By Ed Prince
Executive Director, Wa. St. Commission on African American Affairs
The events in Ferguson, MO are appalling to me. Michael Brown and unarmed 18 year boy was killed in cold blood for a reason that I will never be able to wrap my brain around. In a previous piece I mentioned that I have a four year old son and that someday I would have to explain to him how to interact with law enforcement to be safe. If the universal sign for surrender is not enough to keep you from being killed by the police what will?
I’m not afraid to say that is becoming clearer that we need to have a long conversation about the militarization of police in this country. When protesters can’t exercise their 1st amendment right to assemble peaceably without rubber bullets, tear gas, and German Shepard’s you have ask yourself when we tore up the constitution.
The mainstream media coverage of Michael Brown’s murder has followed a sad but tried and true playbook. Shock and outrage over the incident followed by shock and outrage over a few protestors who take things too far which leads to the coverage going from the original crime at hand to what a small sub set of protestors are doing. The picture of Michael Brown showing the peace sign was skewed to make it seem like he was throwing up a gang sign because of the color of clothing he was wearing. Finally we have the mass attempts to demonize him and criminalize him so the offending officer receives some sympathy.
If the Ferguson Police Department thinks that releasing footage of a crime that was committed that the police weren’t called for will change the fact that one of their own killed an unarmed boy who would have been starting his first week of college they are sorely mistaken.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and partner with some amazing police officers so I don’t believe that all officers are bad but the bad apples are tarnishing the reputations of the officers who really want to protect and serve. Michael Brown could have been anyone. I can’t think of one Black man that I know who hasn’t had some sort of interaction with the police.
What is a Black life worth if you can be killed for not getting out of the street quick enough when an officer who obviously woke up on the wrong side of the bed asks you? What is a Black life worth if you can be killed by the cops for just standing on the sidewalk having a conversation?
I still plan on having a conversation with my little boy when he gets older. My hope is that by then the true meaning of the word justice is returned to the justice system.
#FERGUSON #DONTSHOOT #MIKEBROWN
