authorities and their victims. Police killings and war on terrorism are hardly ever spoken in the same context, but they share in their effect to beget more violence and divisiveness rather than then their original intent to keep order and bring peace.
Most of all, these secondary victims of violence will learn that life is ephemeral, transient and tenuous; that it can be ripped from their hands at a moments notice. That justice and reason are not a part of their world, only death and destruction. Hopefully those in power will learn that these institutions must be re-evaluated and reconstructed if they are serious about a just and civil world. If instead the number of killings by the police and the military continue to rise, so will those that see these pillars of society as unfit for democracy.
Bigotry in the NRA
Supporters of the NRA and gun enthusiasts have come to be known as a great support group to any individual fighting for their right to own and use firearms. People like George Zimmerman are defended for standing their ground, or potential terrorists are shielded by Wayne LaPierre because the second amendment doesn't stipulate who shouldn't have a gun. So why does the group remain mum when Alton Sterling was killed for being in possession of one?
While both protests and controversy over aggressive policing and the killing of blacks has succumbed over recent months, the death of black man by two cops in Louisiana has reignited the outrage not only in the local community but across the nation. Sterling, a man known for selling compact discs outside of the convenience store the incident took place, was brought to the police's attention by a 911 call that accused Sterling of threatening the caller with a gun. According to current information and cell-phone footage of the shooting, the two officers wrestled with Sterling in an attempt to arrest him. During the tussle, Sterling can be heard saying "what did I do?" followed by an officer saying "he has a gun." Moments later, multiple shots were fired and Sterling was pronounced dead.
Based on this information, one can easily infer that Sterling became a person of interest for having a gun, then consequentially shot and killed for the exact same reason. Shouldn't there be greater outrage over this from the NRA? Or is this further evidence that LaPierre believes only certain people should have access to guns? Or maybe that it's easy to judge whether it was a good guy or bad guy with a gun based on his race or being shot by the police?
This is not to say that NRA should be part of this conversation or politicize this incident for their own advantage. It is merely to show the hypocrisy of gun nuts that throw their full weight behind domestic abusers or other violent offenders while people of color possessing firearms are routinely shot and killed. Many know full well that gun owners should not be out in public touting their beloved possessions in support of Sterling and his family.
It's only the hope that if more can see and understand the injustice that countless people of color have to face and endure in their interactions with law enforcement. If nonviolent gun owners can be viewed as less of a threat than before, perhaps that can transcend across racial boundaries as well. It is not ideal to combating police violence, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
While both protests and controversy over aggressive policing and the killing of blacks has succumbed over recent months, the death of black man by two cops in Louisiana has reignited the outrage not only in the local community but across the nation. Sterling, a man known for selling compact discs outside of the convenience store the incident took place, was brought to the police's attention by a 911 call that accused Sterling of threatening the caller with a gun. According to current information and cell-phone footage of the shooting, the two officers wrestled with Sterling in an attempt to arrest him. During the tussle, Sterling can be heard saying "what did I do?" followed by an officer saying "he has a gun." Moments later, multiple shots were fired and Sterling was pronounced dead.
Based on this information, one can easily infer that Sterling became a person of interest for having a gun, then consequentially shot and killed for the exact same reason. Shouldn't there be greater outrage over this from the NRA? Or is this further evidence that LaPierre believes only certain people should have access to guns? Or maybe that it's easy to judge whether it was a good guy or bad guy with a gun based on his race or being shot by the police?
This is not to say that NRA should be part of this conversation or politicize this incident for their own advantage. It is merely to show the hypocrisy of gun nuts that throw their full weight behind domestic abusers or other violent offenders while people of color possessing firearms are routinely shot and killed. Many know full well that gun owners should not be out in public touting their beloved possessions in support of Sterling and his family.
It's only the hope that if more can see and understand the injustice that countless people of color have to face and endure in their interactions with law enforcement. If nonviolent gun owners can be viewed as less of a threat than before, perhaps that can transcend across racial boundaries as well. It is not ideal to combating police violence, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
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