Let me start this post by saying that the authorities in Louisiana did the right thing in charging those two police officers in the shooting death of that six year old boy. If it turns out that they acted appropriately they will be vindicated, if not, they will suffer the consequences for their actions.
I have said over and over that being a police officer is a tough job, and we can't have people on the force who, for whatever reason, do not act appropriately or are not properly trained.
For the record, the six year old boy was white and the two police officers charged were African Americans. If you are an African American and you are not as passionate about getting justice for this poor child's family shame on you. If you are from the majority population and you never questioned the conduct of the police when the races are reversed but do now, well then shame on you as well.
"We took some of the body cam footage. I'm not gonna talk about it, but I'm gonna tell you this -- it is the most disturbing thing I've seen and I will leave it at that," State Police Col. Michael Edmonson said at a news conference late Friday. "That little boy was buckled into the front seat of that vehicle and that is how he died."
Sad indeed. But it is not the "most disturbing thing" that I have ever seen when it comes to police misconduct, but I do hope that it will be the last.
Finally, congrats to the football players of the University of Missouri for displaying true field Negro behavior. I love when athletes who are in a high profile position become socially active and use their influence and power to try and influence social change."Black football players at the University of Missouri have joined calls demanding the ouster of the president of the state's four-campus university system over alleged inaction against racism on campus.
About 30 players made their thoughts known Saturday night in a tweet posted by Missouri's Legion of Black Collegians.
The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe "Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere," read the tweet. "We will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students' experience."
The players' move is the latest salvo in a spiraling debate over the experiences of African-American students at Missouri, who have complained of inaction on the part of school leaders in dealing with racism on the overwhelmingly white campus.
Black student leaders have complained of students openly using racial slurs and other incidents. In August, someone used feces to draw a swastika, drawing condemnation from black and Jewish student organizations.
One student is on a hunger strike demanding action. Graduate student Jonathan L. Butler started the hunger strike last week, demanding Wolfe's removal." [More]
Good for these players. Maybe they can force these institutions who profit from their athleticism to get serious about addressing similar concerns in the future.
*Pic from stltoday.com
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