Video: WSHS students join walkout in Ferguson aftermath

emily b November 25, 2014 (2:03 pm)

just saw a group of around 100 students walk by the safeway/umpqua bank on California and Admiral. Curious how many of the students understand what is going on, but it’s great to see the children of the community paying attention to something. SPD was following suite to ensure safety it seemed, helping block cars from turning onto the sidewalks as they walk by and etc.

WSB November 25, 2014 (2:19 pm)

Yes, we just missed them but talked to police who were standing by just outside campus; they estimated ~75, no problems.

JanS November 25, 2014 (2:44 pm)

my daughter videoed from her apartment, posted on Facebook. I told her to send to you…

WSB November 25, 2014 (3:19 pm)

I think that might be hers we posted, then, checking. Thanks!

carmen November 25, 2014 (3:06 pm)

We are doing this to give people awarness that what is going on is NOT right.

Seattlite November 25, 2014 (3:24 pm)

Carmen — What specifically is not right? Michael Brown was shown as a strong-arm bully in the grocery story robbery. Brown repeated his strong-arm bullying with Officer Wilson. Six or seven brave black grand jury witnesses told the facts and those facts corroborated Officer Wilson’s account. Brown chose the wrong path during his short life and was tragically killed. Instead of protesting, teens, young adults should learn a lesson…which is to study, stay in school, don’t rob stores, or do drugs.

ltfd November 25, 2014 (3:33 pm)

“We are doing this to give people awar(e)ness that what is going on is NOT right”.

Wait, do you mean not being in class, or vilifying an officer?

Jason November 25, 2014 (3:39 pm)

And what exactly is not right about it, Carmen?
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Please share with us your interpretation… Please tell us how you have spent hundreds of hours poring over the evidence and testimony of witnesses, and have come to your own well-informed decision.

Dave November 25, 2014 (4:09 pm)

White privilege strong on WSB comments, as always!

Carmen November 25, 2014 (4:42 pm)

What is not right ? You ask me ?
POLICE BRUTALITY.
There here to protect us right ? But yet they seem to want us to fear them. Children used to want to be them, and now they despise them. I understand there are many opinions out there. Well this is MINE cops abuse the power they are given, they commit crimes just like US , except they do it with permission.
On behalf of the Michael brown situation , The cop did NOT have to shoot him 12 times,
i understand he felt threatened, but did he really have had to shoot him many of times?, now im sure that if an African american police officer would have been the one to shoot an American 18 year old , that officer would have gotten 25 to life . But since it was a scarred officer who felt was in a life “threatening” situation , he doesn’t even face jail.
There nothing without that badge they are given. They abuse the right and the power .
Im not saying all cops are bad , but im not saying all cops are good what i am saying is that something SHOULD be done.
And again like i said before there are many opinions out there. Im just stating mine.
Look around you, how many cases of UNARMED african americans being shot at are there ? , now tell me how many cases of Americans being shot at are there?.
And I understand that yes we missed class , but it was for a cause because we believe that there should be a change ! . We did not just decide to get out of class to be standing , walking out in the cold just because . No we had OUR REASON.

Jason November 25, 2014 (4:51 pm)

“children used to want to be them but now we despise them.”
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You cannot possibly speak on behalf of children’s minds everywhere. Don’t even try.
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“I understand the officer felt threatend but there was no reason to shoot an 18 year old 12 times”
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Oh Carmen, how naïve you are. I hope that someday you will grow wise enough to make your own informed conclusions. Until you become a police officer yourself, put on a bulletproof vest and uniform, and kiss your loved ones goodbye before your shift, you can’t judge what happened. Until you have been put in the same position that Officer Wilson was, you couldn’t possibly understand the tactical reasoning and training that resulted in Michael Brown being shot 12 times. Not even in the slightest. His age had nothing to do with it. His race had nothing to do with it. His nationality had nothing to do with it. His actions did.
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This was not police BRUTALITY. This was standard police TRAINING that correctly, and unfortunately, had to be put to use.
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I’m not even going to address your last paragraphs. Your reference to Officer Wilson as an “scarred american police officer” just shows your ignorance to what you are saying. Were not Michael Brown and Officer Wilson -BOTH- Americans?

