07-08-2016, 11:53 AM
Lack of in-depth screening before hiring, and lack of adequate situational training in some police departments, negatively impacts everyone of every color and ethic background. That's true, Gunnar, and there are plenty of stories posted in this thread about non-blacks being killed by police officers (of all colors) under controversial circumstances.
But, Black Lives Matter doesn't offend me. It doesn't translate to "only black lives matter" or "blue lives don't matter" for me. It's just a statement of fact and a movement to protest and address perceived police discrimination against blacks. Cops being busted for exchanging racially discriminatory remarks and promoting discriminatory treatment of blacks and other minorities in the communities they patrol only fuels the fire.
Those Guardian stats you linked indicate that blacks are killed by public police officers at a rate nearly 2.5 times that of whites, per capita. I'm sure some people believe that's because blacks commit serious crimes 2.5 times more often or threaten the lives of cops 2.5 times more often than whites. And, others believe that cops are over twice as likely to use lethal force against blacks, due to racial profiling/bias.
I tend to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between; there is a real problem with a disproportionate number of minority deaths at the hands of police, some of which stems from the way some police officers and departments treat minorities vs. how they treat white people under the same circumstances. However, I don't expect everyone to draw the same conclusions and form the same opinions as I do when following these stories about killings by police.
But, Black Lives Matter doesn't offend me. It doesn't translate to "only black lives matter" or "blue lives don't matter" for me. It's just a statement of fact and a movement to protest and address perceived police discrimination against blacks. Cops being busted for exchanging racially discriminatory remarks and promoting discriminatory treatment of blacks and other minorities in the communities they patrol only fuels the fire.
Those Guardian stats you linked indicate that blacks are killed by public police officers at a rate nearly 2.5 times that of whites, per capita. I'm sure some people believe that's because blacks commit serious crimes 2.5 times more often or threaten the lives of cops 2.5 times more often than whites. And, others believe that cops are over twice as likely to use lethal force against blacks, due to racial profiling/bias.
I tend to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between; there is a real problem with a disproportionate number of minority deaths at the hands of police, some of which stems from the way some police officers and departments treat minorities vs. how they treat white people under the same circumstances. However, I don't expect everyone to draw the same conclusions and form the same opinions as I do when following these stories about killings by police.