Sometimes I just feel like I need to feel like I tell folks about this shit otherwise I just feel so helpless...
Vietnamese suspect beaten and tased while on the ground and unarmed. Caught on his roommate's cell phone. And how many more happen without evidence?
What the independent experts asked by San Jose Mercury (article) have to say:
So am I saying that these police officers are racist? Maybe. I don't know. Am I saying that these police officers are bad people? Maybe. I don't know. Probably not. However, I am absolutely certain all police officers, all humans that are given roles of "enforcer" "protector" "justice through force if necessary" will become corrupted.
- Ho remains on the ground, moaning and crying, as he is repeatedly struck. He does not appear to offer significant resistance, suggesting the high level of force is not necessary.
- The officer most visible in the sequence stands for much of the time in a casual posture, at one point with his legs crossed. He seems to show no concern that the situation is potentially dangerous - raising additional questions about why force was being used.
- The final baton strike appears to occur after the handcuff can be heard snapping onto Ho's wrists. "That's a felony."
So am I saying that these police officers are racist? Maybe. I don't know. Am I saying that these police officers are bad people? Maybe. I don't know. Probably not. However, I am absolutely certain all police officers, all humans that are given roles of "enforcer" "protector" "justice through force if necessary" will become corrupted.
Corunna School Board removes Diversity Club's bulletin board display on nine atheletes, politicians and educators who identify as LGBT (article).
Maureen Stanley, the president of the Corunna Board of Education, explains, "The display case may confuse other kids." The School Board believes that this topic should be presented in a place where more information is available about "alternative lifestyles" such as a health education class.
That's true. I remember very vividly when I was fourth grade I saw a bulletin board display featuring prominent black leaders and figures. It was in the context of Black History month. I was very confused. Instead of recognizing the accomplishments of folks that faced adversity and were often forgotten, instead of being inspired, instead of realizing that it might be helpful for my black classmates to see role models that looked like them (since unfortunately we only reserve that for one month of the year), I went home thinking that being Black was the new cool thing that we all should strive to be and the being Black wasn't just different, but better. It didn't matter that the other 15 bulletin boards had only white folks portrayed. I took my dad's shoe polish and covered my face.
During the course of this racial reassignment procedure, I inadvertently swallowed some shoe polish. This was a detriment to my health as shoe polish is not for eating. Too bad Ms. Stanley wasn't around back then. She could have saved me a trip to the ER.
Maureen Stanley, the president of the Corunna Board of Education, explains, "The display case may confuse other kids." The School Board believes that this topic should be presented in a place where more information is available about "alternative lifestyles" such as a health education class.
That's true. I remember very vividly when I was fourth grade I saw a bulletin board display featuring prominent black leaders and figures. It was in the context of Black History month. I was very confused. Instead of recognizing the accomplishments of folks that faced adversity and were often forgotten, instead of being inspired, instead of realizing that it might be helpful for my black classmates to see role models that looked like them (since unfortunately we only reserve that for one month of the year), I went home thinking that being Black was the new cool thing that we all should strive to be and the being Black wasn't just different, but better. It didn't matter that the other 15 bulletin boards had only white folks portrayed. I took my dad's shoe polish and covered my face.
During the course of this racial reassignment procedure, I inadvertently swallowed some shoe polish. This was a detriment to my health as shoe polish is not for eating. Too bad Ms. Stanley wasn't around back then. She could have saved me a trip to the ER.
