Was Tamir Rice guilty of his own murder?
It would appear that this is what the Grand Jury concluded after an
"exhaustive" review of the case.
"A perfect storm", said the prosecuting attorney, speaking of the
multiple miscommunications surrounding this 12 year old boy's death.
A sad situation, indeed. But no one was deliberately targeting this
12 year old child.
At least that seems to be the general conclusion.
Really? Forget the fact that this was a Black Boy. Forget the fact
that the two responding officers were a Trainer and his Student.
Forget the fact that the call to 911 suggested that the gun might be a
toy and the gunman might be a child. Forget the fact that the patrol
car, driven by the Trainer, pulled up to within a few feet of the 12
year old boy and both officers bailed out. Forget the fact that it
was the Trainee who shot and killed the 12 year old Black Boy. Forget
the fact that they left him still alive, while they tackled and cuffed
his 14 year old Black Sister, who was trying to reach her brother.
Where did this prosecuting attorney, who appeared to be acting also as
the defense attorney for the two officers, where did he find such a
collection of empty-headed fools to act as jurors?
Can we follow this case of a 12 year old Black Boy and not believe
that we have a deep seated fear and hatred of our Black Citizens?
That our police departments and their training academies are fair and
objective in the methods they use to teach new recruits?
Compare this murder to the situation of a 66 year old woman,
brandishing what appeared to be a weapon in front of a police station,
shouting out how she hated cops, and waving her gun at passerby's.
She was surrounded by officers and "talked down", leaving the scene
still alive and unharmed.
The difference? This woman was a White Woman.
She should consider herself privileged, compared to the 55 year old
Black Woman who opened her door to allow the police to respond to a
father's concern over his 19 year old son's erratic behavior. Both
the woman and the 19 year old were gunned down.
And we get excited over a government that sells arms to nations still
killing Gay Men and treating women as cattle?
Are we insane?...Don't answer that.
Carl Jarvis