JanS November 25, 2014 (4:55 pm)

TR..I also shared it on FB…you could grab it from there…it’s different than the one posted

onion November 25, 2014 (4:58 pm)

Some of your points are valid, Carmen. Police are in the unfortunate position of no longer being perceived as protectors of the community (that is, unless people absolutely need them and appreciate their assistance). So the police have a problem they need to correct, and they need the help of people such as you and me.
The second problem is public distrust of the grand jury outcome in this case (and others like it). People want the officer charged (and convicted), and that is equally troubling. The grand jury cited incomplete and conflicting evidence as the basis for their decision. I personally accept that and think others should as well, because we all (including the officer) deserve that privilege.
That doesn’t mean policing methods don’t need to be changed…. they do. It doesn’t mean that the officer handled the situation well. But admit that the victim might have had at least a smidgen of responsibility for the encounter escalating.
So policing needs to change, and perhaps the legal guidelines around encounters between police and young black adults (or any unfamiliar member of the public). And we have to do what we can to make the situation better.
I hope your protest doesn’t stop at walking out on school and finds an even more constructive outlet.

SJoy November 25, 2014 (5:00 pm)

Thank you Carmen for the explanation of how you feel. I also want to thank you and your fellow students who walked out for having a peaceful protest, unfortunately many adults couldn’t do what you guys did. I am personally very proud of these kids for standing up for what they believe in peacefully.

Unfortunately many people don’t understand as they have not been profiled and harassed by some of our Seattle Police officers. They are not all bad, but we definitely have some bad seeds, my children have unfortunately learned this on their own.

It would be great if we could get a program where officers and our youth work together, and not just the good kids, but at risk youth. Just my opinion

JanS November 25, 2014 (5:04 pm)

I think I can answer, although most of you won’t agree, and will belittle me, just as you belittle Carmen. Whether Michael Brown is guilty or not, whether Officer Wilson is guilty or not, the Grand Jury certainly had enough info to take this to trial…and then let it all come out so Dear put upon Officer Wilson could have been proven not guilty of any crime. The Grand Jury didn’t proclaim the innocense of this man, they simply said it will not go to trial. They also didn’t say Michael Brown was guilty of anything. There are different stories coming from different people. Did he rob the store? Owner of store said no…did he say no because he has to do business in that part of town? Who knows. None of us know that. And none of us were there at all. But I firmly believe this should have gone to trial. If the Officer was truly innocent then it would be on record. There are simply too many opposite facts and holes in stories to just let it go.

here are links to the actual proceedings…use them or not…

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/25/1347312/-4-799-pages-of-grand-jury-testimony-in-the-Darren-Wilson-case?detail=email

Carmen November 25, 2014 (5:08 pm)

@Sjoy
Your welcome.
And for the rest of the people commenting upon my “ignorance” it is NOT ignorance it is MY opinion. Unlike you I respect what you are saying and I understand that. But this is just how I feel.

JanS November 25, 2014 (5:09 pm)

Oh, and Jason? Have you had that training? Have you walked in Officer Wilson’s shoes? Your comments to Carmen are totally condescending. Oh, wait until you grow up, oh, you’ll be wiser then. That makes me angry. Are you going to say the same to me?

I totally agree with Dave on this one..white privilege is speaking on here tonight. You have no more idea of what went on than anyone else. I see that high horse buckling underneath you :(

au November 25, 2014 (5:12 pm)

‘ This was standard police TRAINING…’
wow!kind of messed up, don’t ya think? Standard police training to shoot to kill unarmed shoplifters.
‘ you can’t judge what happened.’ that’s right! only officer wilson gets to say his side of the story and everybody just better believe it. officer wilson, judge, jury, executioner,

zark00 November 25, 2014 (5:21 pm)

Jason said:
“…This was standard police TRAINING…”

You are so very wrong. What the “officer” did was about as wrong as it gets for the training he received. He made mistake after mistake after mistake, put himself and the victim in a dangerous situation, and ended up killing a boy with his own weapon.
He chased an unarmed civilian with a loaded, cocked, weapon in his hands, and by his own admission fired blindly while turning his head away.
At best he’s an extremely poorly trained officer who in addition failed to even execute any training; at worst he panicked and committed manslaughter. Police officers are trained to NOT continue persuit if they are in a state of panic. You should know this if you’re going to spew nonsense like “…you couldn’t possibly understand the tactical reasoning and training that resulted in Michael Brown being shot 12 times…”

