I’ve been thinking about how civil rights protests are often discussed. It seems to me that the first thing that happens is an attempt to discredit the protester himself. As if finding something negative about the individual means that he isn’t worthy of making any kind of a statement. I disagree with that. We would all be hard pressed to find a “perfect” individual on this planet to whom everyone would willingly listen.
By taking the focus off of the reason for the protest and placing it on the protester, I think we take our eye off the ball, so to speak. We act as though, if the protester were a better person, we would be more open to his message and look more closely at his cause. But I don’t think that’s true.
Because you have broken the law, does that mean you can no longer protest something you consider an injustice to certain segments of society? Because you are famous and wealthy, does that mean you can no longer protest what you consider the mistreatment of people in the community you came from? Does it mean you can never reach back and help?
Civil rights protestors have always come under scrutiny. They dug up dirt on MLK, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, everyone who got in the face of wrong and tried to make it right.
How can those of us on the outside looking in tell young, black NFL players they are wrong? How can we tell them that what they say happens doesn’t really happen at all? Or if it does, it’s not as often or as bad as they say it is. Celebrity Debbie Allen was snubbed by a white salesperson in a jewelry store. Vanessa Williams was mistaken for a server at a reception after she sang for President Ford. Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner was pulled over and handcuffed twice by police looking for a hit and run driver. NFL player Michael Bennett was thrown to the floor by police who put a gun to his head. Professor Gates was arrested at his own home. The list goes on.
And just because some of the NFL players have themselves broken the law, I do not think we should ignore their protests for equal treatment under that law. I can't imagine any of them saying to Colin Kaepernick, "Would love to join you man, but I've been arrested. You're on your own." They joined him knowing the firestorm that would come and the scrutiny they would endure. Yet they joined him.
But like Jesus once said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
they are protesting FOR criminals and criminality--you can DEFINITELY say that is wrong --unless you think being a criminal is good for the community....???
MBown
ASterling
KScott
ASmith
EGarner
FGray
ALL CRIMINALS
You use the term "criminal" to dehumanize murder victims and to justify their deaths.
In the process you decriminalize the actions of killer cops. But let's look at that word criminal a bit closer. Does it mean that one mistake marks you for life? Is your life devalued somehow because you were arrested amd convicted of possessing marihuana? when does the criminal become an ex- criminal in your world? And if a criminal is unarmed and running away...why does his past non violent criminality, probably unknown to the cop killing him, weigh so heavily after the fact? You RW Nazis and your killer cop henchmen are the violent criminals, not the guy who got busted for shop lifting or
Possessing a joint.
ONE mistake??
you post is worthless and lies because you said ''ONE'' and ''' mistake''
1. they are NOT mistakes
..a.attacking a cop....resisting arrest/
ASSAULTING cops/etc is NOT a mistake--it is a CRIME--hence CRIMINAL
2. most of these
peaceful men had loooooong arrest/conviction records--more than ONE arrest/conviction--BEFORE committing the crimes that the police are
responding to
''Records show briefly last year, Scott’s
wife took out a restraining order against him.
Scott also had convictions in Gaston County for DWI and
assault with a deadly weapon.'''
and more:
Court Records Detail Keith Scott's Criminal History
Garner
THIRTY arrests---30 !!!!!---- ..... 30 is a just
little more than ONE
Garner, 43, had history of more than 30 arrests dating back to 1980, on charges including
assault and grand larceny.
11 Facts About the Eric Garner Case the Media Won't Tell You
erc etc etc for all the others !!!!
even MBrown had a FELONY conviction BEFORE stealing
, assaulting a clerk, then
assaulting a cop--that's a minimum of 4 CRIMES-- not one
ASSAULT shows up a lot with these undeniably DANGEROUS criminals
ASSAULT-, etc