About three decades ago, there was this African-American guy named Rodney King (who was the recipient of a beating by several policemen) who asked, “Can’t we just all get along?”
That seems to be the question of the moment in the age of this unprecedented month long world-wide protest; (and which has been made geometrically more problematic by the advent of the Corona Virus).
No one can deny that a small percentage of policemen in this nation have used the power they have been given to exercise their prejudice against black Americans in wholly unacceptable ways, including the recent example of George Floyd, and the now infamous “knee in his neck” scenario which brought his life to a premature close. And it goes without saying that in the last few decades there have been numerous situations, such as the one I have just described, which have further inflamed the African-American community.
However, it seems two crucial variables have been overlooked by our liberal news media, (as well as those who protest such treatment); though I once saw a profanity-laced semi-comedy routine by Chris Rock, (quite obviously an African-American man) which highlighted what I am about to allude to here.
In virtually every case in which a black man has been killed by a policeman in America, an apparent crime had been committed by that individual. In this recent episode, police had been summoned because George Floyd had passed a $20 counterfeit bill at a store. (Of course, we cannot be sure he knew it was counterfeit, but I think most people would recognize an illegitimate piece of money).
And speaking of a second variable which almost always seems to accompany the killing of African-American men in America, the accused has resisted arrest. Again, this was true in the recent killing of George Floyd. In one video, we see one of the policemen leaning into the back of the squad car. And though we can’t see Floyd, it is obvious the former is tussling with the latter in an attempt to keep him where he has been placed.
Now to be sure, I am careful to say that there is never any excuse for killing an unarmed person of any color by the police forces of any country. However, (and it is a huge ‘however’) some pretty unfortunate, unexpected things can happen in the heat of the moment, and it goes without saying that people have died as the result of #1, the commission of a crime, and #2, the defendant in the crime resisting arrest.
I think if we are to properly analyze and address the abuse of power by a minority of policemen in this country, the presence of the two variables which I have recounted, above, must be acknowledged by the press and people, alike, and taken into account.
By William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending
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