Indeed uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, because I have never seen President Obama look so downcast. It is really depressing to see things degenerating the way they are presently in Ferguson and around America over the Grand Jury's decision not to charge Police officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. The fact remains that these deaths are way too many to be a coincidence no matter how you look at it. These things have been going on for decades and I feel it is high time they are addressed. I wrote this post in July about a similar incidence where some policemen rough handled Eric Garner, a 43-year-old father and grandfather, put him in a chokehold from which he found it hard to breathe and despite telling them he couldn't breathe, they did not let him be until he died.
Racism is rife in most countries and I think it is time to call a spade a
spade and not a tea spoon and address the issue. I've had my fair share
of it and I can tell you it is not a pleasant feeling to know you are
being victimized on the basis of your skin colour. Families cannot continue to lose their children because of trigger happy and power drunk policemen. The police are meant to serve and protect citizens, not harass and kill them. I most certainly would find it hard to trust any white cop seeing the damaging reputation the overzealous ones are gaining daily. It is a crying shame that in a town like Ferguson which is predominantly black, nine out of the twelve jurors were white. Little wonder the outcome of the verdict is as it is.
Having said that, I totally agree with Obama that violence is not the solution to this matter. By looting, vandalizing and burning establishments, we shift the focus from what it should be to something different. I can understand the anger and the need to vent but come on, how does looting stores and burning buildings help fight Michael Brown's cause? The thing about such revolutions clamouring for change is the fact that there is always the high chance of the protests being hijacked by miscreants who are only out to grab and loot from the stores they have been eying and lusting after prior. These ones often misrepresent the same race they are trying to make better as their selfish actions are what the media would pick on and showcase to the world. I remember how people shamelessly looted during the London riots a few years ago. I was gobsmacked as I watched everything crumble within the twinkling of an eye but I was mighty impressed that with CCTV footage, most of those thieving miscreants were brought to justice. Like President Obama said, "There's no excuse for violence and those who are only interested in violence and just want the problem to go away should realize that we have work to do".
Indeed there's a whole lot of work to do in bridging the gap of distrust between the white police force and the black communities.
R.I.P Michael Brown.
Photo Credit: Twitter and Dailymail.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are feedback, so please bring them on. :) #Learning #Living