The Soapbox

Joined: 08/16/1998 Posts: 2850
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I think a key piece you are missing in this is the justice side of it.

How many white people (especially cops) literally get away with murder compared to African Americans?

Ahmaud Arbery's murderers would have gotten away with killing him if the video hadn't been released, setting off a firestorm of public pressure. If it had been black men hunting down and killing an unarmed white man out for a run, do you think the black men wold have been immediately charged & arrested, or let off the hook like Arbery's killers were (until the video was leaked)?

The protests might not have unfolded like they have if the four cops who killed George Floyd had been immediately arrested for his murder. Floyd was immediately arrested for simply paying with a $20 bill that a store employee thought was counterfeit - and was arrested with such excessive force that he died. Yet even with video of the murder, Chauvin wasn't arrested immediately, but several days later after intense public pressure (and the other 3 cops haven't been charged).

The disproportionate treatment for a black man suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill versus a white cop caught on camera murdering a black man - and how that symbolizes so many other stories of unequal justice - is a big driver of the outrage. It's not just the police brutality, it's the lack of accountability for that brutality.

(In response to this post by EmbraceThePace)

Posted: 05/31/2020 at 7:34PM

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Current Thread:

Help me understand this. -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 4:10PM

I think a key piece you are missing in this is the justice side of it. -- 00 Hoo 05/31/2020 7:34PM

That’s a fair point. I haven’t really considered that aspect much. -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 7:52PM

Justice being served the "vast majority of the time" doesn't matter if it's -- 00 Hoo 05/31/2020 8:19PM

Here's an article that by someone who studies it that agrees with your pov. -- hoodeyo 05/31/2020 6:39PM

Good article. I know this is anecdotal on my part, but a while back I would -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 7:09PM

You are so right! ** -- Charleston Cav 05/31/2020 5:53PM

Over aggressive, militarized police who use force as the response way too -- RML Hoos 05/31/2020 5:00PM

George Floyd. Amy Cooper. Ahmaud Arbery. -- DanTheFan 05/31/2020 4:58PM

Think about what you’re saying though. You’re implying that those -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 5:12PM

Reasonable questions -- DanTheFan 05/31/2020 8:58PM

This is just in response to your point about proof - -- Eusebia 05/31/2020 4:30PM

But if you rise above the trees, you also see the large number of instances -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 4:33PM

I don't necessarily disagree with that and I appreciate your effort to have -- Eusebia 05/31/2020 4:53PM

Like I said in my OP, I’m definitely not saying racism doesn’t exist or -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 5:07PM

A lot of those people jumping in are doing more to fuel the flames and less -- Mg234 05/31/2020 4:27PM

Police brutality impacts black people more than white people -- WahooMatt05 05/31/2020 4:22PM

Here is a good stat page about Police killings in the U.S. (link) -- Tuckahokie 05/31/2020 4:34PM

Yep, facts be damned! ** -- Charleston Cav 05/31/2020 5:55PM

Women are getting off easy. -- ryno hoo 05/31/2020 4:38PM

For some it has been a labor of love. :) ** -- Rumble 05/31/2020 4:57PM

So I’ll respond thr your post in a couple of ways. -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 4:30PM

Careful with your words. People really parse words on this board. You said -- graycalhoo 05/31/2020 4:44PM

To your point about video evidence, I believe the reason we see video from -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 5:05PM

Do you really believe if Floyd was white -- VaTechie 05/31/2020 5:09PM

I’ll say this: I think if Floyd was white it would have been covered -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 5:21PM

No you did not say it didn't exist, but it does and that lends itself to -- graycalhoo 05/31/2020 5:09PM

I’m not *just* blaming the media. I think the firestorm that always starts -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 5:19PM

I feel like a significant investment in de-escalation training would -- WahooMatt05 05/31/2020 5:04PM

No, as a retired -- Charleston Cav 05/31/2020 5:59PM

City of Richmond Chief said this today. Their dept is about 90% through -- GoochlandHoo 05/31/2020 5:46PM

Props to your career choice AND to where you teach ** -- Tuckahokie 05/31/2020 4:47PM

I'll be starting my 24th year in Richmond. -- graycalhoo 05/31/2020 5:05PM

I drive a school bus for the east end of Henrico, I know your -- Cold Hoober Hoo 05/31/2020 5:39PM

Unfortunately some people believe officers virtually never shoot/injure -- Mad Bowl Hoo 05/31/2020 4:21PM

It's not a concerted national effort. -- Hoodeac 05/31/2020 4:36PM

So in my opinion, there is a pretty obvious reason. That reason being -- EmbraceThePace 05/31/2020 4:48PM

By raw numbers, there are more whites on welfare -- VaTechie 05/31/2020 4:23PM

There are literally millions of black people who aren’t killed by police ** -- EspressHoo 05/31/2020 4:15PM