Summary: Another police execution without cause. This time of a 12 year old boy holding a pellet gun, playing in a park with nobody else nearby. The police shoot the boy immediately upon arrival, despite no need for such action. Nor do they check the boy, to see if first aid would help. Here is additional information, although I don’t know how that can make a difference. Videos of a few of the many other such cases appears below. Viewers warned: these are explicit videos of executions. They’re not the same as watching tens of thousands die in “The Avengers”.
This does not happen in any other developed nation. Or even in emerging nations. Recognition of this problem is the first, only the first, step to fixing it. Over the holiday perhaps we should each spend a few minutes thinking about what kind of nation this should be, and what we will do to change it. {This is the third of 3 posts today}
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As so often the case, the police story makes no sense.
In a news conference broadcast by NBC, Cleveland Police Deputy Chief Ed Tomba said the time between the car pulling up and Rice being shot was 1.5 to 2 seconds. There is no audio on the video, but the officers said they told Rice to raise his hands three times before he was shot, police said. He died on Sunday.
Add this to the other police shootings in recent years. Like that of Milton Hall in July 2012: holding a knife, 8 police line up and fire 45 shots. Dead.
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And the killing by police of Kajieme Powell (holding a knife) on 19 August 2014 (details here). Followed by the almost inevitable news story “Footage of St. Louis Shooting May Contradict Police Reports” (got to love the “may”).
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I could post more, but you get the picture. You already knew it. I don’t know if these events will provoke protest at some point in time, and still less if such protests will lead to reform. But I believe these killings are a symptom of a deeper problem. I recommend reading these posts about first steps to reforming America, and deciding what you will do next.
For More Information
About police, law enforcement, and the security services:
- Fear the enemies within America more than those without, 21 December 2011
- How to Fund an American Police State (aka Weaponizing the Body Politic), 5 March 2012 — Militarizing the police
- We are alone in the defense of the Republic, 5 July 2012
- Do not talk to the police (important advice in New America), 4 August 2013
- Look at the protests in Wisconsin to see how America has changed, 31 August 2013
- Murder by police. If these incidents do not anger us, then what will?, 19 January 2014
- Why America has militarized its police and crushes protests, 16 August 2014
- Police grow more powerful; the Republic slides another step into darkness. Can cellphone cameras save us?, 28 August 2014
- The shame of Alaska: vast wealth, but little spent to protect its people, 15 September 2014
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