While I’ve been recovering, I’ve been watching more
television than usual. One thing that
has kept me occupied has been the unfolding of events in Ferguson, Missouri. As I’m sure you all know, on August 8, 2014,
Michael Brown, an 18 year old, unarmed, African American was fatally shot by
police office officer Darren Wilson. Brown
was walking in the middle of the street with a friend, when Officer Wilson
drove up and asked them to move to the sidewalk. An altercation occurred through the window of
the police vehicle which resulted in Wilson’s gun being fired. Brown and his
companion fled separate ways, with Wilson following Brown.
What happened next is in dispute. Some witness report that Brown raised his
hands and surrendered, in fact saying, “Don’t shoot!” Others, including Officer Wilson say Brown
turned and started charging the officer.
We’ll probably never know for sure exactly how things unfolded on that
fateful day, but what we do know is that Officer Wilson fired a total of 12
rounds, fatally shooting Brown. On
November 24, a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Wilson for his actions,
sparking turmoil and unrest throughout the city of Ferguson and in many cities
around the world.
My thoughts on this issue are a jumbled mess. I was raised to respect the police and am
grateful for those that put their lives on the line every day for my
protection. I have friends and family
members that are police officers. They’re
faced with split-second, life-changing decisions every moment they’re on the
job. That being said, I know first-hand
how we’ve been treated when my African-American boyfriend and I have been
stopped. There is no denying that we
(and by we, I mean basically him), get different treatment by the police than our
white friends get. In some cases, I feel our Constitutional rights have been
violated – and yes, I’ve said that. The
sad thing is, it hasn’t just happened once or twice. It’s happened over and over again. I’ve felt violated, I’ve cried and I’ve felt
rage. It’s a very small part of what I’m
sure thousands of minorities feel across our country in terms of the
police. The whole incident just makes me
sad.
So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of
the events in Ferguson, Missouri? How do
you personally feel about police and what could be done to bridge the gap
between people’s perceptions and reality?”
You must answer both questions in their entirety to earn full
credit. Answers are due no later than
Monday, December 8th. As for
me, I need some chicken soup and a nap!
Christina Padro-
ReplyDeleteI think the whole situation is just a tragic story. It's sad to say that race is still an issue. I thought it was a bit outrageous that people got so angry about the verdict that they destroyed businesses, destroyed dealerships, cars, peoples property. It's not their fault that the verdict was decided the way it was. I understand if you get mad you wanna take it out but take it out on them not random people. I agree with you on terms with the police. I respect them and what they do. They only follow orders. Sometimes though it is there fault and I feel that they should be wearing cameras they cannot control. They do it in California why not everywhere else? If it's a money issue can't the government fund it?
This topic is really upsetting. . I know the situation is awful, I know the system is not just, it was just upsetting to even think about it. It's even more upsetting to know about the facts.
In the reports it was said the boy was known for being a troubled kid. It was stated in the reports that the autopsy said the boys arms was NOT up. How can you believe any of the facts? This kind of reminds me of the book To Kill a Mockingbird.
I feel like people are over reacting to the whole thing. I mean yes African Americans do get treated differently than whites. I mean really if it was a African American cop shooting a white there would be nothing said about it same goes for if they were both white. I just think it's ridiculous and stupid. People need to stop playing the racist card and move on. I have been called a racist many times before. I am far from that. When it comes to the police for me I feel like some police officers take advantage of their career. Yes there are ones that go by the law but it's ridiculous to me how some go against the laws. I mean I have seen so many police officers texting on their phones while driving and messing with their computers. I mean if we can't do it than why can they. I know that this case is never going to end with satisfaction, and people need to stop playing the racists card.
