We cannot say all killings by police are justified. What we need to acknowledge is the reason for them. I really think in most cases fear is the catalyst. I think cops are afraid of black people and black people are afraid of the cops. This causes over reaction by police as we saw in the St. Paul shooting and it causes black people to often have a knee jerk reaction when approached by police where they choose to fight them or try to run and then things go way bad.  This whole issue is driven by fear and the idea that cops are out to kill black people is perpetuated by the media who reports only on the shooting of black people by cops. They never report on white people being shot by cops and this causes the misperception that only black people are being shot by police. 

Spunky wrote:

I am beyond sad and pissed off.  When are they going to do something about these racist Police officers that think they can just kill black men and get away with it!

Something has to be done..."Black Lives DO matter"

Just wanted to add: That the 3 racist policemen that killed these two black men...are RESPONSIBLE for the lives of those 5 policemen that were killed in Dallas. They better be held accountable!!

Those 5 policemen killed were just doing their jobs and trying to keep EVERYONE safe. 
 

Spunky wrote:

Spunky wrote:

I am beyond sad and pissed off.  When are they going to do something about these racist Police officers that think they can just kill black men and get away with it!

Something has to be done..."Black Lives DO matter"

Just wanted to add: That the 3 racist policemen that killed these two black men...are RESPONSIBLE for the lives of those 5 policemen that were killed in Dallas. They better be held accountable!!

Those 5 policemen killed were just doing their jobs and trying to keep EVERYONE safe. 
 

Spunky,

This is such a horrible thing to say for so many reasons. We don't know if these three POs are racists or just bad cops. Let the investigation go on before making this type of statement. Whatever the results, these three officers are NOT responsible for the death or injury to other officers! There is only one person responsible and that is Micah Xavier Johnson. I am deeply offended by your comments and think your anger is misplaced. 

Braveone99 wrote:

Spunky wrote:

Spunky wrote:

I am beyond sad and pissed off.  When are they going to do something about these racist Police officers that think they can just kill black men and get away with it!

Something has to be done..."Black Lives DO matter"

Just wanted to add: That the 3 racist policemen that killed these two black men...are RESPONSIBLE for the lives of those 5 policemen that were killed in Dallas. They better be held accountable!!

Those 5 policemen killed were just doing their jobs and trying to keep EVERYONE safe. 
 

Spunky,

This is such a horrible thing to say for so many reasons. We don't know if these three POs are racists or just bad cops. Let the investigation go on before making this type of statement. Whatever the results, these three officers are NOT responsible for the death or injury to other officers! There is only one person responsible and that is Micah Xavier Johnson. I am deeply offended by your comments and think your anger is misplaced. 

Sorry if I offended you.
However, I finally saw the video, one of three that are out there.  They killed this man, had him down on the ground, and just DID NOT have to shoot him...4 times????,come on... they did not have to kill him.  I truly believe that if he had been white...he would have been in handcuffs.

IMO, not only are they racists but they are bad cops, who in the short time on the job, have received numerous complaints.

They started this ball rolling that sent Johnson into his delusional quest to kill, and look at where we are now. I'm not condoning, excusing what Johnson did, it was heartbreaking...it was horrific and I feel for the cops families...as I also feel for the families of these two men that were shot needlessly by those sworn to protect.

I come from a family of police officers as well and truly understand the split second decisions that have to be made everyday...just to stay alive. But no one, from my husband, my brothers, my brothers-in-law or my dad, have ever shot anyone in cold blood...That is where my anger comes from, they chose to kill these men as if their lives did not matter.  They give the really good cops a bad name. Enough already!!....the killing of blacks by police officers has happened one too many times.  It's time that it stops. 
 

Spunky wrote:

Braveone99 wrote:

Spunky wrote:

Just wanted to add: That the 3 racist policemen that killed these two black men...are RESPONSIBLE for the lives of those 5 policemen that were killed in Dallas. They better be held accountable!!

Those 5 policemen killed were just doing their jobs and trying to keep EVERYONE safe. 
 

Spunky,

This is such a horrible thing to say for so many reasons. We don't know if these three POs are racists or just bad cops. Let the investigation go on before making this type of statement. Whatever the results, these three officers are NOT responsible for the death or injury to other officers! There is only one person responsible and that is Micah Xavier Johnson. I am deeply offended by your comments and think your anger is misplaced. 

Sorry if I offended you.
However, I finally saw the video, one of three that are out there.  They killed this man, had him down on the ground, and just DID NOT have to shoot him...4 times????,come on... they did not have to kill him.  I truly believe that if he had been white...he would have been in handcuffs.

IMO, not only are they racists but they are bad cops, who in the short time on the job, have received numerous complaints.

They started this ball rolling that sent Johnson into his delusional quest to kill, and look at where we are now. I'm not condoning, excusing what Johnson did, it was heartbreaking...it was horrific and I feel for the cops families...as I also feel for the families of these two men that were shot needlessly by those sworn to protect.

I come from a family of police officers as well and truly understand the split second decisions that have to be made everyday...just to stay alive. But no one, from my husband, my brothers, my brothers-in-law or my dad, have ever shot anyone in cold blood...That is where my anger comes from, they chose to kill these men as if their lives did not matter.  They give the really good cops a bad name. Enough already!!....the killing of blacks by police officers has happened one too many times.  It's time that it stops. 
 

Believe me Spunky, I understand your anger. I am angry as well but frankly am more fearful today than any other time. This is just too much!

