2008 Woodie Awards
Innocent until proven guilty?
Point/Counterpoint: Is the Queens shooting incident a clear case of racist police violence?
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Opinions
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"I would urge everyone to withhold judgment...until all the facts are known," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown after the 'groom shooting' incident on Nov. 25 in New York City. Well put. The groom referenced was Sean Bell, 23, who was shot dead by police. His two friends Joseph Guzman, 31, and Trent Benefield, 23, were both shot and critically wounded. There are conflicting reports as to what actually happened.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said police identified themselves before shooting. Benefield said they did not. Police say Bell rammed a police van twice with his car before being shot. Some eyewitnesses said police began firing before Bell rammed their van. Whatever happened, five officers eventually fired a total of 50 rounds into the car, hitting Bell, Guzman, and Benefield a collective total of 16 times. A fourth occupant fled the scene unharmed.
Bell's Nissan was found with no firearms inside. So was this shooting justified? Or an overreaction by police? Or an example of race-motivated police brutality?
One man has his mind made up, at least for the reporters. Al Sharpton does not care about Sean Bell. He does not care about Joseph Guzman, Trent Benefield or any of their families. Al Sharpton cares about getting his name in print and his face on television. He cares about his limousine rides and speaking fees. His involvement in the 1987 Tawana Brawley hoax makes this much obvious.
Sharpton can voice his opinion, but the truth is, none of us know exactly what happened that night. In my opinion, it appears that the police used excessive force. But I wasn't there. Let's wait for the investigation results before passing judgment. The media is about as reliable as Sharpton, as is evident from their coverage of both the police and the rioters in the 1992 Rodney King fiasco.
The media showed us roughly 30 seconds of Rodney King's beating. The media didn't show us the 100 mph car chase. The media didn't show us King being tasered twice, to no effect. The media didn't inform us that standard use of the PR-24 police baton is to aim for the fleshy sections of the limbs (which the police did) and avoid hitting joints, organs or life-threatening targets like the head, neck and back. The media didn't tell us about the other black passengers in King's car, who didn't resist arrest and were not beaten. Most tellingly, the media showed us the video with no sound. Hence, the audience was unable to hear the police repeatedly order King to stay down on the ground (which he didn't).
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said police identified themselves before shooting. Benefield said they did not. Police say Bell rammed a police van twice with his car before being shot. Some eyewitnesses said police began firing before Bell rammed their van. Whatever happened, five officers eventually fired a total of 50 rounds into the car, hitting Bell, Guzman, and Benefield a collective total of 16 times. A fourth occupant fled the scene unharmed.
Bell's Nissan was found with no firearms inside. So was this shooting justified? Or an overreaction by police? Or an example of race-motivated police brutality?
One man has his mind made up, at least for the reporters. Al Sharpton does not care about Sean Bell. He does not care about Joseph Guzman, Trent Benefield or any of their families. Al Sharpton cares about getting his name in print and his face on television. He cares about his limousine rides and speaking fees. His involvement in the 1987 Tawana Brawley hoax makes this much obvious.
Sharpton can voice his opinion, but the truth is, none of us know exactly what happened that night. In my opinion, it appears that the police used excessive force. But I wasn't there. Let's wait for the investigation results before passing judgment. The media is about as reliable as Sharpton, as is evident from their coverage of both the police and the rioters in the 1992 Rodney King fiasco.
The media showed us roughly 30 seconds of Rodney King's beating. The media didn't show us the 100 mph car chase. The media didn't show us King being tasered twice, to no effect. The media didn't inform us that standard use of the PR-24 police baton is to aim for the fleshy sections of the limbs (which the police did) and avoid hitting joints, organs or life-threatening targets like the head, neck and back. The media didn't tell us about the other black passengers in King's car, who didn't resist arrest and were not beaten. Most tellingly, the media showed us the video with no sound. Hence, the audience was unable to hear the police repeatedly order King to stay down on the ground (which he didn't).
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
T Borbor
posted 12/04/06 @ 1:24 PM CST
I totally disagree with what you have stated in your article. Yes a person is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but let me pose this question to you. (Continued…)
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