ReplyDeleteTo me unless you have witnessed injustice, until you have been in the shoes of any minority under this bias government (yes specially African Americans), ... you will never know the feeling Nor will you understand them or the actions of what was displayed before us in Ferguson. I recently witness a man literally murdered on video right in the middle of the side walk for trying to break up a fight, with him being 400 pound African American Asthmatic male citizen trying to fix a situation was apparently too much of a threat (for some reason) to the standby cops whom just saw him getting frustrated and began to close in on him and grabbed him held him down (at least 5 officers were doing this) to the sidewalk and kept in a choke hold until he couldn't breathe and he died right there. My point of explaining this situation is to talk of the sheer dehumanization that this country is processed into thinking against black , Hispanic and any other minorities in this country and out of this country... race is a major issue and the fact that even in schools (a place where people should learn) this topic is the most jumped around, feared and somewhat forbidden, just about any where you go ... so you know yes it is about race.. how it's made to be like we as black people are just put here to be controlled , confused, distrusting , distrusted, looked down upon and ultimately destroyed. so yes these Ferguson riots make sense, and yes this is a race thing but it is also a human thing so if you question the actions of African Americans in these Ferguson riots , you ought to questions your feelings of these people on how human you think they are, just to believe that they should sit there and allow their men (and children)just be murdered and do nothing no matter how much they love them and care.... think on that before you go on your rant bout race.... consider us as people too. that's all I have to say.
ReplyDeleteI think the events are awful, all of it is sad.I totally respect police officers, yes I believe some can be very rude and stuck up but they are putting their lives on the line for our safety. I think it's an awful incident of what happened in Ferguson, but I think people should be able to control themselves and not have violent riots. Yes it's sad someone was murdered but violence doesn't make up for violence. Also he should not have put him self in the situation of running obviously that will make a situation worse and the officer had been trainer for situations like that. It's sad but all of it should not be blamed on the officer. I believe they have covered what they can to get the truth out, people will think what they want to no matter what the situation, I believe people should listen to the victims parents and not turn to violence.
ReplyDeleteThe people of Ferguson are upset as am I but two wrongs don't make a right. Being an African American women I a aware of how authority figures treat situations differently based on race. I'm not saying that Mike Brown was innocent or guilty I just believe that this case could have been handled differently, killing is a last resort. I also think that this death is just a case of a police officer with a power trip. This tragedy is the last straw for the African American nation, we deserve equal treatment.
ReplyDeleteBy me being from St. Louis it hurts to see the events that have transpired in Ferguson. I feel the people of Ferguson could've handled the situation better as in having a protest without the violence. I also do not condone cops shooting, sometimes innocent African American boys because of their skin color. It is highly unacceptable. The people of Ferguson should come together, stop killing each other, and help this situation calm itself.
ReplyDeleteI have always respect the law enforcers, but i am also from a country that has just been awarded the least corrupt in the world. People there generally trust our government and police force, so it is very hard for me not to, i do however know that things are different in America. As a european american i get that.
ReplyDeleteI do think however, that once a grand jury and an official court of law has spoken a sentence, with african american witnesses testifying, i think we should all respect that. This is an emotional issue for many people, it's really not about facts for some people, it's about their emotions and how they feel they are being treated and i think that that sometimes makes it hard for people to think rationally. I don't think anyone deserves to be shot and killed, but i also think that we should teach our children not to rob stores. I feel bad for the store owner who was robed and then later looted, he, and many others has basically lost their bread and butter over this dispute.
What i think should be done to bridge the gap is, focus on how biased our media is, you almost never get both sides of the story from the same news channel, and i think that is a problem if you only watch one! The media almost never report about white people being killed by cops, which is a higher percentage, that not well balanced reporting. I also think that people need to realize that all the people looting and stirring crime are ruining it for everyone else. If people in Ferguson keep looting and starting riots, of course the police are going to profile them, and that is going to ruin it for every single law abiding african american citizen. I think that these people don't realize they are part of what is keeping stereotypes alive!
