A Line A Day: Murders and Riots and Misdemeanors

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Murders and Riots and Misdemeanors

I was pleased when Marilyn Mosby chose to file charges against the six police officers who appear to be responsible for injuries that led to the death of Freddie Gray. But when people on social media suggested that this is an example of JUSTICE brought about by RIOTS, this struck me as taking matters too far. There will be no peace without justice. But disruption of peace is not what brings justice about. It's nothing more or less than a vivid demonstration of our frustration, the "language of the unheard". We don't need rioting. What we need is rehabilitation of a very imperfect system. R.I.P. Freddie Gray.

"He was handcuffed and placed in a transport van in good health. He emerged a quadriplegic." http://t.co/i0RIlvwhdd
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 29, 2015

THE DIRTY HALF DOZEN

We immediately assumed white cops needlessly assaulted black victim. One look at the picture above says all you really need to know. Everything in life is not a simple black & white matter.

If you must judge by color, seems to me that we need > regulations on boys/girls in BLUE. Also, life sucks if you have insufficient GREEN.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

I know we're gung ho over protests these days but they aren't the reason charges are filed or are not filed. Very recent history says this.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

It's all case by case, prosecutor by prosecutor situation. 6 Baltimore cops were not charged b/c owner of burned CVS insisted.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

I don't claim to follow the logic of who will or won't be indicted. Of the various recent cases, Eric Garner's seemed like easiest slam dunk
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

#Ferguson was splashiest story (due to protests) until #FreddieGray (due again to protests). Indictments in one, goose egg in other.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

No charges filed in killing of John Crawford either. Many cases to pick from. Most didn't result in national guard being called in.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

I support peaceful protest when evidence points to a crime, but no arrest takes place. And protesting does not equal justice gets served.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

George Zimmerman is the one case where it seems pressure was needed just to get an arrest and it succeeded. Not that a conviction resulted.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

Pressure got DOJ to look into death of Mike Brown. But cop not arrested & DOJ basically agreed that this was just.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

Other than someone winning a Pulitzer for taking photos in #Ferguson (a very camera friendly crisis) who won what there?
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

In Baltimore we did get arrests. Convictions may be a long shot though. Who has won what? How has it been proven that protests work?
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

Folk should ease up on being self congratulatory every time an incident mildly resembles a win for justice. Check dictionary for definition
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

Justice for victim = the person who is guilty beyond doubt being punished accordingly per letter of law.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

When all said&done I doubt we'll get highest % of arrests/convictions in cases where there were protests. Protesters have iffy track record
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

Whether you call it a riot or an uprising (which is simply a matter of branding) the song remains the same.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 2, 2015

We challenge the curfew because it is meant to show the power of the state to manage bodies. This isn't freedom. #BaltimoreUprising
— deray mckesson (@deray) May 3, 2015

Kid got half a million dollars bail after turning himself in (by parental demand) for breaking a police car window. Did Mookie from Do the Right Thing set the Wrong Example? Shouldn't bail for alleged killers be higher than that earned for an act of heated vandalism? SMDH.

Tragedy in Baltimore has been followed by a whole lot of stupid from all sides.
— Roy Pickering (@AuthorofPatches) May 3, 2015

But at least people are making all kinds of new unlikely friends. People seeing each other as people rather than foreigners or enemies is the only true path to justice consistently being served.