i can't tell you how frustrated and deeply upset i've been the past few weeks, due to the disheartening news all around the world and here in the united states. i didn't know what to do with all that anger and frustration, until i remembered i had a blog. so here i am.
i'll try to do a bunch of separate posts hashing out all the things i've been thinking lately, because all of it would not fit in here. today i want to talk to you about charles kinsey. i'm sure you've probably heard what happened, but in case you haven't, charles kinsey is a black man shot by a hispanic police officer. he is a behavioral therapist, and was lying on the street with his hands up beside his autistic patient, when he was shot. he was complying with police officers, but of course in this country that really doesn't mean anything at all. this story alone was infuriating, but what made it worse is the story they're telling to placate everyone.
here's where i found it.
so. i ask you to read that article and try to find at least three things that disgust you. it shouldn't be too hard. here's what stood out to me.
1. "The movement of the white individual [the autistic patient Mr. Kinsey was looking after] made it look like he was going to discharge a fire arm into Mr. Kinsey and the officer discharged trying to strike and stop the white man and unfortunately, he missed the white male and shot Mr. Kinsey by accident." - John Rivera, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association
well we all know that's bullshit. as the article points out, there's lots of criticism from people saying that the video footage of the incident made it appear blatantly clear that neither of the men were armed.
2. mr. rivera said that mr. kinsey did everything right, and that the officer who shot him "wishes nothing but the best for mr. kinsey" and is "praying for his speedy recovery."
what a nice guy. how convenient for him that he's even in a position to wish "nothing but the best" for mr. kinsey. how lucky that no one died this time.
3. "i took this job to save lives and help people. i did what i had to do in a split second to accomplish that and hate to hear others paint me as something i'm not." - a statement from the police officer who shot mr. kinsey, a 30-year-old hispanic male who hasn't been named in this article
that's it. that's literally all. not even an apology. even though he shot an unarmed man for no reason. whether i was a police officer or not, whether i thought i had been trying to do what was best or not, i would never shy away from admitting i made a mistake. i would never fail to apologize to someone for SHOOTING THEM if it was an accident, i mean, are you kidding? this is too much. i can't stand the self-pitying tone in this man's statement. he's not getting my sympathy if that's what he's asking for.
we all know and remember vividly the news of the dallas shooting. i shouldn't even have to say that of course it was horrific and terrible and unjustified. black lives matter is not a violent movement. but mixed with the heartbreak when i heard about the shooting came a creeping, sinking feeling of apprehension. you just knew what was coming next. you knew what people would say. you knew that everyone opposed to black lives matter suddenly had just the kind of ammunition they needed. and it happened almost immediately. the amount of people i heard calling the black lives matter group a terrorist organization in the following days would have been alarming if i hadn't been sitting there expecting it.
and this officer's comments reflect the way things have shifted after that night. i mean, how can he say what he said? how can he not apologize? how can he try to paint himself as the victim in this situation? he wouldn't have a few months ago.
i can't tell you how deeply i resent and condemn the dellas sniper. i imagine his actions came from a place of anger and frustration, justified anger and frustration, but acts of violence are inexcusable. not only did he take the lives of innocent officers trying to protect the protesters, doing what they pledged to do, but he cast a shadow over an entire movement, a movement of peace for peace. and this will follow it for a long time.
i truly hurt for this country. it's breaking my heart more and more each day.
#blacklivesmatter
i'll try to do a bunch of separate posts hashing out all the things i've been thinking lately, because all of it would not fit in here. today i want to talk to you about charles kinsey. i'm sure you've probably heard what happened, but in case you haven't, charles kinsey is a black man shot by a hispanic police officer. he is a behavioral therapist, and was lying on the street with his hands up beside his autistic patient, when he was shot. he was complying with police officers, but of course in this country that really doesn't mean anything at all. this story alone was infuriating, but what made it worse is the story they're telling to placate everyone.
here's where i found it.
so. i ask you to read that article and try to find at least three things that disgust you. it shouldn't be too hard. here's what stood out to me.
1. "The movement of the white individual [the autistic patient Mr. Kinsey was looking after] made it look like he was going to discharge a fire arm into Mr. Kinsey and the officer discharged trying to strike and stop the white man and unfortunately, he missed the white male and shot Mr. Kinsey by accident." - John Rivera, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association
well we all know that's bullshit. as the article points out, there's lots of criticism from people saying that the video footage of the incident made it appear blatantly clear that neither of the men were armed.
2. mr. rivera said that mr. kinsey did everything right, and that the officer who shot him "wishes nothing but the best for mr. kinsey" and is "praying for his speedy recovery."
what a nice guy. how convenient for him that he's even in a position to wish "nothing but the best" for mr. kinsey. how lucky that no one died this time.
3. "i took this job to save lives and help people. i did what i had to do in a split second to accomplish that and hate to hear others paint me as something i'm not." - a statement from the police officer who shot mr. kinsey, a 30-year-old hispanic male who hasn't been named in this article
that's it. that's literally all. not even an apology. even though he shot an unarmed man for no reason. whether i was a police officer or not, whether i thought i had been trying to do what was best or not, i would never shy away from admitting i made a mistake. i would never fail to apologize to someone for SHOOTING THEM if it was an accident, i mean, are you kidding? this is too much. i can't stand the self-pitying tone in this man's statement. he's not getting my sympathy if that's what he's asking for.
we all know and remember vividly the news of the dallas shooting. i shouldn't even have to say that of course it was horrific and terrible and unjustified. black lives matter is not a violent movement. but mixed with the heartbreak when i heard about the shooting came a creeping, sinking feeling of apprehension. you just knew what was coming next. you knew what people would say. you knew that everyone opposed to black lives matter suddenly had just the kind of ammunition they needed. and it happened almost immediately. the amount of people i heard calling the black lives matter group a terrorist organization in the following days would have been alarming if i hadn't been sitting there expecting it.
and this officer's comments reflect the way things have shifted after that night. i mean, how can he say what he said? how can he not apologize? how can he try to paint himself as the victim in this situation? he wouldn't have a few months ago.
i can't tell you how deeply i resent and condemn the dellas sniper. i imagine his actions came from a place of anger and frustration, justified anger and frustration, but acts of violence are inexcusable. not only did he take the lives of innocent officers trying to protect the protesters, doing what they pledged to do, but he cast a shadow over an entire movement, a movement of peace for peace. and this will follow it for a long time.
i truly hurt for this country. it's breaking my heart more and more each day.
#blacklivesmatter
