A response to Pat Lynch’s September 15, 2015 op-ed in the New York Daily News. To all arm-chair executioners: If you have never struggled through losing a loved one for allegedly resisting arrest or allegedly having a gun or for an officer claiming to feel fear or for nothing at all, then you are not qualified to judge the reactions of the citizens that have or could. It is mystifying to all reasonably intelligent citizens to see police union bosses — whose only expertise is loud talking, and blindly defending killers, and who have never faced the dangers that police officers routinely pose to law-abiding citizens in their own communities — come to conclusions of an officer’s innocence when video evidence is…
A response to Pat Lynch’s September 15, 2015 op-ed in the New York Daily News.
To all arm-chair executioners:
If you have never struggled through losing a loved one for allegedly resisting arrest or allegedly having a gun or for an officer claiming to feel fear or for nothing at all, then you are not qualified to judge the reactions of the citizens that have or could.
It is mystifying to all reasonably intelligent citizens to see police union bosses — whose only expertise is loud talking, and blindly defending killers, and who have never faced the dangers that police officers routinely pose to law-abiding citizens in their own communities — come to conclusions of an officer’s innocence when video evidence is completely contrary to that. That is irresponsible, unjust and un-American. Worse than that, their uninformed rhetoric is inflammatory and only serves to worsen so-called police/community relations.
In the unfortunate case of former tennis pro James Blake — who was clearly profiled in a case of mistaken identity — there certainly could be aggravating circumstances which caused the officer to handle the situation in the manner he did. Do they exist (duh)? Frankly, no one (without a soul) will know for sure until there is a full and complete investigation (re: Daniel Pantaleo). That is why no one should ever jump to a conclusion of innocence based only upon the fact that the aggressor is police. Let all of the facts lead where they will, but Black Lives have earned the benefit of the doubt because we are being killed by police with no justice every day. STOP STONEWALLING THE RELEASE OF OFFICER PANTALEO’S RECORDS!
The men and women of the world are once again disheartened to read yet another story about a black person being brutalized by the NYPD. We are also disheartened by the knee-jerk reaction from ivory tower police union bosses who enjoy the safety of being white men in NYC without understanding the very real risks that those who are not must face. Due process is the American way of obtaining justice, not summary professional exoneration called for by union bosses. Due process can never happen if the police and legal system continue to stonewall and obstruct an honest public discourse.
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