If you truly think that the recent shootings of black men "started the ball rolling" for Johnson, I ask that you think again. He had an arsenal of assault weapons and bomb making material in his home. He had been planning something for a while and took advantage of the peaceful march in Dallas to kill police just doing their jobs. To blame this on three POs that shot black men is unwarranted and wrong.

The number of blacks killed by police officers cannot be ignored and does need to be investigated, the Justice Department is doing just that. I am doing my very best to keep faith that there will be accountability for those in the wrong and justice will be served. I refuse to make assumptions before the investigation is completed. As a police officer's life partner and the mother of his children this is not easy and I am more fearful than ever. It is the same fear that wives and mothers of black men are feeling. We need to work together on changing this. 

zeke wrote:

Braveone99 wrote:

Spunky wrote:

Just wanted to add: That the 3 racist policemen that killed these two black men...are RESPONSIBLE for the lives of those 5 policemen that were killed in Dallas. They better be held accountable!!

Those 5 policemen killed were just doing their jobs and trying to keep EVERYONE safe. 
 

 
Spunky,

This is such a horrible thing to say for so many reasons. We don't know if these three POs are racists or just bad cops. Let the investigation go on before making this type of statement. Whatever the results, these three officers are NOT responsible for the death or injury to other officers! There is only one person responsible and that is Micah Xavier Johnson. I am deeply offended by your comments and think your anger is misplaced. 

Hi Braveone,
Emotions are high and the country is overcome with anxiety and depression right now. We ALL need to be careful about using the right words. Instead of choosing camps and giving into hurt feelings, IMO, it would be better to come from a place of acceptance, allowing people to express their own feelings.
Of course we ALL mourn the loss of the 5 policemen but we can't forget the roots of the anger of this crazy man who carried out this atrocity. How many times do you think black men can be shot.....undeservedly.....before something horrific like this would happen?
Why aren't WE THE PEOPLE screaming more about the fact that this crazy man had access to these high powered weapons? Why aren't more people outraged about the political power of the NRA?
Those are the things we should be addressing this Monday morning. JMO.
You want to start a movement this day...this Monday.....? I'm your girl. Let's do it. We may have enough folks on the MBs to do it.
zeke
 

Hi zeke,

I agree, people should express their feelings about this tragedy in any way they choose. I think it would be so much better if we learn all the facts before passing judgement. 

What we do know is that black folks are targeted and have been shot and killed by police, but we don't yet know why. We also know that police officers were killed while trying to protect and serve on the job. We also know that our current gun laws allow mentally ill people to legally purchase weapons that kill. We also know that we need better community policing and the ability to weed out the 'bad cops' before they do harm.

So, how many of us has taken time to reach out to legislators asking for common sense gun control in spite of the long arm of the NRA? How many of us sent a message to those legislators that voted no and to tell them you will not vote for them again? How many of us have reached out to our police asking about community policing programs and how we can help? This is the movement I would like to start today! It will take less time to do than posting on this board does 

Spunky wrote:

I agree zeke and Braveone.....And I'm sorry for my anger...

I just feel that we in this country need to come up with solutions and answers to what is happening in our country.

It seems that revenge is on everyone's mind....and I'm sorry if that bug has gotten to me too...I'm scared for us as a country and I want to scream when some of our leaders are encouraging violence, even at rallys.

I will try to replace my feelings of hate with feelings of love....and a bit more understanding and hope ....
 

Thanks Spunky!

Revenge is not on my mind but sadness and thinking about what we can do is. Time to reach out to our leaders and firmly express our concerns. Nothing more effective than our vote! 

Look, I too am angry about what appears to be the senseless killing of black folks but we don't know all the facts yet. As I said in a previous post, the videos don't look good for the police and that is why the JD is investigating. Anger doesn't begin to express how I feel about the massacre of police. It's personal to me and my family is trying to heal from this. Not easy for sure even though we know the risk police face every day.
I like trying to replace feelings of hate with feelings of love and understanding  Have you looked at the Free Hugs Project? If not you should, I promise you will enjoy it.
 

IMO if you are a racist you are going to be a bad cop. Simple. So, I have no problem with what Spunky said.

zeke wrote:

Sorry Braveone,
I hear you but things have gone too far now. Every time there are shootings like these someone says let's wait til the facts are in. It's a way to simmer things until it becomes old news and we all go back to living our daily lives. It's not working this time and that is why people are in the streets.
Black men, on a daily basis, are in danger of losing their lives at the hands of the people we put trust in to protect us. It's not ok. When cops die we fly flags at half staff. When young black men die, we look for a reason to blame them.....jail them......it's Slavery by Another Name.
Yes....I am someone who joins organizations and calls/writes legislators. It's not enough.
Spunky....you are the best peacekeeper I have ever met.  You are the best.

No need to be sorry zeke. I agree with 99.9% of what you say.

For the sake of healthy debate let me ask something? If we don't wait until all the facts are presented what should we do? Marching peacefully in the streets to protest so many killings of black men is something I agree with and the police respect our right to do so, just look at Dallas. However violently marching in the streets without knowing the facts and gunning down police is not something I or anyone else agrees with imo. Now, when the results of the investigation are revealed to us then can we decide on what to do next? Whatever the results are, will we accept them if we disagree? Will there be more violence or will justice prevail? Scary to think about but very real.
 

It's STILL happening. This is deja vu of the 50's 60's except with raw cell phone video for some of us old-timers (I speak for myself). This brings up vicious memories of the brutality of the civil rights movement.