"Black Lives Matter" - it's stupid. Just cut the crap.....

[Colleen27]

I was profiled due to my car. I got pulled over three times in a relatively short period of time and asked how long I'd had the car and where I'd been and so on. It felt weird but I understood that likely a car like mine was seen at the scene of a crime.

I dislike profiling of any kind. I understand the logic behind it but I think that it goes too far when it's only about how a person looks or dresses.

I could even see taking dress into account, when it comes to areas with gang activity. I have no problem with the fact that my father is stopped more often because he chooses to advertise his affiliation with a criminal organization on his back (biker vest - colors and patches). It is when it is rooted entirely in factors over which people have no immediate control and assumptions about where certain types of people "belong" that it crosses a line, IMO.

The inconvenience of being pulled over too often does not outweigh the lives possibly saved. JMHO. Yours is obviously different.

But it isn't just inconvenience. Even if you set aside the psychological aspect, there are real consequences of "profiling" stops. Everything from receiving more tickets (something that is often done to justify the stop - ticket for a minor infraction that is routinely overlooked in most circumstances) to missing work time or even losing jobs because of delays on the commute. When I was 18-20, I lived and worked in Detroit. I missed one job interview and almost lost another job because of traffic stops that turned into searches because "the only reason a white girl would be in this neighborhood - one that was on my route from home to work - is to get drugs" (and yes, one officer said that in so many words). For someone who needs every dime of their hourly wage to make ends meet, that's more than an inconvenience. And what's worse, it not-so-subtly discourages profiled populations from going into those places where they don't belong - not a huge deal for a white girl in a low-income Detroit neighborhood, but a serious obstacle to a better future for minorities who are harassed for being in the suburbs where most of the jobs have gone.

BLM encourages that type of incitement instead of peaceful protests. Look at what happened in Ferguson, Missouri. That community will have a difficult time coming back from the riots that was because of a criminal. That angers me. People lost their jobs and one or two lost their lives in those riots.

Ferguson was about much, much more than just that one case, though. Look at the policing numbers there, the number of tickets written for crimes of poveryy (broken taillights, loud mufflers, etc), the number of residents with suspended licenses over unpaid fines, the rate of warrants for those same unpaid fines.... The rioting in Ferguson was about the overall relationship between the community and the police, a relationship that is common in poor communities all across the country thanks to political leadership that aims to "solve" poverty by fining it out of existence with so-called "broken windows" policing. And in that sense, law enforcement is victimized by our messed up national conversations about race and poverty as the black communities beaten down by these policies - they're forced into an adversarial relationship where they are viewed as the enemy, in existence to harass and write tickets rather than protect and serve.

 

[asta]

I am listening to an interview on CNN with the Dallas police chief. This guy is awesome, Dallas is lucky to have him. There are too many good points to list here but it would be worth looking up the interview.

 

[JoeA]

The girlfriend says he was getting is id like you instructed him to do ( you being the cop)

I just watched the video again and she simply doesn't say he was "instructed" (at least the one I saw, I believe on the NY Times page). She said he told the officer he had a gun (and license) and reached for his wallet. Not that he was instructed to do so,

 

[sunshinehighway]

I just watched the video again and she simply doesn't say he was "instructed" (at least the one I saw, I believe on the NY Times page). She said he told the officer he had a gun (and license) and reached for his wallet. Not that he was instructed to do so,

Whatever. Pick it apart so you can assume it's his fault he was shot.

 

[asta]

I just watched the video again and she simply doesn't say he was "instructed" (at least the one I saw, I believe on the NY Times page). She said he told the officer he had a gun (and license) and reached for his wallet. Not that he was instructed to do so,

I have heard her tell two different versions. Not being critical but she is understandably emotional and is telling her story influenced by emotions. This highlights why everyone needs to wait for an investigation before taking to the streets. Facts matter.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Whatever. Pick it apart so you can assume it's his fault he was shot.

That's not picking, it's a pertinent part of the equation.

Driver: I have a gun, I'm reaching for my wallet now. vs.

Driver: I have a gun.
Officer: Let me see your ID.


Two ENTIRELY different scenarios. And that doesn't mean the officer still didn't overreact. But, it's still a different scenario.

 

[JimMIA]

Excellent, rational post. I wish everyone could have the benefit of the training that the activist received in that video. It is all about compliance.

The only thing about the shoot-don't shoot video that I thought was not realistic was the speed. They actually were almost going in slow motion.

In the real world, a real assailant would have moved much more quickly, and the "officer" would have had much less reaction time to make a decision that we would nit-pick on the DIS for months.

 

[JoeA]

Whatever. Pick it apart so you can assume it's his fault he was shot.

I'm not picking it apart, I am trying to stay factual. Understand the difference?

On appearance he said he had a gun and then reached for his wallet, which caused the officer to react (as it would any officer). So yes, his actions contributed to his death no matter how sad or tragic, or unjustified, or how badly the officer responded. I'm not even debating that point.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ferguson was about much, much more than just that one case, though. Look at the policing numbers there, the number of tickets written for crimes of poveryy (broken taillights, loud mufflers, etc), the number of residents with suspended licenses over unpaid fines, the rate of warrants for those same unpaid fines.... The rioting in Ferguson was about the overall relationship between the community and the police, a relationship that is common in poor communities all across the country thanks to political leadership that aims to "solve" poverty by fining it out of existence with so-called "broken windows" policing. And in that sense, law enforcement is victimized by our messed up national conversations about race and poverty as the black communities beaten down by these policies - they're forced into an adversarial relationship where they are viewed as the enemy, in existence to harass and write tickets rather than protect and serve.

