The claims of police brutality and excessive force is nothing new. However, it was thrown front line and center into the news after the appalling "witness" accounts of the death of Michael Brown. Initial reports from "witnesses" claimed that a young black man was confronted by a white police officer, promptly put his hands up and without warrant was shot in the back multiple times while his hands were in the air. OK fine, these were people who actually witnessed the event right? So they MUST be telling the truth, right? Based on their accounts, and policy of reviewing every officer involved shooting, and investigation was launched. Finally, many months after the event, it was announced that the officer involved in the shooting, Darren Wilson, would not face murder charges. This of course set people and the town (literally) on fire. People started ransacking their OWN community like a bunch of idiots. Robbing their own stores, setting their own buildings on fire, shooting into the air, screaming and yelling that black peoples lives don't matter. Was that the truth? In this case NOPE
Backing up a little if these people had dared to stop and listen to the FACTS they would have realized that this poor innocent guy, had just robbed a liquor store, been violent with the store owner, was then confronted by Officer Wilson, and then decided to attack the Officer in his car. This chain of events is based on FACTS, video proof, autopsy proof, audio proof, ballistics proof, gun residue proof, etc. Did that matter? NOPE. What was the one FACT that these people needed to run around like animals? The suspect was black and the cop was white. Period. End of story.
Do I agree that excessive force is used by cops sometimes? YES. Do I believe that some cops may abuse their power sometimes? YES. Do I think that black people are profiled sometimes? YES. Do I believe that in this situation protesters chose to ignore the facts and focus on race? YEP. Do I believe that some of those same protesters had heard the evidence, knew he wasn't going to be indited, and showed up just to cause panic and get some free shit? YEP SURE DO, and you should believe that too. Stop and think what would have happened had he been indited, or if he was EXPECTED to be indited. Would all of those news vans been there? Would there have been hundred of people waiting? NOPE. These people KNEW Michael Brown was in the wrong and chose to ignore it so they could have some fun, plain and simple. His death was used as nothing more than an excuse to act like a bunch of assholes, and most of us fell for it by being glued to our TVs, because even WE knew that they were going to lose their minds, when the right decision was announced. That is the power of the media.
I will say this, I'm tired of police getting a bad rap, I really am. These people CHOOSE to go out there everyday, all day, on holidays, in turn missing their kids birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc. to protect us, and respond to your occasional bullshit calls. When did we stop viewing police officers as people? People that have families, and kids just like you? People that watch Walking Dead and football, just like you? People that play tea party, watch cartoons, and tuck their children into bed, just like you? For people who "hate the police" maybe you should shut up and take a step back. Shame on you for ridiculing them for doing a job you know nothing about, and don't have the balls to do yourself. Stop doing stupid shit and you wont get arrested anymore, or pulled over, or searched, or whatever. You don't like the police? Fine, don't, but shut up and go home. WE DON'T CARE ANYMORE.
And for the record, looting, setting things on fire, stopping traffic on freeways, lying in the middle of streets, coming out of the inflatable NFL tunnel with your hands up, and wearing T-Shirts, is not going to stop an officer from shooting someone threatening his chances of going home to his family. So put your hands down, go home, and change your shirt already