Carmen understands. you clearly don’t. Carmen, continue to speak truth to power. Don’t let people like Jason shut you down with insults implying you are too young and/or too uninformed to have a valid opinion. Fact is Jason’s opinion is the minority and he has to sling insults to make any sort of impact. He is the naive one, you are the one with a head on your shoulders. Police have been disproportionately shooting and killing you African American men for decades, it’s simply a fact. Yet people like Jason continue to believe, and espouse, that the problem is with with African American people, and has nothing to do with racial profiling, poor training and execution by police, and blatant racism. Oh Jason, how very very naive you are. Have a conversation with an African American Mom/Dad about what they have to teach their kids. It’s terrifying.

zark00 November 25, 2014 (5:37 pm)

Carmen isn’t naive Jason, you are.

PSPS November 25, 2014 (6:00 pm)

How delightful it is that WSB willingly gives a forum to the multitude of racists who think their perception of a black kid as being “scary” and “a strong-arm bully” somehow justifies his being executed. Oh, and don’t forget the condescending admonition to the high school kid who, fortunately, hasn’t been tarnished with the same sick set of values.

Yes, bloody delightful. Many of my clients are advertisers here and this will be a real eye-opener to them when I bring it to their attention.

Ashanti November 25, 2014 (6:19 pm)

I’m really bothered by some of the responses on here, as a West Seattle student who participated in the march. Don’t call any one of us ignorant because we’re doing something powerful to raise awareness it honestly just makes you sound like a jack ass Jason. No “cop” needs to shoot someone 12 times when in a position of feeling threatened. A shot in the leg would have been suitable. Shooting an unarmed suspect isn’t just or fair. If you can’t see that then sorry buddy you’re the one who is ignorant. Until your an African American and put into our shoes, because I happen to be an African American female, I would honestly just shut up. What do you have to say about the Trayvon Martin case did he also deserve to be shot? Hm. I think not. Racial profiling isn’t an issue for no apparent reason if it wasn’t actually happening it wouldn’t be a controversy in the United States today. Thanks though for your unnecessary, irrelevant, meaningless comments. :)

Ashanti November 25, 2014 (6:22 pm)

Oh and not speaking for every child in the world but I know MANY people who think differently about cops after all these shooting that they’ve been doing. They see one cop get away with it and all of a sudden it’s just the normal thing to do. Sad.

Ashanti November 25, 2014 (6:24 pm)

Ltfd shut the hell up. Thanks. We missed one period and we were clearly present the rest of the day or we wouldn’t have even been able to organize our work of art. I’m proud of us and for all of you who aren’t you should just find yourself off of this page and go snoop through some other news on the blog. Because your negative comments aren’t wanted nor NEEDED.

Skyla November 25, 2014 (6:32 pm)

So. Around 4th period (At Chief Sealth) there were a group of kids walking down the hall chanting “Hands up Don’t shoot” They might have been the people who joined the walkout, don’t know for sure though.

M November 25, 2014 (7:25 pm)

It’s always great to see young people passionately stand up for something they believe in, particularly when it involves a real or perceived injustice. It gives me hope.
But the one sad reality missing from this whole story is that while yes, there are bad cops who pick on and/or kill innocent black people, the biggest threat, by far, that black males face in this country, is being killed by another black male. Fifty percent of the murders in this country involve black men killing other black men. The figures are staggering – a young black male is several hundred times more likely to be killed by another young black male than a cop. And for whatever reason, that’s the real tragedy that never seems to addressed, probably because it’s so painful and difficult to think about. And depressing, on every level.

Salinger November 25, 2014 (7:36 pm)

The grand jury chose not to indict. They felt the evidence wasn’t there to support a conviction. That grand jury was given more details than the public will ever know, yet so many protesters say they got it wrong. I don’t get it. Should we assume we know the makeup of the grand jury and just write them off as racists? Juries frequently render large verdicts against the police, so we can’t really say that cops have an advantage in this situation.

I’m not saying I know what happened or that race was not a factor. Maybe it was. Maybe it had no role what so ever. It’s just amazing how so many people seem to “know what really happened.”

