Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
I think I'm more surprised at people being surprised in this thread.
Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, the list goes on. These are just the ones that became household names. How many countless fly under the radar?
The racism is institutional in the USA and it's sickening. Trump being elected just emboldened those that think if you ain't WASP, you ain't American.
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Michael Brown had just committed a brazen assault and robbery and the autopsy did not support the narrative that he had his hands up nor was facing away from the officer. Witnesses said that Brown had attacked Wilson and Wilson said he had reached for his gun. Wilson had bruises and scratches from the altercation. Forensic evidence indicated that Brown was in close contact to both the gun and the vehicle when first shot. The witnesses that stated Brown was running away were not credible as the blood trail clearly shows he turned around. Many of the witnesses who said that he had his hands up later testified that they had only heard he did. Other more credible witnesses based on forensic evidence indicated that Brown was charging at Wilson.
Trayvon Martin's case unraveled with Rachel Jeantel's testimony. Contradictions, outright lies, and admission that she wasn't sure who started the fight after Martin called Zimmerman a creepy-ass cracker. On top of that, Zimmerman was a minority himself and it was clear that he did not know the race of Martin until after he started following him.
We'll never know the real truth, and as much as I would want wannnabe-cop-Zimmerman to face some sort of justice for his stupid actions, I have no doubt that neither of the prosecutors in those cases were able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt on the charges. Which is fortunately how the justice system is suppose to work (with that said, it's clear that certain races/classes aren't given the same criteria of "beyond a reasonable doubt.")
I don't think invoking those names helps the issues. It just gives racists and others who are blind to the injustices an out. Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Terence Crutcher, John Crawford, Charles Kinsey (fortunately survived), Botham Jean (officer guilty), I mean there's unfortunately 100s of better examples.