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Very OT. Just wondering what you think.

Willow2010's picture

So what do you think about what is happening in FERGUSON, MO? Is anyone here from around there?

Comments

QueenBeau's picture

I have a friend living close by. Apparently it sucks there and is basically still segregated.

They tried to say the kid stole something that's why the cop approached him but it later came out the cop stopped him for j walking.

In black and pregnant with a son. And like my mom taught my brother I will probably teach my son if a cop approaches you show your hands and no sudden movements even if u have done nothing wrong cuz they will shoot ur ass. Fact.

Willow2010's picture

So you think this upstanding young man was just walking down the street minding his own business and the bad cop pulled up and just started shooting at him? I'm really curious about this.

QueenBeau's picture

Oh hell no

But in America if u commit a crime u get a trial. Cop didn't even know he was a criminal apparently. Even the owner of the store he "robbed" was protesting.

Why did he have to kill him? I mean razer. Shoot him once even if it's that serious. But all those times? He could have lived through the first few shots according to the autopsy.

And why the hell was his body left there for hours and hours?

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I thought the autopsy showed that all bullets entered from the front; none from the back. Will have to try and find that again.

just.his.wife's picture

My best friends husband is a cop.
Here is south florida.

Per him he has pulled his gun- on someone during the line of duty twice. (Not including drawing it to clear a building. He says "drawing as in stop Mother f*cker or I will shoot your ass"

Both were white.
Both were meth heads.

Per him-- he would prefer to pull over/have to deal with someone who is black. "Worse they are going to do is refuse to stop... do a car chase for three blocks... then pull over and apologise for being stupid and running. Worst thing your going to find on them is a little weed, maybe a crack rock."

The white "crackers" down here are freaking crazy. They brew METH in the grocery carts while wandering around WALMART! I shit you not!!

The spanish "no speake engleesh" but speak it freaking fluently when they WANT to. They ALL have fake ID's. And change their names DAILY when it comes to dealing with the popo. And when they run... its into the woods, home of snakes, bears, swamps and skeeters the size of birds.

Disneyfan's picture

THIS

My son will be 23 in October. I've had that talk with him more times than I can count. He has been followed by NYPD several times this summer while riding his bike in Prospect Park.

People are PROTESTING because their are sick of and tired of this. CRIMINALS are looting because they will take advantage of any opportunity to do what they do best.

Willow2010's picture

People are PROTESTING because their are sick of and tired of this
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What are they sick and tired of?

just.his.wife's picture

myself personally... I think its crap.

They can spend 10+ days "protesting" looting, committing arson and KILLING each other.

But damn... that cop who was bum rushed, struck and wrestling a 6'4" "KID" (Draco... is that your skid... I mean he is tall!)who was attempting to steal his gun... yeah he isn't allowed to defend himself/do his job.

Utter shit.
Not to mention... how the HELL are these people managing to afford to LIVE while spending two weeks protesting/loitering/looting/destroying a town?

Oh yeah... government benefits.
Or maybe they pawned the big flat screen they looted.

QueenBeau's picture

A lot of inaccurate info here.

Cop says he was trying to steal his gun. Witnesses refute that.

U don't shoot someone or tackle them even for j walking. Come on.

And I hate the "these people".

All those gun shots. 6 shots. He was already down. The 6th shot killed him. Why did he keep shooting?

Because he could.

QueenBeau's picture

All I'm saying is people get tired.

My husband is a big black man. I have personally seen the cops stereotype him as a thug. & he didn't have on a beater, NOR have his underwear showing. He was a young black man. They walked in his apartment without a warrant & pushed him aside because someone reported gunshots. He lived in an apartment complex with many tenants. He told the cops I was in the back asleep. I woke up to see him pushed up against the wall & they struck him with the butt of a gun. They didn't give him orders that he disregarded. They thought he was going to 'attack' because he pointed towards the back while telling them there were other people in the house.

We don't live in the south, or the ghetto. There was no reason. If I wasn't young & dumb (19 at the time) I would have filed a complaint. But this was normal. I saw it all the time. U know what I told him? "Well why didn't you put your hands up & just stand there?" because that's what I was taught.