BB November 25, 2014 (8:33 pm)

I am West Seattle High school student. Yes, we are young, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t know what’s going on. I personally believe that all lives matter.
But, yes. Some of us do understand what happened. Nobody was required to die in that situation. In my opinion, nobody deserves to die

dobro November 25, 2014 (8:45 pm)

“And what exactly is not right about it, Carmen?”—

The institutional racism that constantly places a lower value on the lives and rights of people of color, police that routinely disproportionately target and use deadly force against people of color, the militarization of local police forces, and in this particular case, the shooting death of yet another unarmed young black man and the corrupt and irregular Grand Jury process that led to last night’s announcement of no charges being filed.

Does that about cover it?

mike November 25, 2014 (9:30 pm)

THANK YOU Carmen and god bless you for your honest and brave commentary. We need more of that, not less. Keep on expressing your views and you will drown out the ignorance and hate expressed here.

Carmenr November 25, 2014 (9:30 pm)

First off I want to thank ashanti, JanS, Zack00,Sjoy for not calling me ignorant and helping me out.
And to the rest of you, like I said everyone has there own perspictive of what happend .
That is just mine.
You have no right to put me down for what I believe in.
& yes Dobro

Sarah November 25, 2014 (9:32 pm)

Jason, you are the very ignorant and pitiful one here. Not to mention naive!

G November 25, 2014 (9:37 pm)

PSPS,

You are threatening the WSB’s livelihood because they are – at least here – letting people air their opinions and blow off some steam? Are you the self-appointed thought police? YOUR comments are far more scary than anything else displayed here.

T November 25, 2014 (9:56 pm)

It seems to me that students standing up for a cause they believe in is something positive. Isn’t that the direction we want our kids to go, to be independent, passionate and willing to stand up for their beliefs? They made a statement and they did so peacefully.

Carmen November 25, 2014 (10:08 pm)

I am ignorant ? i am naive ?
But you are calling me this why? Because i believe that was going on is not right? Because i feel that the situation could have been handled differently ? im ignorant because i walked out of my class room to support a cause? Why am i naive ?
Because I state my opinion without disrespecting yours? , or am I naive because this is MY OPINION.
If anyone here is ignorant it sure as heck its not me.
You call me these names for what? Because i stepped up and said how i feel. The truth? .
If thats the case then i will be ignorant then , if me expressing what i believe in is ignorant to you then ill be ignorant . Because never am I going to back down on what I think is wrong.

Mok November 25, 2014 (10:08 pm)

Wow guys. You understand that this is happening across all of the country? Hundreds of thousands (millions?) of blogs and forums and everyone is shouting and no one is listening. Did we as a society just regress to being 5? Scientists, artists, public servants, media, and this is the best we can do? This right here is the best we can do? If we just resist the urge to name call and threaten and condescend, if we have a CIVIL discussion, maybe something can actually be accomplished. We’re clearly not perfect, not one of us. There’s clearly work to do.

Seattlite November 25, 2014 (10:19 pm)

JanS — Grand Jury Proceedings: “This Isn’t an Evaluation of Wilson’s Guilt or Innocence. A grand jury doesn’t determine guilt or innocence or absolve someone of wrongdoing. It determines only if there’s probable cause to charge and initiate criminal proceedings. The fact that the jury didn’t return a “true bill” (a finding that the prosecutor’s charges were supported by probable cause) just means that it didn’t think prosecutors provided enough evidence to support those charges. Wilson, like all criminal suspects, is still presumed innocent.”
Did you see what the violent protestors did to Ferguson yesterday? Six or seven brave black Ferguson residents stepped forward as grand jury witnesses and corroborated Officer Wilson’s account of the tragic events. If these same six or seven brave black witnesses did not have anonymity, what do you think their lives would be worth in Ferguson? Michael Brown’s death was tragic, however, he made some very bad decisions during his short life.

Carmen November 25, 2014 (10:24 pm)

No THANK YOU mike, for not disrespecting upon my opinion.
I as a West seattle highschool student I feel that we just want to create awarness upon the many situations that have been going on. We just want then to be addresses properly.

