(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s not surprising that no one will be punished for the death of Tamir Rice. Since the youngster’s killing the police authorities, the Prosecutor, and the Mayor have refused to do anything except look for ways to sweep it away in hopes that it will be forgotten, just like previous similar acts of lethal aggression against Black people.
The report stated Rice’s death was caused “by the failure…to exercise due care to avoid injury.” In other words, the 12-year old boy caused his own death. Mayor Frank G. Jackson apologized not for the killing but for the words used to describe the cause of the killing. Rice was shot for holding a toy gun 1.7 seconds after the cops pulled up to his location in a park. No warning, no command to drop the gun, and no attempt to speak to Rice; they shot first—immediately, and now we are asking the questions.
Prosecutor Timothy McGinty described the events leading up to Tamir’s death as a tragic series of errors and “miscommunications” that began when a 911 caller said a male who was “probably a juvenile” was waving a “probably fake” gun at people in a park. Has there been any disciplinary action issued against the 911 dispatcher for not relaying the entire message to the cops?
The fact that those caveats never reached Officer Timothy Loehmann — who shot the child within two seconds of arriving on the scene — was more than just an administrative misstep. Like the 911 call that led to John Crawford’s death in an Ohio Walmart, for holding a BB gun, not “pointing” it at customers as the caller said, Rice’s instantaneous execution reflects an utter disregard for Black life. That disregard began with Officer Loehmann’s work history and emotional state not being fully vetted before he was given the power of life and death over the citizens of Cleveland.
Wanton violence against people who pose no threat to the police was on full display in a particularly striking case in 2012. Officers mistook the sound of a car backfiring for a gunshot, thus, according to The Guardian, causing 104 of the 277 Cleveland officers on duty that night to get involved. Cops chased down and fired 137 bullets into the vehicle, killing Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell, who were unarmed.
Regarding the last series of shots fired by Officer Michael Brelo, who said his life was in danger yet, in Rambo style, jumped on the hood of the car and started firing, Judge John O’Donnell said, “I cannot find beyond a reasonable doubt which of the fatal wounds he caused.” Oh, I get it; New defense: Fire as many shots by as many cops as possible so no one can determine which cop fired the fatal bullet. Everybody walks.
That’s almost as good as the invention of the “Affluenza” defense (Rich kid in Texas kills four people with automobile and gets probation), which suggests that rich folks are less responsible for their crimes than the rest of us because their actions are somehow skewed as a result of having too much money. Here’s a thought: How about “Pofluenza” as a defense for “Po” folks?
As for Tamir Rice, there are some who are unafraid. City Councilman, Jeff Johnson, has demanded that the Cleveland Law Department do a full review and file charges of negligent homicide against the officers involved in Tamir’s death?. Also, Basheer Jones held a press conference with a coalition of various organizations, to outline their demands in response to what they label as “Tamir Rice injustice,” and promised there will be civil disobedience in response to the killing.
In contrast, other folks are asking LeBron James to refuse to play until justice is done. That will never happen, and even if it did it would have little effect except for news value. They should be calling on the folks who attend the games and pay millions to see James play. Oh yeah, they’d get some justice then. Money talks; T-shirts walk.
If police officers were required to have personal malpractice insurance, for instance, not paid by the municipality but by themselves, and if court awards had to be paid by insurance companies rather than by taxpayers, maybe there would be fewer killings. (See www.iamoneofthemillion.com and read Plank #3 of our political platform)
Injustice can and does lead to violence in return, and it could ultimately be one reason for young people turning to terrorism. While some naively think jobs will stop terrorism, a report, “The Age of the Wolf,” cited an 18-year old boy who stated, “I did not join the Taliban because I was poor; I joined because I was angry.”
There is a lot of anger out there about our broken criminal justice system. I believe economic responses will accelerate the process of repairing it.
Haven’t we seen this same movie enough?
Written By James E. Clingman
Official website; http://www.blackonomics.com/
Here is the problem I have with your analysis!
Firstly, I want to say that you are correct the policeman who killed this youngster should be prosecuted. Cleveland, Ohio has black population of 53.3 percent and a white population of 37.3 percent(total city population is 390,113 – blacks population 207,930). If those black folks in Cleveland wanted that policeman put on trial; he would haven been tried! With a mixed jury, however, the question of whether he would be convicted might be questionable. Even within the Cuyahoga County where Cleveland is located, blacks comprise 30.3 percent of the 1.2 million population. 30.3 percent of 1.3 million works out to be 393,900 black people. If just one percent of the black people in that county which would amount to approximately 4,000 people practiced their 1st Amendment Right to picket, which you cannot be arrested for, one of Cleveland’s major shopping corridors(street) in an orderly and lawful fashion, for one to two weeks, that policeman would be put on trial! I have to ask you Mr. Clingman, can you address the issue of what African Americans in the city and county of Cleveland are doing about this issue? Can the whole issue of that policeman not being tried be laid at the door of the white population which your article implies?? Do African Americans in that city and county not have some responsibility in this matter?
http://www.thefixthistime.com
Here is problem I have with your analysis!
Firstly, I want to say that you are correct the policeman who killed this youngster should be prosecuted. Cleveland, Ohio has black population of 53.3 percent and a white population of 37.3 percent(total city population is 390,113 – blacks population 207,930). If those black folks in Cleveland wanted that policeman put on trial; he would haven been tried! With a mixed jury, however, the question of whether he would be convicted might be questionable. Even within the Cuyahoga County where Cleveland is located, blacks comprise 30.3 percent of the 1.2 million population. 30.3 percent of 1.3 million works out to be 393,900 black people. If just one percent of the black people in that county which would amount to approximately 4,000 people practiced their 1st Amendment Right to picket, which you cannot be arrested for, one of Cleveland’s major shopping corridors(street) in an orderly and lawful fashion, for one to two weeks, that policeman would be put on trial! I have to ask you Mr. Clingman, can you address the issue of what African Americans in the city and county of Cleveland are doing about this issue?
http://www.thefixthistime.com