People can only take so much. & it gets annoying to constantly have to prove yourself innocent. It gets to a point where you are fucking sick of it.

I'm not saying this guy in particular was innocent. Hell, I wasn't there & I don't know. But I do know there's a reason "black folk" are rioting. & it's because people are fucking TIRED of it. & I can see why some people, like my husband, hear this news report & shake their head in disgust at the cop instead of the 'thug' that got shot.

AllySkoo's picture

I get that, really, but I don't think it's a "race" thing - I think it's a power thing. That same cop who roughed up your husband just because he could? He probably goes home and roughs up his wife too. He's the school bully, picking on anyone he perceives as weaker than himself.

There are a lot of GOOD cops out there, people who genuinely want to make the world a better safer place, but because the position is one of perceived power, it also draws those kinds of crappy people who want power for the sole purpose of abusing it.

In this *particular* case, I think I lean more towards the cop's side. Not because he's white, certainly - but because nobody has found one shred of evidence that this cop has ever abused his power in the past, or even made so much as a racist comment. I'm sure the Brown's lawyer is searching for just such a thing, and if he finds it then I might change my mind. But I haven't seen it yet.

B22S22's picture

Not necessarily -- an orbital blow out doesn't mean your eyeball is hanging out by the optic nerve. It means the small (fragile!) bones surrounding the bottom of your eye, plus your cheek bone, have been fractured. Some people just feel "Pain around the eye" and after a CT is done, it shows the fractures. Other people have excrutiating pain, actual eyeball damage. It differs by person... just like how the heck do people walk around not knowing that have a broken hip? But plenty do!

DaizyDuke's picture

Supporters of Wilson, however, point to a videotape taken by a Ferguson resident showing Brown's body lying in the street. In the background of the video a man's voice can be heard saying, "Police got out and ran after him. The next thing I know he's coming back towards the officer. The police had his gun drawn on him."

This police officer just received commendation 6 months prior to this incident. I find it ridiculous to think that this officer, just randomly decided on this day that he would shoot and kill a jaywalker because he was black.

come on

QueenBeau's picture

There's so many conflicting stories here.

I think it should be investigated. People were askin questions and getting no answers. Thus riots.

Sports Fan's picture

Agreed. The police story makes a lot more sense. And even if you don't believe it and support Brown it doesn't justify all the rioting and looting. All that does is provide more evidence to backup the stereotypes.

just.his.wife's picture

Forensics found the bullet jacket, inside the car, where the cop wrestled for his gun and shot the kid the first time in the car.

And there is VIDEO out there... yep.. dead body laying in the street... with people recording saying "Oh lord he tried to rush that cop and got himself shot"

"These people" is not "defined by color".

I dont care if your black (my best friend)/ White (my husband)/ Hispanic (my skids)/ American Indian (my exhusband and my bio kids)/ Arabic (me myself and I) or pink and purple polka dotted.

These people= trouble making assholes.

Willow2010's picture

Utter shit.
Not to mention... how the HELL are these people managing to afford to LIVE while spending two weeks protesting/loitering/looting/destroying a town?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yup.

QueenBeau's picture

People there are mad because this isn't an isolated incident. It happens there and a lot of other poor places a lot. Thus is just the first time it's made national news.

However to me, It shouldn't be about being black. It's more about appearing poor and like your up to something. Unfortunately being black makes that easier. If he had on a suit and briefcase I doubt he would be dead.

DaizyDuke's picture

If he had a suit on and was carrying a briefcase, but was bum rushing and attacking a police officer, I'm sure he would have been shot as well.

A 13 year police veteran in a small city near where I live was responding to a call where a hospital employee was reportedly acting strangely. As the officer was getting out of his patrol car, the man rushed him, wrestled his gun away and shot and killed him.

Yet, his fellow police officers were not looting, and picketing and vandalizing the city in "protest" of this heinous crime. Let's talk about how many police officers are shot and killed in the line of duty. Guar-an-fucking-teed it was WELL more than how many so called "innocent" black men.

QueenBeau's picture

If ur a cop u chose a dangerous line of duty.

If ur a black guy u didnt choose to be black.

I also feel people in less diverse and down right poor places are unaware how often this happens.

