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<p>It’s only a matter of time. It’s inevitable. I’m resigned.</p>
<p>I know. I know.</p>
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<p>Agree 100% about more real integration in the south–in terms of how people live. I would not assume that law enforcement relations with citizens of color are any different in the south. Maybe police are the same everywhere?</p>
<p>As for the “power class” versus protesters…I don’t know. It seems as a society we view mostly unarmed black protesters as being more dangerous than white vigilantes openly carrying AK-47s along the border, at the Bundy ranch, or at the local Wal-Mart.</p>
<p>“I would not assume that law enforcement relations with citizens of color are any different in the south. Maybe police are the same everywhere?”</p>
<p>I don’t believe it is like that everywhere. Atlanta’s Chief of Police and the Mayor are Black. Atlanta has a diverse police force. There are currently protests going on. There has been property damage and the crowds blocked the connector for a while. The police seem to be just watching and following the crowds to make sure no more property damage occurs.</p>
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Something similar nearly happened to one of my (black) students over the weekend. He was pulled over, asked for license and registration, and when the passenger reached towards the glove compartment to get them the officer started pulling his gun out of his holster. What are the odds that the officer would have reacted in the same way if my student was white?</p>
<p>^ Almost nil.</p>
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I had dinner with my son tonight. I asked him what he thought about this situation. He said, “First, I wouldn’t steal. Second, I would never shove a store employee. Third, I would NEVER talk back to a police officer. If he told me to stop, I would be on the ground immediately with my arms outstretched.” </p>
<h1>204 said</h1>
<p>"Something similar nearly happened to one of my (black) students over the weekend. He was pulled over, asked for license and registration, and when the passenger reached towards the glove compartment to get them the officer started pulling his gun out of his holster. What are the odds that the officer would have reacted in the same way if my student was white? "</p>
<p>Put yourself in the cops shoes. They get shot at at traffic stops. They expect the worst going up to every car because it is unpredictable for them. And if anyone makes a strange move in the car they will pull out the gun even if the driver or passengers are white.</p>
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<p>Way to miss the point considering the demonstrated disparity of treatment illustrated in traffic stops between Black or IME, female South Asian drivers versus say…upper-middle class suburban White female or upper-middle/middle class non-Black male as two posters in the latter 2 categories recounted on this thread. </p>
<p>That and how could the cop regard someone seeking to get their driver’s license and registration as a threat RIGHT AFTER he/she specifically requests it of the driver?</p>
<p>And it seems I and a few fellow posters on this thread aren’t the only ones who feel the prosecutor is dubious at best:</p>
<p><a href=“Why Ferguson is so mad at prosecutor Bob McCulloch”>Why Ferguson is so mad at prosecutor Bob McCulloch;
<p>I have never been around anyone who was belligerant to or challenged a police officer and think that only bad things happens after that, especially if they strike an officer who is seated in his car and reach for his gun. A lot of things could and should have been handled better and with more transparency, but since they weren’t I hope constructive action to move forward is the answer. I wish more POSITIVE leadership, from the faith-based and elsewhere emerge to help guide a better path forward. </p>
<p>Violence just begets more violence and inflicts a lot of painful and expensive collateral damage on innocent people, including businesses who have done nothing wrong and are just easy targets. There is no guarantee that any of the businsses will return to serve the communities that are trashing their places and the longer the unrest continues, the more business they will lose and suffering they will incur. </p>
<p>poetgrl- I do believe there is a real problem however I do not believe Officer Wilson was guilty or that there was even enough evidence that pointed to his to bring him to trial.
