I guess they didn’t realize and don’t understand that, but for that blue uniform protecting them, they themselves would be the ones getting beat down and murdered for driving while Black, walking while Black, sitting while Black, existing while Black.
Seems they’re now in the process of learning how life is when they don’t have the blue uniform protecting them from what POC have and are experiencing at the hands of so-called law enforcement.
Back in 2017, a Black police officer named Luther Hall was assigned to work undercover in plain clothes at a protest. There he was taken to the ground and beat senseless by four colleagues who, not recognizing him, only saw him as fair game/the usual victim — a person of color.
After all was said and done, including the coverup and lack of justice by the courts, what Luther had to say was "My outlook on law enforcement is definitely changed".
This group of cops will get to experience/live that side and come to the same realization when they land in federal prison, because I don’t think the courts will be as lenient with these officers — no longer seen as Blue but Black, as the court was with the officers that nearly killed Luther Hall.
Inasmuch as this group of five was operating as a "team" under the moniker of Scorpion, my spidey sense is telling me that further investigation will uncover they’ve been working as a "gang" perpetuating other crimes and getting away with them all along.
Black white, fat thin, gay or straight, it doesn't matter, one of these police going to wake up? In these times everything is going to be filmed. Are they just dumb. And this doesn't help the people's trust in police.
ReplyDeleteWhat they'll do is, instead of police reform, they'll pass a law against filming the atrocities.
DeleteThat’s my fear.
DeleteThank you. You got it right. I appreciate your blog so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt's a shocking crime indeed.
ReplyDeleteMy head is spinning as to how they plan to plead and explain what they've done.
DeleteThings like this sure don't make the public trust the police more.
ReplyDeleteNope and they seem to be defunding themselves, one cop at a time.
DeleteBlack on black police beatings go way back to the 60s and 70s. When a call came into the police department from the "black" area of the city, the request was to send a "white" officer.
ReplyDeleteThat's a part of history I missed.
DeleteAll I thought of immediately was that the justice was swift but it wouldn't have been if they had been white. This whole thing is all kinds of wrong!
ReplyDeleteThat's what Trainer and I were discussing during the session this morning ... that when it's white officers we hear placed on suspension pending an investigation. In this situation, it was immediate firing, and the Department of Justice did not have to come in to push local authorities into charging 'em. I don't feel sorry for these cops. They were probably bad cops all along and certainly should have known to do better by their own. Bet they wouldn't have done this to a white guy.
DeleteI didn't realize all the officers were Black until I saw their mug shots in the newspaper this morning.
ReplyDeleteI think most assumed the cops were white, I know I did, until we saw the photos. Surprising and Disgusting.
DeleteIt is my understanding that Mississippi politians want to make it against the law to film police making an arrest. I live near, and heard attorney Ben Crump during an interview today. He mentioned two incidents that involved the Scorpion unit that these police were a part of. These police were involved in incidents with other black men in the city.
ReplyDeleteThey want to go back to the good old days when they could get away with police brutality because no one believed it was happening until video evidence became a thing.
DeleteAnd I had a feeling further investigation would show they were involved in other stuff. I suspect that traffic stop was one such incident where the plan was to shake down Tyre Nichols for cash and it got out of control.
DeleteThanks for giving us that history and perspective. The 5 bad guys assaulting a guy in a traffic stop is nauseating. Linda in Kasnas
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they're also being charged for kidnapping because they dragged Tyre out of the car. I've seen cops on TikTok do that very same thing ... drag someone out of their car for no reason but because they told them to exit and the person was afraid to and there was no reason for asking that of them. Hopefully, other cops will learn from this kidnapping charge.
DeletePower corrupts.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the blue uniform that gives the illusion of having all this power. Orange is gonna be the new blue for these brutes.
DeleteI am certain that wearing a uniform does make a difference to people. JanF
DeleteIt does make a difference to people, and not in a good way as we were told to trust and respect the blue but have learned to be terrified of the blue.
DeleteThe police in America certainly seem out of control. Funny how the black offices have been arrested so quickly! I suspected they will get tougher sentences than if they were white!
ReplyDeleteYou can bet on their getting tougher sentences, and no one is going to weep over the disparity of treatment they will be receiving. They should have known they couldn't get away with whatever crimes they've been committing forever and that, when it all came to an end, they would be treated as people of color are historically treated ... harsher, tougher, faster through the system.
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