DaizyDuke's picture

If you are black, white, green, blue or celadon and you CHOOSE to dress like a thug, and act like a thug, then I would suspect you will be treated like a thug. Just human nature.

just.his.wife's picture

Appearance does mean a lot. Personal presentation.

If I meet a person (any) who is well groomed, tidy in appearance, well spoken and interesting... there is a feeling of ease. It is easier to be at ease around someone who makes you comfortable.

Now, a wife beater tshirt? Pants that sag to their knees? ANY idiot showing me their underwear? Any female dressed as a skank? Mohawks of any color. ENORMOUS ear/ facial piercings. Any facial make up that makes circa 1970s Gene Simmons say "Dude lay off the liner". Facial tattoos?

All of the above make ME uncomfortable. Which yes is my problem... however, my discomfort is going to make my interactions with the above types less productive/beneficial.

And yep, if shit went down I would likely point to the weirdo, in the slides, sporting the fuscia mohawk, while his green undies poked out from under the 40x32 jeans he has wrapped around his 29" waist. "He did it! Well no i dont know it for a fact officer but DAMN look at him... if that isnt the product of an inbred parrot and anorexic hippo I dont know what is: lock it up for its own damn safety... and let science have a crack at it while its there!"

Willow2010's picture

if that isnt the product of an inbred parrot and anorexic hippo I dont know what is: lock it up for its own damn safety... and let science have a crack at it while its there
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OMG!!! BAHAHAHA!

QueenBeau's picture

Sadly no I don't. I doubt any of us would have heard of it.

And that's why I try to avoid the news. It's only stories that blow up so big they r on fb and steptalk that I even know about.

Elizabeth's picture

I don't have an answer here, and I don't know ALL the facts, so caveat.

But, I dated a cop for a while and they do not just pull their guns on people for fun. They take the fact that they are armed very seriously. That being said, if they DO pull their guns it is because they feel threatened and they are trained to neutralize the threat. That means shooting to kill, generally.

positivelyfourthstreet's picture

Yes they will shoot you if you make sudden moves refuse or resist.

Doesn't matter what color you are.

I think it's bullshit all this looting and whatnot.

I also believe there are outside agitators who take advantage of situations like this to pour gas on the fire.

I would not even put it past our own government to send people in to egg on the chaos and give them an excuse to take more rights from us or even enact martial law.

Racism will never die unfortunately. There are too many people making too much money from the exploitation and promotion of racial division.

Sad but true.

Really, in the scheme of things, Ferguson is small potatoes considering the wholesale torture and slaughter of folks around the world who aren't the "correct" religion and the possible global threat of ebola.

I pray, shake my head and pray this whole world doesn't go completely down the drain.

QueenBeau's picture

Damn

DaizyDuke's picture

Keep giving them handouts with no incentive to work

Hey, I think this is my DH's (and MANY other's) modus operandi when it comes to skids! Maybe I should start looting, vandalizing and acting the fool to get my point across to him! Wink

QueenBeau's picture

I haven't. I kinda hope somebody finds out he was totally guilty and needed to be shot so he didn't kill someone. The uncertainty is dividing the country and I hate it

AllySkoo's picture

"by all witness accounts"

I thought it was his friend (the one who was with him) who said that. Not exactly a disinterested bystander.

misSTEP's picture

Cops are just like blacks are just like whites are just like Hispanics are just like BMs are just like EVERY OTHER HUMAN IN THE WORLD.

There are good ones and bad ones. Period. Race should have NOTHING to do with it. However, I do think that situations like this tend to make one or the other race LOOK bad. But the simple fact is, no matter what adjectives you use to describe yourself, there are good people and bad people.

All the focus on race just serves to distract and divide us when we desperately need to work together to solve the nation/world issues!

positivelyfourthstreet's picture

They want US divided.

It makes us easier to manipulate and control.

On a very small scale this happens in stepfamilies when disordered parents promote division to maintain the upper hand over everyone else in the family.

QueenBeau's picture

Another valid point if the protests were peaceful I think we would all he thinking "there's gotta be more to this" instead of "all these idiots are criminals. "

Sometimes I wish people weren't so stupid.

Anon2009's picture

I don't know what to think other than thoughts of sympathy for the family of the deceased. I didn't know he tried to take the cop's gun.