AlkiGrl November 25, 2014 (11:26 pm)

Carmen, you and your classmates just learned one of the most important lessons you will need in your future endeavors. Change doesnt happen by yelling at a TV screen or preaching to the choir. It happens when we take collective action, whether that be marching in the streets, educating and mobilizing voters, or forming a union. I’m really proud of you and the others who took a risk for something you believe in. And I hope that didn’t sound condascending. ;)

datamuse November 25, 2014 (11:26 pm)

That grand jury was given more details than the public will ever know
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Hey, if you want to read all 4799 pages of the grand jury transcript, have at it.

JanS November 26, 2014 (12:57 am)

thanks, datamuse. I doubt it will be read. It’s easier to have their own facts :-\

Nick November 26, 2014 (6:03 am)

Police need body cameras their word is not enough.

Carmen November 26, 2014 (6:12 am)

thank you AlkiGrl , that means alot.

Abby November 26, 2014 (8:41 am)

As one of those students who participated, we were all well aware of what we were walking out for. We all discussed the Ferguson issue, what we were demanding from our school, and what we were standing for. Regardless of Michael Brown’s history at the time when he was shot multiple times he was unarmed and his hands were in the air so he had no right to shoot the young man. Don’t be ignorant and say he was a “thug” so he had to be shot. You just sound stupid. The police are here to protect us but in Ferguson are being outted as KKK members. Some of the very people who are supposed to protect EVERYONE are racist and use their badge as an excuse to fire. We’re well educated on the occasion, clearly you are not.

Lindsey November 26, 2014 (9:16 am)

I didn’t read the comments, I just don’t have time for anymore of that today. But I want to thank Carmen and her fellow students for their civil disobedience. I’m proud of you. You will make a difference, I know it! I can’t believe that any self-respecting adult would chide students for believing that their voices can make a difference.

Chris November 26, 2014 (9:22 am)

So much vitriol. Too much “opinion,” by many and not nearly enough factual dialogue. Human life is valuable, and it is extremely sad that Michael Brown was killed. It is very unfortunatel that the interaction between Wilson and Brown ended up with Michael’s death. I wish that had not happened. I’m also betting that Officer Wilson wished that it had ended up differently. What troubles me is the people don’t seem to understand that the Ferguson prosecuter did NOT have to call a special grand jury to determine if Officer Wilson should be indicted. The prosecuter could have made that determiniation on his own (based on the facts). The prosecuter used this special grand jury knowing that this was going to be a charged case, and in doing so, ensure that a jury of citizens would make the determination to indict or not. Those who are asking why 12 shots were fired (however only six hit Brown). This is because police training typically calls for an officer to fire as many times as needed to neutralize the threat. When you read the grand jury case documents, you will find that this was the case in this instance. Michael Brown was shot and he continued to charge at Officer Wilson.

Emily November 26, 2014 (9:28 am)

My question is, why bash students for speaking up and taking a stand for something they believe in? None of you know exactly why we did what we did, and I myself being a member of diversity club and equity committee understand everything that is going on. And to be completey honest no one knows ALL the details, that’s not the point we are getting at. We are born into a world where whites are superior to everyone, and we can go into statistics all day only to come to this realization. Our goal was to raise awareness that RACISM STILL exist, institutional racism, all sorts. We walked out because we felt we aren’t being educated enough about it in school. You’re bashing Carmen and quoting her, for what? Something you don’t FULLY UNDERSTAND, and KNOW ALL THE DETAILS about? Cmon people. See the bigger picture, we are speaking up about equality, and being educated more. Even if we don’t know the details, or any of that sort. Why chase down an unarmed teen that is already wounded and shoot him 9 MORE TIMES. — IF WE DON’T SPEAK UP WHO WILL. — MLK said In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. And that is why I speak up, why I am doing things in my community and why we walked out….

Jake November 26, 2014 (9:50 am)

The Grand Jury process, as Dobro points out, was highly irregular. It appears to have been so in order that Prosecutor McCulloch could quash an indictment while pushing his desired outcome onto the Grand Jury. Usually a prosecutor pushes for and obtains an indictment in a day or two by showing that there is enough evidence to at least argue the prosecutor’s charge in court. Prosecutor McCulloch’s incentives in this case – and the conduct of his prosecutors in the unusually lengthy hearing – appear to have favored his important constituency, the Ferguson police community. Whether Officer Wilson would have been acquited at trial or not, the fix was in so that it never went to trial. The system didn’t work, and to many folks in Ferguson it looks like more of the same police state, without end. Peaceful protest hasn’t worked; burning and looting won’t either. So here we are.