The fact that I do not believe this officer should be held responsible for the sins of the mitreatment of African Americans by law enforcement does not mean I do not think it is a problem.that needs a remedy.</p>
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<p>^^^^^^^
** THIS, THIS, THIS!** </p>
<p>“unarmed black protesters as being more dangerous than white vigilantes openly carrying AK-47s along the border, at the Bundy ranch, or at the local Wal-Mart.”</p>
<p>I think those people are dangerous bubbas, too. And really thank goodness there wasn’t more gun violence in Ferguson. </p>
<p>@HImom , I have a feeling that in another 6 months or so, Ferguson will be scratching their heads over the lost businesses and struggling with their inability to get the products and services that have burned to the ground. The impact of all of the violence and destruction hasn’t even begun to show there.</p>
<p>Now that I read the morning news and see the protests that are happening around the nation , I wonder what it is going to take to calm things down. On the one hand, I see the African American community outraged over what they unfair treatment / racism . </p>
<p>People question why there are only three black police officers in Ferguson , a largely black community. Why do suppose that is ? Could it be lack of qualified applicants or could it be that there is a deliberate move to keep black officers out of the force ? </p>
<p>People suggest that there should video cams in quad cars , which could be helpful , but then ignore the video cam showing Brown roughing up the store clerk he just robbed. </p>
<p>Would it be better if two officers rode together at all times ?</p>
<p>I saw Mike Brown’s mother being interviewed this morning , ( with her attorney by her side ) and blaming the government for stoking the fires of the violence that occurred on Tuesday night . She didn’t believe that her husband shouting to the crowd " Burn this B**** down " had any impact on the events of the evening.
I happen to believe the government has some culpability , as does the media. </p>
<p>I don’t believe Mike Brown would be dead today if he didn’t attack the cop. His parents bear responsibility for that as well.
I know that will anger some of the posters here , but that is how I feel and I know I am not alone.</p>
<p>@lje.</p>
<p>So you believe if a community of people in this country generally felt the justice system was working for them and really believed that they had equal protections under the law saw a situation they found injust take place, a man shouting burn this ■■■■■ down would incite riots and protests all over the place?</p>
<p>Interesting. I think it would be tough to get white middle class America to go to days and nights of protests if a white guy was shot by the police.</p>
<p>This situation in Ferguson is a tipping point. Sometimes it’s about too much for too long. </p>
<p>The riots all over the country are telling us something, and we will be fools to sit around and say, “But the boy rushed the cop.” </p>
<p>Okay. I’m sure he might have. But, that has got nothing to do with the fact of the race record in Ferguson. The race record in Ferguson is the problem. The police are no longer trusted. They abused their trust. The people are angry.</p>
<p>Sitting atop our hill and looking down on the silly villagers really isn’t going to help. we have a real problem in this country, particularly up north, with segregation and racism. It’s good we paid attention to the south, but we forgot to clean up our own back yard as well.</p>
<p>I fully get that as a white woman I don’t know what it’s like to be under suspicion just for going about my business. </p>
<p>But the way to prove that you should be treated respectfully and in good faith is not to say “see? If I don’t get my way, I’ll loot or burn down businesses.” That’s acting like an animal. And I’m sorry , a Michael Brown is just a terrible poster child. He had just stolen from a honest business owner trying to make a living, and the physical evidence supports Wilson’s story. </p>
<p>Now, the kid who was shot in his car while reaching for his wallet as directed by the cop - HE’s a good poster child, as he was clearly minding his business and compliant. That story deserved wider press than this one, IMO. </p>
<p>I agree. I actually do think he is a terrible poster child for this.</p>
<p>But, I also think the problem has nothing to do with MB. In fact, when it was Trayvon Martin, everybody talked about it being Trayvon Martin. In this case? People are just talking about the cops and black men.</p>
<p>I didn’t follow this case very closely at all. I’m just wondering what we are going to do because when this many people are this angry, we have a problem that is bigger than Wilson and Brown. JMO’</p>
<p>TBH, the cops all over the country are in an impossible situation at this point. And they created it themselves. </p>
<p>Being angry at the cops for suspecting you when you are going about your business is awful. But looting and burning down buildings is awful too. And stealing from convenience stores isn’t very nice, either. The blame for this is NOT all on the cops. I commend Michael Brown’s father for saying “in my son’s memory, please don’t riot” (not those words, but to that effect) but where is the leadership in the community telling these thugs to knock it off?</p>
<p>^ Actually I think the 12 year old who was killed with the toy gun also is a better poster child. People can relate to a kid playing around a whole lot better than one who just robbed a store. </p>