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A bystander’s video
of Los Angeles police officers killing a homeless man, known as Africa, should
make everyone’s blood boil. But I’m sure, unfortunately, it will not. Some will
support police no matter what. But I will not. It’s murder no matter what way
you slice it.
It’s interesting to read the comments following the
reporting on this incident as well as comments following other incidents of police brutality . It says a
lot about how America and we tend to excuse police misconduct. Some say this
incident’s details are sketchy. But it's not sketchy at all. Instead of trying to
find some legitimacy for LAPD’s actions, look at the number of police officers that
responded to the call. Africa was down on the ground, surrounded by six police
officers. It should be unarguable that police should have been able to subdue
this man without shooting and killing him -- by the way, a weapon was
discharged five times,. It's unjustifiable whether the man tried to grab the
officer's gun or not. The biggest problem our country faces is our acceptance
of such behavior and other questionable behavior by government. We are a
violent nation and we tend to accept violence, especially by those in
authority.
The killing of Africa is the most recent example of unchecked
state-sponsored violence that continues to take lives.
There are real
reasons for anger. It’s not just about this killing, or the killings in
Ferguson, MO, or Staten Island, NY. It’s also about Kelly Thomas, a
homeless man killed by Fullerton, California, police officers, and it’s about many
other instances. And, it’s about situations like the accusations
against Chicago police of running a detention and interrogation facility
likened to the black sites established by the CIA.
And who is it that thinks the United States doesn’t have a
problem identifying
its values?
Copyright © 2015 Horatio Green