Jake November 26, 2014 (9:56 am)

This link goes to a very clear and disturbing analysis of the flawed Ferguson Grand Jury process, by a legal academic at St. Louis University and by a former St. Louis County Prosecutor. http://vimeo.com/m/111491131

Concerned Mom November 26, 2014 (10:11 am)

Shouldn’t we be proud that our kids are thinking and questioning what’s going on in the world? That’s what we want them to be doing! As a mom of a half black son maybe I can add a story …
When my son was 10 we were at Rocky Beach. I was sitting a ways away from him and he was throwing rocks into the water. As everyone does. A woman walks by. Stops and looks at him. Takes out her phone talks animatedly with someone then walks on with her dog. My son doesn’t interact with her but looks at her funny. After she gets further away he comes over and asks me why she would call the police. Tells the police he was throwing rocks at her dog. Why Mom?
I had to have a discussion with him about how some people perceive him as a threat. For no other reason than the color of his skin. HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD. Apparently being black at the beach was a crime. Luckily the police drove by. Saw us talking and laughing and kept on going. But if we weren’t in Seattle? If we were in the south?
I applaud the kids for questioning and asking for more information!

Kayleigh November 26, 2014 (10:28 am)

Consider that these kids (yay, kids!) and many of us “adults” are reacting to more widespread issues of police overreach and brutality, issues which fall harder, as they always have, on communities of color.
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In particular, black communities face a very different justice system than those of us who happen to be white experience. If as a white person you don’t believe that, please, please have a conversation with a black person. Just one conversation. It might shift your perspective.
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Parsing out this particular instance isn’t of much benefit, really, at this point. The best we can do is argue for justice and equity in these systems and in ALL communities going forward.

Ex-Westwood Resident November 26, 2014 (10:41 am)

JanS…you lost all credibility by linking to dailykos.

Datamuse, NO one is going to read all 4000+ pages of the transcript.

Read the evidence yourselves. I have only managed to read the autopsy report and witness 10 report.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/11/us/ferguson-grand-jury-docs/index.html

BamBam November 26, 2014 (11:54 am)

My daddy taught me a few things. If a police officer asks me to do anything, do it. All other things are moot when someone is pointing a gun at you. Guess Michael Brown wasn’t taught these things. All should watch this video and learn something. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152603552157512&pnref=story

a November 26, 2014 (12:47 pm)

Carmen- I appreciate your passion and for standing up in what you believe in. We need more young people like you. You seem like you will be a leader and go far in life so keep it up! I like everyone else don’t know exactly what happened that night but from what I’ve gathered the young man who lost his life punched the officer multiple times and according to the officer tried to grab his gun. Take race out of it and teach all young people to respect police and people in authority when you interact with them. I’m not black but I know if I punch a cop that bad things are going to result from that and I could possibly be shot. I’ve had many interactions with the police in my youth and never been arrested or had the situation escalate because I was always polite and respectful to the officers whether i agreed with them or not. I know it may be hard for Carmen and your fellow classmates to think about right now but you can use this as a learning experience and teach your friends to respect the police when they deal with them. The police have an incredibly hard job and we need them in order to have a civilized society. I feel your pain and am sorry that young man lost his life but were he respectful while dealing with that officer none of this would have happened. I’m not saying he deserved to be shot in any way I’m just saying were he respectful the situation would not have escalated and turned bad the way it did. Whether you like the cops or not they serve a crucial role and when you deal with them the situation will always end better if you are respectful to them.

Gina November 26, 2014 (1:37 pm)

On the subject of the WSHS kids march, I watched it live and in person. The kids were respectful, and able to get their point of view across.

datamuse November 26, 2014 (2:06 pm)

Datamuse, NO one is going to read all 4000+ pages of the transcript.

You don’t say.

Carmen November 26, 2014 (2:42 pm)

Thank you for those who were respectful of what i expressed.

