Thursday, June 28, 2018

Here's what they think about you

 photo Fred_Hampton_Speaking_at_Chicago_Black_Panther_Rally__1969-730x487_zpskeggl53v.jpg
Fred Hampton speaking at a Chicago Black Panther Rally

   Before you attempt to discredit victims of social injustice, question methods of protest, and quickly insert a narrative of "get over it", please consider this.

   Since 1975 there has been a government building in Washington D.C. with the name J. Edgar Hoover on it. This is the racist scumbag who drafted the illegal surveillance program through the FBI named COINTELPRO. I will let the words of J. Edgar Hoover himself explain what the program was about:

   "The purpose of this new counterintelligence endeavor is to expose, disrupt, misdirect, or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalist, hate-type organizations and groupings, their leadership, spokesmen, membership, and supporters."

   This program ran from 1956-1971 and was directly related to the assassinations of prominent African American leaders in socio-economic reform, anti-war protests, educational equality, self-defense groups, religious leaders, just to name a few. COINTELPRO also led to the imprisonment of so many members of those aforementioned groups in an effort to:

   "Prevent the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify and electrify the militant black nationalist movement." - J. Edgar Hoover

   What does the government of the United States of America do? Let's name the Federal Bureau of Investigation building after him! And you still want to question why people are protesting? Let that sink in for a minute and let me answer that question with a question.

   How would you feel if the person responsible for the framework of a program that murdered a member of your family, a prominent member of your church, a teacher in your school, the father of your children, had a federal building named after him?

   Fast forward to today in an effort to see the racial divide continues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the city is fighting for justice. On Tuesday, June 19, Antwon Rose II was the victim of a shooting death while fleeing a traffic stop. East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld fired three shots that hit Rose in the face, elbow, and back.

 photo Antwon-Rose-stock_zps0opgd5xu.jpg

Antwon Rose II

   In an official statement issued by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. in regards to the shot in the back, "That's the fatal shot."

   Officer Michael Rosfeld, 30, has been charged with criminal homicide and posted an unsecured bond of $250,000 being released on his own recognizance.

   The game is underway. This becomes a very delicate situation as precedent has been set unfortunately in these situations. A neighbor had recorded a very clear video of the shooting that at this time has over 150,000 views on Facebook. There have been notable cases in the past with clear video evidence of police misconduct that led to not guilty verdicts.

   In 1992 LAPD officers Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy
Wind and Theodore Briseno were acquited of use of excessive force charges in the brutal beating of Rodney King. Video evidence recorded by a neighbor at the time of the traffic stop was available and used in court. On November 22, 2014, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed at a Cleveland playground by Cleveland Police Officer Timothy Loehmann with partner Frank Garmback present. A nearby surveillance video captured the incident and no charges were filed against the officers. The Rice family did win a wrongful death suit and awarded $6 million dollars.

   History has not been kind to victims of police brutality and officer-involved shootings. There is a lingering stench from the situations mentioned and also the many more that weren't.

   The other ticky situation is the proper way to charge a case like that of the East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld. As we have learned through the trial that acquitted George Zimmerman of the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Florida. It wasn't even the fact that if Zimmerman had killed Martin which was established, it then became the process and if the premeditated intent was there in the act of shooting an unarmed minor. As we now know, this process of charging Zimmerman with 2nd Degree Murder proved to be a mistake as his self-defense stance held up in court.

   There are so many factors alive and in play right now with the city of Pittsburgh, it's surrounding communities, and the rest of the world's fight for justice for all. Fight hard, fight smart and may grace be on your side. As long as our government etches the name J. Edgar Hoover as a symbol on the current FBI building, it is fair to guess which side of the coin of justice our "system" is on.

5 comments:

  1. Thank you very much for taking the time to read it!

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  2. First, allow me to say this is well written. The history of the FBI and J Edgar Hoover is a topic that many people should research. The rise of the black messiah sadly with the state of black leadership i dont think they have anything to worry about. I hope to one day change that. The victim blaming has long been a tactic used in an attempt to smooth over the heinous crime of police murder. I followed this Rose case and let me say i believe there was a way to handle the situation without the murder of the young man. Ive heard people say he shouldnt have ran. Maybe he wouldnt have been killed but we have been killed not running so that doesnt better my odds. Ill say this and i know some people may not like but he could have greatly improved his odds by not being in a car as a high school student that was involved in a shooting. He would not have had to decide whether to run or not and the officer would not have had to decide whether to shoot him. I am well aware that my statements are not of popular opinion but i feel it needs to be said. Im more concerned with why we continue to protest when its obvious it will not have the affect of change to the situation. O had this conversation with a high school friend earlier. People dont understand the protest because we keep doing it but to success. If we chose a different method like rebellion those people would understand that because hell they celebrate it with holidays.

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    1. This is Alvin i dont know why it came up unknowm

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    2. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate your well written insight is well. It is a very tough situations filled with what ifs Being a participant of a drive by shooting, even if riding in the car, is a serious matter. It put him in a situation where the officer pulling the trigger becomes one of the options in a split second decision. I feel for Antwon Ross's family.

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