We keep hearing “blue lives matter” and seeing racist rants in response to the Black Lives Matters movement. The first thing I’d like to point out is that there are NO blue people. Police officers are Black, white and every other minority that resides in America when they take their uniforms off.
There are Black cops who know that out of uniform they are see as a threatening Black man. There is documented proof of Black officers harassment at the hands of fellow officers while out of uniform. In fact earlier this year I wrote about officer Jacai Colson who was shot by his fellow officers here in Baltimore when they mistook him for a criminal.
The Black Lives Matters movement is a movement of peace who recognize that all lives matter yet fights to make sure that OTHERS understand that Black lives are included in ALL LIVES. The only thing the movement seeks is for people to be as outraged about the atrocities that happen to minority civilians at the hands of police officers as they are when they happen to white civilians.
This is NOT a Black and white issue, the struggle the movement faces is against injustice and that has no color. Police officers are meant to “protect and serve” they used to be seen as peace keepers in the community. I grew up in the era of Officer Friendly and the cops being someone you go to if you were lost or even needed directions. That is not the world my teenage son grows up in. He lives in a world where there are a sect of police officers nationwide who adhere to the buddy system behind the “thin blue line” allowing bad cops to stand out.
It’s no surprise that when officers get involved in high profile shooting cases we often find out they have a history of complaints behind them. Case in point, the officers who shot Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge last week. Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II have been investigated 5 times in the past seven years over their abuse of power in the field.
Following the video taped police shooting deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, two Black men, in the span of 24 hours the nation exploded in unrest. Protest marches have been going on in every major city across the U.S.as citizens express their outrage at what appears to be senseless police murders.
Thursday the ‘sh^t hit the fan’ as they would say. As a Black Lives Matters rally was ending in Dallas, Texas a man opened fire on police officers. The man who has been identified by police as U.S. Army veteran Mica X. Johnson, shot 13 officers, killing 5 of them.
Suddenly it seems everyone thinks that we have a race problem in America. Strange, not everyone thought so when Castile and Sterling were both killed. Castile was still buckled in his seat belt when he died in the car with his 4-year-old daughter in the back seat.
Everyone has flocked to social media to express their opinions, thoughts and prayers for the Dallas officers. No one wants to talk about WHY they may have been shot.
In the wake of the shootings that have gripped America over the last week several police officers have been fired, suspended and are under investigation for racist social media posts.
Let Me give you and idea how our paid public servants talk about Black people peaceful protesters and civilians.
Officer Anthony Venable of the Metro Nashville Police Department was decommissioned Thursday after his sensitive and hate-filled comment on the shooting death of Philando Castile went viral. In response to a post on Facebook stating that the officer involved had shot Castile 4 times. Officer Venable commented ” I would have done 5″
A Kansas police officer, Rodney Lee Wilson has been fired after threatening the life of a 5-year-old Black girl on Facebook. The former officer wrote on the child’s mother, LaNaydra Williams’ Facebook page “We’ll see how much her life matters soon..” beneath a two-year-old photo of Williams’ daughter, India. “Better be careful leaving your info open where she can be found 🙂 hold her close tonight, it’ll be the last time.” He added.
Overland Park Police Chief Francis Donchez, Jr. confirmed the officer was fired immediately.
2 Memphis cops have been suspended after posting what appears to be a racist snap chat image of a white hand holding a gun pointed towards a Black male figure.
It was a good move on the part of Memphis Police Department interim director Michael Rallings who later said
“I’m angry, frustrated and disappointed that we continue to go down this path,” He continued, “We cannot survive if we do not work together. We are not your enemy, we are your ally.”
Showing that he will not tolerate bad cops is a good way to help the community build a stronger tie with the local police department. later Rallings was interviewed on the Tom Joyner Morning Show where he said
“As peace officers it’s important to remember of what our true role is. Without our black, white and Latino officers it would be total chaos. They have such an important role. They understand that we have an obligation,” Chief Rallings said.
Officer Bryan Kulhanek of Omaha, Nebraska is on administrative leave pending investigation after posting a long hate-filled Facebook rant. “BLM is NOT a pro black group. They are a anti white police group. They are racist plain and simple. Thousands of blacks are killed by other blacks. Innocent black children are killed in the crossfire. Black police officers murdered. And they are completely silent.” The officer posted on his personal page.
It’s not just police officers, in South Carolina Capt. Jimmy Morris, a 16-year-veteran of the South Columbia Fire Department was fired after making blatant threats on Black Lives Matters protesters.
“Public Service Announcement: If you attempt to shut down an interstate, highway, etc on my way home, you best hope I’m not one of the first vehicles in line because your ass WILL get run over! Period! That is all…” is just one of the messages he posted on Facebook.
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins released the following statement:
The Columbia Fire Department has always had a positive reputation of providing professional standard of public service to its citizens, communities and visitors. We are honored and proud to live and participate in the communities we serve. Unfortunately, a member of the Columbia Fire Department has discredited the reputation of the men and women who serve this Department.
An employee with the Columbia Fire Department has been terminated as a result of conduct unbecoming of City of Columbia employee. This decision was made to ensure our communities that the Columbia Fire Department will not condone or tolerate this type of unprofessional behavior by any employee.
I would like to assure the citizens of the City of Columbia and Richland County that this one poor decision should not reflect the character, dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the Columbia Fire Department.
Officials have not released his name, however, a Savannah, Georgia EMS worker who made a Facebook post laced with racial slurs, including the N-word and ended with the phrase “white power.” He was fired on Monday.
Detective Nate Weekley, A 17 year veteran of the Detroit Police Department has been demoted after a hate-filled Facebook rant about Black Lives Matters protesters. “The only racists here are the piece of shit black Lives Matter terrorists and their supporters,” he angrily posted. He has been demoted back to “officer.”
It’s no wonder minorities feel unduly targeted by police officers, look at the way they think and act. Why is it so hard for good cops to understand that they only way to stop bad cops is THEM. The key is breaking that code of silence and passivity that allows you to let your fellow officer commit crimes.
