Today -- action

PEORIA, IL --  From an email/news release:

Here is an event that happens today on Bradley University campus, first at 11:45 am and then again at 12:45 pm.   

 

The announced focus  is Michael Brown's murder  but the issue is also Eric Gardner's filmed torture and death, and Dante Parker and Tamir Rice and hundreds of others. So many people understand this issue of police brutal killings and getting away scot free has to change. (sic)

 

Somehow many of our police officers across the country have become the untouchable enforcers of a new Jim Crow, and this series of court decisions exposes the raw unpleasant wound.  It should not be tolerated. We should not be intimidated and we cannot allow ourselves to be divided.

 

I cannot stand by, and I hope to see some of you there.  When there is no justice in the courts then i believe we have to get into the streets. 

 -- David Pittman

 

I agree.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [peoriaareagreens] <[email protected]>
To: peoriaareagreens <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, Dec 4, 2014 9:58 am
Subject: [peoriaareagreens] Demonstration at Bradley

Hey everyone - FYI, this is happening Friday. If anyone is interested, let me know. I'll be there at 11:45a.

"After the "Dialogue About Ferguson", a small committee came together to organize a Die-In for Friday, December 5th. This event will take place at two separate times; once at 11:45 in front of Bradley Hall, then again at 12:45 in the Student Center . These events will start on time and will only take place during the 15 minute passing period. Further instructions will also be given at the site of the event (so please get there early).

The purpose of this event is to bring awareness to the injustice in the case of Michael Brown, as well as the injustice that occurs everyday to other minorities. By making people aware of these situations we hope to shed light on the inconsistency of the judicial system. Therefore, we fight for equality because it is our rights as Americans to be protected by the law opposed to suppressed by it.

You are encouraged to make signs, personalize posters or bring articles discussing topics such as the Mike Brown case to "die" with. Signs and posters can have phrases like "I am Mike Brown", "I am my Brother's Keeper", "Serve and Protect" or "Black Lives Matter". Articles can discuss cases like the Eric Garner, Dante Parker or Tamir Rice cases.

Please feel free to invite your friends to participate; the more people we have, the bigger statement we will make! I hope to see you all Friday!"


Maegan
[email protected]

12/6/14  Comment via email from Ed Dentino

 

I partly agree and partly disagree with Dave Pittman's comments. 

The Eric Garner situation was probably an over the top 'enforcement' decision on the part of the police to take the person breaking the law into custody.  Did not see that being necessary and the man handling of Garner was seriously damaging and caused his death.  Can't say that was anything but involuntary manslaughter.  No doubt, anyone can be injured in a scuffle and the police themselves are usually hurt in these affairs. 

The Michael Brown situation was initiated by the officer attempting to detain Brown and waiting for a backup.  Brown took advantage of the time and assulted the officer by punching him in the face while he was waiting in the squad car.  That scuffle and following situation caused the officer to shoot Brown to stop further assult.  Don't really see that as being unprovoked assult and the situation and similar ones occur daily.  Most don't result in the person being shot or killed. 

The young boy with the realistic toy pistol was reported.  When the officer arrived, the boy likely waved the pistol or pointed it at the officer.  The officer would not be able to discern the difference in a brief second or two and would, by training and instinct, stop the perceived threat by firing at the boy.  Sad, but officers are going to make split second decisions to keep from being shot or assaulted.

I was present this summer when an unarmed young man in Peoria could have been shot by an officer.  He was just lucky that did not occur and he was apprehended in just a few minutes.  Watching the situation, it would have been understandable that the officer could perceive a threat to be shot at and then shot at the man.  Combination of good luck and good judgement occurred.

I don't perceive a race based issue of enforcement or assault on the part of law enforcement personnel in most cases.  This seems to be a situation that is played for the story.  Officers are humans with emotions and do react with a combination of training and instinct.  Most times, the officer should be given benefit of their judgement.

That said about the situation,  there is the rest of the debate about education, job training, jobs paying reasonable living wages, and politics and laws that favor family living.  Can't say the debate is adding a lot of meaningful discussion to those problems.
Regards,
Ed

Comments

[Randall L Emert Sr]

I have to marvel at Ed's email or response. Officer Wilson indeed initiated the stop of Brown and another youth, for jay walking...No backup was called. The cop said Brown hit him repeatedly in the face and a struggle ensued. Yet, at the hospital, there is not one mark on Officer Wilson's face. Not one. The Grand Jury asked Wilson about this fact. Ed's conclusion on this is a parrot on Right wing news reporting. While there were witnesses, and many testified to what they saw, nobody saw Wilson and Brown fighting in the police car through the window. Only Wilson and Brown know the truth and one can't speak. Fact remains, at 148 ft from the officer, unarmed and with his hands up, Brown was shot 6 times. Now whether the officer was justified or not, should have been decided by a jury trial. That will never happen it appears.