I understand that however far this country has come there are still people who are racist against people of a different color of themselves, and i am sure that african american people still feel that to some degree, and i think that is horrible and no one should ever be judged or treated differently for the color of their skin, that being said, i think it goes both ways when it come to getting rid of racism and stereotypes. I think a lot of african americans are very prejudiced against white people too (and to some degree who can blame them) but i think we all need to realize that to get rid of this problem, we ALL need to stop feeding it!
I know that it is very hard to forgive and forget, but i know for a fact that no one in my family or myself have ever treated anyone bad because of the color of their skin, just like i know that i have never treated anyone differently because of their gender or sexual orientation, so i would really like to not be held responsible for terrible actions people that had nothing to do with me did many years ago.
All the things that have taken place in Ferguson is just crazy. I am not sure of every single detail but the things that I have heard and seen on TV are sad and disturbing.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings towards the police: I have not personally had any problems with the police. (other than being pulled over) But I have witnessed a lot of incidents in which the police were in the wrong- making it hard for me and others to trust them all. I believe some of them take their power too seriously and think that they are above people. And because of these situations I find it hard to trust police.
When it comes to bridging the gap: I honestly think it is going to take a lot and it needs to be something big with a great impact. Quickly the younger generation is starting see the wholes and flaws in the police force. I believe in order to regain the younger generations trust - the police are going to have to get involved in communities and in the lives of the younger generation. Volunteering so that the children and community can see them as a partner and a help in society and not always as an authoritative position.
I think a lot of people were out raged by officer Wilson not having any charges especially when there were witnesses. When did murder become acceptable for police officers? I read some where over 400 deaths a year are caused by police officers. Not to mention the officers picture taken at the hospital after the incident he didn't have a single scratch on him. I for one don't feel safe in the presence of a police officer but I'm a white female I cant imagine being a minority and the fear they face everyday. Which brings me to a popular question. Who will protect the people when the police break the law? Murder is still a crime even if self defense and even if you are a white male with some entitlement. As for change the only way to change things the way they are is to be the change. Get the degrees get the recommendations and sit on the supreme court justice and make justice happen. The only way to change society is to start with an education. Know your rights and know how to use them in your favor. Knowledge is power. All we have are the facts the only people that know what happened are Mr. Brown and Officer Willson and if justice wasn't served hear on earth I rest assured one day it will be.
ReplyDeleteThe events going on are absolutely tragic. By the people deciding to "unite" and riot in so many different ways adds only negativity to the already existing situation. I am happy that the people are learning to unite as one but i hate what brought it upon and what they are doing as a whole. I do not believe it will take one or two things to build back the gap that has developed between the people. It will take years of gaining their trust back.Not even just in Missouri but every where.
ReplyDeleteEverything that has been going on lately around the Ferguson situation is so sad and tragic. I think people are reacting in a completely wrong manor though. Riots will not make the situation any better. What happened, happened; and we cannot change the past. Peaceful protests would be a lot more successful. Acts of violence just causes more violence, and nothing gets resolved.
ReplyDeleteI feel that some cops think they have the right to do whatever they want, whether they abide by the law or not. But, I don’t think everyone should stereotype all cops this way. I believe that both cops and citizens need to have a better understanding of their rights instead of abusing their positions.
I don't know what really happened with the whole shooting. I don't know the circumstances and nobody else does either. Regardless of whether Wilson shot Brown in self defense or not, what's going on in Ferguson is uncalled for and ridiculous. How is looting an entire town going to help anything at all? Those people are using this event as an excuse to steal and cause mayhem. Also, they're destroying their own town. Those are their own buildings, their own businesses, I'm sure many of them family owned. I just find the whole situation ridiculous. I know it's a long shot comparison, but it's like if a kid I didn't even know at school got punched one time while he was at work, so I decided to rob and set fire to McDonalds. Am I justified in that? No, the comparison doesn't even make sense. As far as my respect for police officers goes, it really depends on who it is. The law gives officers the power to respond and act in ways necessary to handle situations. It's police officers that try to steal more power than they are given that we hate. Officers that don't know the law themselves as well as they should and harass people when they have no right to. There will always be people like that wherever you go, however I believe the majority of police officers genuinely try to do their jobs according to how they should. It would be interesting to help bridge the gap by putting both police officers and citizens in eachothers shows. I wonder how cops would react to being harassed by someone in authority. At the same time, how would a citizen handle a situation where they're trying to distill a conflict with someone being uncooperative?