Mike November 26, 2014 (9:06 pm)

I’d like to thank SPD for their continuous support of providing proper crowd control of all the recent protests in Seattle. Since our new mayor took office and our new chief was put in place, there’s been a substantial improvement in SPD’s response times, actions and presence. Happy to see this improvement, SPD is doing much better with keeping the peace around here.

ltfd November 27, 2014 (12:51 am)

Hi, Carmen, Ashanti, et al. I think you should focus on the real problems facing communities like Ferguson. It is very well summarized by this Police Chief; I wish our community had someone who could care, call-out the B.S., and provide professional service to the citizens the way this man does:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7MAO7McNKE

JanS November 27, 2014 (1:15 am)

Dear Ex.Westwood…if the links had been provided by Fox News would you then be OK with them? The links, no matter who provided them, are solid, are linked to facts. If you have a problem with FACTS, then that is your problem.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/26/3597322/justice-scalia-explains-what-was-wrong-with-the-ferguson-grand-jury/

WS Since 66 November 27, 2014 (7:47 am)

Thank you Carmen and others for articulating so well. There are many levels on which this was wrong Just a couple are the grand jury was held in secrecy, Officer Wilson was allowed to plead his case to the GJ for 4 hours with no one from Michael Brown speaking for him, why was Michael Brown’s dead body allowed to lay on the street for over 4 hours? Institutional racism.

contributes to the murder of Black Americans. Why is it all of the kids shot with toy guns happen to be Black? Don’t White kids also pick up toy guns in stores? It is something we Whites learn when young…if you see a Black man walking on the sidewalk coming your way do you walk to the other side of the street?

As a White parent I never had to worry about my kids coming home alive when they went out on Friday nights with friends. I can’t imagine how it would feel to be a parent of a Black kid in the same circumstances.

The latest, todays, murder in Cleveland shows officers pulling up to a shelter in a park and within literally 2 seconds shot the boy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/tamir-rice-video-shows-co_n_6227552.html

These murders are wrong. We Americans can learn from the British on how to handle people who are perceived threats. Same situation handled two completely different ways. I know not many people will take the minute to watch for themselves if it doesn’t back up one’s own belief.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/06/1342660/-Two-drastically-different-ways-police-can-subdue-a-man-armed-with-a-knife?showAll=yes#

Peace

wscommuter November 27, 2014 (11:49 am)

This is mostly a pretty depressing string to read – because so many of these comments are inaccurate. Carmen, etc. … you are absolutely entitled to your opinions, and I salute you and other young people who are courageous enough to take action. But, as Daniel Patrick Moynihan once famously said, “you are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts.” So when people (and I refer to many here on both sides of this very difficult issue) cherry-pick certain facts, or worse, twist facts to suit the opinion they want to express, I have a hard time respecting that.

I don’t know what happened in this incident. I am pre-disposed to be suspicious of a white police/black suspect shooting; I am aware of the historical facts which point to the reality of many unjust shootings where young African-American men end up dead. However, I also allow for the possibility that in this case, the shooting may have been justified. But in truth, I just don’t know. And … in truth … no one else posting here does either.

So when we call each other names because our opinions disagree, we accomplish nothing.

Bradley November 27, 2014 (2:31 pm)

I suppose you pro-violent criminal and anti-police posters on here lock your doors at night when you’re sleeping to keep the police from robbing/burglarizing/attacking you?

WS Since 66 November 28, 2014 (1:07 pm)

Bradley your question is absurd. Why do you feel the need to use the inflammatory and false terms pro-violet criminal and anti-police which of course not one is?

lincolnparkdude November 28, 2014 (8:09 pm)

Um, I don’t think he was being anymore inflammatory than the young lady up there that espoused police brutality as their reason for marching.

Kendra November 28, 2014 (9:24 pm)

M’s comment that “the biggest threat, by far, that black males face in this country, is being killed by another black male” is lacking context. The majority of crime is intraracial crime, ie white on white, black on black. It is equally true to say that the biggest threat to white males is being killed by another white male.

A couple of quotes from a Washington Post article to fill in the missing context:

“The 2013 FBI Uniform Crime Report shows that 83 percent of white victims were killed by white offenders; 90 percent of black victims were killed by black offenders.”

According to the same article, “A ProPublica analysis of federal data from 2010 to 2012 found young black males were 21 times more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts.”

At issue here is not who commits the most violence against whom, but the disparity in rates by race when the violence is perpetrated by the police.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/11/25/giulianis-claim-that-93-percent-of-blacks-are-killed-by-other-blacks/