Again, as a nearby resident who knows many people who live and/or lived in Ferguson, I don't buy this narrative. Nobody in St Louis does. Not disputing any of the ways it's been noted that the Ferguson PD conducted business. But, this "us vs them" mentality just really wasn't the case. There are & always have been many neighborhoods in STL where the police & citizens are viewed as foes (ironically, some are better neighborhoods than Ferguson. Some are worse neighborhoods, but better police departments). Ferguson just wasn't one of them. And the fact that so many of the arrested rioters weren't Ferguson residents just goes to show Ferguson wasn't this "powder keg" that many outsiders believe it to have been.

 

[JimMIA]

I have an honest question, what are standard police procedures in a carry state for someone pulled over who is carrying? I live in nj so I have no idea. I would think this would be a very complicated situation.

Meant to respond to this earlier, but the DIS was acting weird/slow/glitchy. What is your question? Do you mean tactics, or would an arrest be made? Give me a little more of an idea and I'll try to give you an honest answer to an honest question.

 

[Jaybrad]

It's not the police who need to be retrained, it's the public. Society has grown into a mouthy, cell phone wielding, vulgar, uncivil society with no personal responsibility and the attitude of it's the other person's fault, you owe me.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm not picking it apart, I am trying to stay factual. Understand the difference?

On appearance he said he had a gun and then reached for his wallet, which caused the officer to react (as it would any officer). So yes, his actions contributed to his death no matter how sad or tragic, or unjustified, or how badly the officer responded. I'm not even debating that point.

You're not staying factual though. In the video the girlfriend says the cop told him to get his id and that's what he was doing. While that doesn't mean that's what happened, it's not factual to assume it didn't. That is what you are doing though.

 

[sunshinehighway]

It's not the police who need to be retrained, it's the public. Society has grown into a mouthy, cell phone wielding, vulgar, uncivil society with no personal responsibility and the attitude of it's the other person's fault, you owe me.

While that maybe be true, being mouthy, vulgar, cell, phone weilding and even being uncivilized in many cases shouldn't get one shot by trained professionals whose job it is to protect and serve. Right?

 

[sunshinehighway]

Again, as a nearby resident who knows many people who live and/or lived in Ferguson, I don't buy this narrative. Nobody in St Louis does. Not disputing any of the ways it's been noted that the Ferguson PD conducted business. But, this "us vs them" mentality just really wasn't the case. There are & always have been many neighborhoods in STL where the police & citizens are viewed as foes (ironically, some are better neighborhoods than Ferguson. Some are worse neighborhoods, but better police departments). Ferguson just wasn't one of them. And the fact that so many of the arrested rioters weren't Ferguson residents just goes to show Ferguson wasn't this "powder keg" that many outsiders believe it to have been.

It seems you disagree with the term powder keg. Ok. People have different intrepretations of words maybe that one doesn't work for you. That doesn't mean everything was fine and dandy though.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

While that maybe be true, being mouthy, vulgar, cell, phone weilding and even being uncivilized in many cases shouldn't get one shot by trained professionals whose job it is to protect and serve. Right?

You and others here would greatly benefit from a ride along in a police car for a day.

 

[Jaybrad]

All depends on what the individual was shot for.

 

[JimMIA]

You and others here would greatly benefit from a ride along in a police car for a day.

Naw. They wouldn't believe it!

 

[NHdisneylover]

You and others here would greatly benefit from a ride along in a police car for a day.

I have done a ride along, in a high crime area, in Phoenix -- and I think most police officers really care and want to serve and protect. Nonetheless, I recognize the systemic racism in our current society and how deeply it influences police work and feel it is of utmost importance to address this issue in deep and meaningful ways and not pretend it does not exist. Just beucase you disagree with people does not mean those people are ill informed or lacking in relevant experience.

 

[disney4us2002]

You and others here would greatly benefit from a ride along in a police car for a day.

Having seen Cops (Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do...), is this show still on? I would definitely pass on a ride along. There is no amount of salary enough for me to consider being in law enforcement. I also work with detectives (child abuse investigations, etc.) and I have heard many of their disturbing and scary stories.... God bless those who wear blue!

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I have done a ride along, in a high crime area, in Phoenix -- and I think most police officers really care and want to serve and protect. Nonetheless, I recognize the systemic racism in our current society and how deeply it influences police work and feel it is of utmost importance to address this issue in deep and meaningful ways and not pretend it does not exist. Just beucase you disagree with people does not mean those people are ill informed or lacking in relevant experience.

It also doesn't mean they are informed or experienced. Arm chair quarterbacking is a dangerous practice. Did you watch the video posted here of the activist going through the different police scenarios? That was one trigger happy guy.

Doesn't mean I think some of these cops need better training and some shouldn't be on the job at all. I also believe there is a lot of racism in our society.