ReplyDeleteI personally agree with the "Everyone has their own say so from what happened that day." theory. No one is going to know the honest truth but those too. Im not going to say that it was not a racist act going on but, Rather Brown approached the officers or not, police officers are trained to not shoot and kill they are trained to shoot waist below to at least get the person down IF they feel endangered, or if the person is armed. I have a uncle that is a police officer ( who is NOT black) and i just feel that saying that this is a racist act makes me feel some type of way about a lot of things. I was indeed brought up to respect the authority, but at the same time if they arent showing respect why should i show respect back? Thats not right. Yes they put their life on the line to protect us, but that does not give them the right to act as some police officers do. I have been put into a racial situation with a police officer as well until they found out who my uncle was. I do not want to have ever feel like if i ever got into serious trouble with the law that i would have to mention that my uncle is a police officer as well to be treated the same as others. I think it would it would be very interesting to see the results if the courthouse had actual evidence like a recording of the entire altercation between Brown and the office to see how differently things would have been handled instead of going of the Officers word and Witnesses words. Because honestly i feel that the court is going to go with the Officers word just because they do not have the actual victim in court with them to go against his word.
ReplyDeleteThe event in Ferguson is such a tragic event. It's hard to see a family and community deal with such a loss. I've heard so many different opinions on the event and as to who was in the wrong, all I can clearly state is that my parents raised me that stealing is wrong and illegal, and seeing as the ferguson case all started with stealing makes it hard for me to put myself in the event. I have the upmost respect for police and the decision they make. Personally I don't know how to bridge the gap because I couldn't even image being in the situations police are faced with and the split second decisions and judgements they have to make. All I know is I respect them.
ReplyDeleteI think what happened and what's currently happening in ferguson is mind blowing. I'm not entirely sure of Brown's background (mainly because I've heard multiple opposing standpoints) but what happened and how it happened is completely wrong. Change can happen if people respect police as orderkeppers and the police will show respect back.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have not been keeping up on this story, I personally do not really watch or read the news but, I believe that it is a matter of possibly an overeaction, I am aware that yes, you basically need to be on your guard all the time when yopu are in law enforcement, but, unless the criminal is high on drugs and charging at you with a weapon at full force, I believe firinig 12 rounds is a bit extreme. I think that there needs to be more of a program like an outreach in the community or something like that, to sort of foster a "goodwill" but to also show the community that they are here to protect EVERYONE, not just whites.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to keep up with the story so but I'm missing some details. I honestly think this is a conspiracy, something being used to distract people from a bigger picture ( what exactly- no idea yet). It is sad that this is yet another case that has an African-American being shot down for a very minor crime..If Brown was charging at the officer why did he not use his tasergun first. The reason why i think it is a conspiracy is because the same thing happened with the Garner case..So think about it, what is the easiest way to get people to fight each other than racial wars
ReplyDeleteI do not have anything against the police good or bad neither do i like have anything involved with them as long as people keep themselves far distance and stay safe from the police and not get booked or fired they should be fine.
ReplyDeleteI think the police were just being racist and causing a scene and attention from what i have read so far and the police shouldnt have made it a big deal or at least talk to him one on one and come to an agreement.
I think the police were being imature and abusive of their position. People should respect police but they should always remember what they are capable of. I sometimes pray for those who arent in a good situation because their cities law enforcement is corrupt. It doesnt make sense to me why abusive police are not fired yet.
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