I also agree with others that these protests got out of hand. Violence on top of violence will not solve anything.

HotMess's picture

"I don't want to sound racist..." Stop. Because anything that follows will be a racist comment that no one else wants to hear.

There are decades of racism and segregation in this city that build a tense context around this incident. We know the cop stopped him for a minor infraction unrelated to the robbery. We know that the Ferguson police (who were no longer leading the investigation) released the information about the robbery the same day as the officer's name was released. We know that the protestors are assembling in the evenings or at night instead of during the day while most people are at work.

It is not a sin to be poor, folks. It is not wrong to be in need. The school district in Ferguson lost its accreditation long ago. The schools have been closed all week because of the hostile tension and violence. These kids have very little opportunity to begin with. So when a cop from their mostly white police force guns down a kid, and all their questions are given non-answers, you bet they will be angry! And yes, some people have taken their anger to violent extremes. And others have used this as an opportunity to steal. But frankly, the people of Ferguson have a right to be pissed because this conflict has been building for decades as the lawmakers have been ignoring them, and their opportunities have been lessening.

BethAnne's picture

In the three countries I have lived in: France, UK and now USA, I have seen this exact scenario play out. Black boy/young man gets shot and killed by the police. The friends/family question why that happened because the circumstances didn't seem to justify the boy being killed. Friends,family and other locals start a peaceful protest for answers. The protest grows and starts to become about racial profiling by the police in general. Some people use the protests to decide to move from a peaceful protest to action and start rioting. Some people enjoy rioting and protesting pretty much any anti-establishment cause and those will join in with the riots. Others see all of this and join in wanting to take advantage of the situation and start looting. It lasts a couple of weeks and sometimes spreads to other cities. It then dies down after intervention from the police/military/community leaders. Later inquests are held and it is found that there were some questionable details to the killing, but no real improvements or outcomes come from it. Sometimes an increased awareness from the media around the subject does open up conversations that are not normally discussed in the main stream, but rarely does this seem to lead to any answers. Same problems in each country.

I feel that the original protesters have a valid reason for protesting, even when it is expanded to include more general protests around racial profiling. I can understand the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness that may drive some people to think that peaceful protests don't work and to resort to rioting. I don't agree with it but I can see where the frustrations grow from. In my opinion the looters are the ones who I can't sympathize with, they are the opportunists out to gain from the situation.

fuckitall's picture

Members of the police force should have to wear a go-pro at all times on duty. Would solve alot of problems.

positivelyfourthstreet's picture

You are so right about the media.

They lie and make trouble.

They are almost as bad as The Carver Media Group in "Tomorrow Never Dies"

B22S22's picture

I'm coming into this REALLY late, but just a couple things that bug me:

Why isn't everyone all up in arms about the almost 30 people who were shot during the same time period in Chicago? You have black on black crime that goes untouched and swept under the rug, but white on black? Whew.

Some people showing up there need to be sent home. And I"m talking about people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Two of the biggest race shit-stirrers I've ever seen. And... if "justice" and "peace" are such a big deal, why aren't they taking care of my #1 point and protesting down Michigan Ave in Chicago?

WHY oh WHY did US Attorney General Holder have to show up and make a speech about how he's afraid of the police too, and make a huge point of saying he's black? Isn't he supposed to be impartial as THE ATTORNEY GENERAL? He met with families/friends of the victim, but not of the accused? I find it difficult to stomach that although he's supposed to be impartial (because you know darn well the AG will investigate this), he's creating "emotional attachments" with those close to the victim. Actually, why is he even there? Again, see point #1.

I totally agree with people's right to protest. I'm totally in agreement with letting the facts stand for themselves on this whole incident. It is unfortunate that in this country, race is still such a huge issue. But honestly I think we ALL have a little responsibility for that. Shoot, I grew up in what we jokingly call "white bread and mayo country" - our "differences" were not defined by the color of our skin (we were all white where I grew up) - by whether you were a farmer or a blue collar worker. Oh, or if you were Amish.

The more shit-stirrers keep going in Ferguson and have the avenue of national media in which to spew to, the worse it's going to get. They're not being constructive because if they were, I'd have no issue.