Oz and the Orchestra
Platinum Member
Sadly, and like you, in the US we in Britain also have an institutionally racist Police Force or Service as they now like to call themselves. The fact that they are institutionally racist has been admitted by them but unfortunately, they do not seem to be doing a lot to redress the balance. It may surprise Americans to learn that there have been many black deaths while in police custody over the decades in Britain and since I was a kid and that despite the fact that the ordinary police officer does not carry a gun.
As we were always told as kids you do not kick (generally attack - Queensbury rules) a man when he is down. Something either the police do not teach their recruits or PC Benjamin Monk and his female colleague just ignored.
According to witnesses the murdered victim Dalian Atkinson lay on the ground and did not pose any threat to anyone - he was incapable. Yet PC Monk felt it necessary to launch a rugby-style kick to the victim's head. indeed when a fellow officer arrived he saw Monk standing with his foot placed on top of Atkinson's head, like a prize trophy it sounds like.
Despite all the black deaths in police custody, no police officer to my knowledge has ever been convicted of murder. Thankfully you in the US have now changed that with the conviction of Derek Chauvin. I hope now a British court follows your lead and administers justice and Monk gets what he deserves, - life in prison.
Dalian Atkinson was a brilliant footballer and played for Aston Villa. He won 1992-3 BBC's Goal of the Season competition and had two of the goals in the top 9 selected by BBC pundits. He is worshipped by thousands of Villa fans for the goals he scored for them.
In the humanist funeral service, celebrant Peter Mansell, said: “There was no one quite like Dalian, there never was before and there never will be again.”
He told how, as a youngster, Atkinson played football in the street in Meadow Close with his brothers and friends - the same road where he was shot by police years later.
As a schoolboy, Atkinson was spotted by talent scouts, leading to his apprenticeship at Ipswich Town FC.
Mr Mansell said: “He found sitting at a school desk boring, but excelled at football and athletics.”
He added that Atkinson, who also played for Sheffield Wednesday, loved the “playboy lifestyle”, was “energetic, cheeky and funny” but also “generous, caring and protective”.
Family man Atkinson was “an inspiration to his nieces and nephews” and often returned “for his mother's home cooking”.
Mr Mansell added: “A part of their world is gone.”
Relatives said he was “not in his right mind” when he was shot with the Taser at about 1.30am.
His sister said: “Dalian was supposed to have been admitted to hospital for treatment on the day he died. - The Independent.
What a very sad waste of an inspirational life that was so unnecessarily snatched away.
If only those two Police Officers had shown just a little restraint.
I
