Sunday, December 27, 2015

If Bettie was killed by 'accident', what about Quintonio? [Updated]

Bettie Jones' cousin: "Her blood is crying out from the grave saying, 'Evelyn, avenge me'" -- Chicago Tribune
2 fatally shot, 1 accidentally, by Chicago police on West Side; families demand answers 

The headline in the Tribune says so little, yet says so much. If police killed Action Now activist Bettie Jones by "accident", does that mean they killed 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier, on purpose? Why?

Why did CPD answer a "domestic disturbance" call with guns blazing? There was no video this time. So we will have to rely on the police account of what happened. Why did they pump seven shots into another young man who, it appears, posed no real threat to them. I'm sure, given a little time, they will get their stories straight, like they did in the Laquan McDonald shooting. All we know for sure is that another young black man is dead. His 55-year-old neighbor is dead.

Bettie Jones & Quintonio LeGrier.
19-year-old LeGrier was an engineering  student at NIU. He graduated last year from Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy with honors, for having a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. He was listed as part of a team of students who ran the 2013 Chicago Marathon to raise money for clean drinking water for African children.

Rahm is off in Cuba with his wife and children, enjoying the beaches and the warm Caribbean sun.

According to the Trib:
Police were offering few details of the early-morning shooting, the first use of lethal force by Chicago police since last month's release of a video of Laquan McDonald's death put a national spotlight on the city.
A few hours later, police shot another black man, Mekel Lumpkin, 24, on the south side.

According to FOX32:
Police said no officers were injured and that a gun was found at the scene. There were at least 40 to 50 police officers on the scene late Saturday afternoon. Cops scowled as they looked out at a the crowd of a few dozen neighbors gathering on the sidewalks beyond the police tape.
Among the group, a few jeered at the officers, angrily recounting some version of the shooting. One man said the victim had been shot five times after raising his hands, had fallen and was shot again on the ground. Others said the victim had been prone on the porch when he was shot.
The Sun-Times reports:
There were at least 40 to 50 police officers, some in full SWAT gear or carrying semiautomatic rifles, on 103rd Place in the hours after the shooting. A crowd of neighbors gathered at the police tape blocking the street despite the cold and rain.
Officers scowled at handful of vocal bystanders among the restive crowd, who cursed and jeered at officers.
“They the biggest gang in the whole city,” one man shouted at a clatch of a half-dozen officers on the opposite corner.
A collection is being taken up to help cover the costs of Bettie Jones' funeral. You can make a contribution here. I haven't heard anything about Quintonio LeGrier's funeral.

In a Christmas Day Sun-Times op-ed piece, west-side Pastor Michael Eaddy recounts his earlier meeting with Mayor Emanuel:
We are optimistic in that the mayor invited us to the table along with the top leadership of the police. We’re confident that because of his commitment to make this issue a top priority and the police listening to our grievances, we are finally on a path that will lead to real change.
That's called blowing smoke.

1 comment:

  1. *"Something is seriously wrong,” said the Rev. Marshall E. Hatch, who attended the vigil. “How in the middle of all this scrutiny, (can you) have a trigger-happy policeman?”"*

    Could the 'people and community' harming anti-social behaviors recorded in this video explain why some or many law enforcement officials experience fear, anxiety, emotional pain, frustration and anger?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ChOLiJa8k

    A few months before leaving us, social activist Sandra Bland recorded a video declaring *"War on Gang-bangers and Thugs," aka *Victims of Childhood Abuse and Neglect* who she believes have negatively impacted her quality of life as well as harming peaceful people in her community and many American communities.

    Essentially Sandra was speaking about our expanding and shameful *National Epidemic of Childhood Abuse and Neglect*, aka, *Poverty*, that for more than two generations has deprived untold numbers of American kids from experiencing a fairly happy American kid childhood with *Safe Streets* to travel and play on.

    *Child Abuse and Neglect* that is primarily responsible for our prisons and far too many American communities being populated by depressed, angry, frustrated, undisciplined, unpredictable, sometimes suicidal teens and adults *(NY Times May 18, 2015 - Rise in Suicide by Black Children Surprises Researchers)* full of resentment for irresponsibly being introduced to a life of hardships and struggles.

    *Early Childhood Abuse and Neglect* that often leads depressed, sometimes suicidal children to develop into depressed, angry, frustrated, unpredictable teens and adults lacking empathy and compassion for others, though needing to vent their pent up negative emotions, often causing emotional and physical harm to peaceful people...instead of venting their resentment and pain on the immature single moms and/or dads who introduced them to a life of pain and struggle by irresponsibly building a family before acquiring the practical skills, PATIENCE and means to successfully raise and nurture a developing young child who matures into a fairly happy responsible teen and adult.

    Did anyone hear or seriously consider Sandra's passionate plea for peace...or listen to Sandra's other videos calling for peace and unity?

    If Americans sincerely wish to reduce police fear and anxiety that sometimes leads to police misconduct and/or aggression, the question all concerned, compassionate Americans should seriously be asking ourselves, our elected, civil, social, community and religious leaders is, "What real substantial changes in our society's attitude and laws need to occur to prevent abuse that often causes young kids to mature into depressed, frustrated, angry teens and adults as a result of experiencing the *emotional and/or physical trauma of an abusive childhood?*"

    Nationally Popular Victim of Child Abuse - Kendrick Lamar Talks About ‘u,’ His Depression & Suicidal Thoughts (Pt. 2) | MTV Video News

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu4Pz9PjolI

    From "Sandy Speaks Archives - GotNews"
    http://gotnews.com/tag/sandy-speaks/

    Video - Ms. Sandra Bland declares "War on Gang-bangers and Thugs."

    https://www.facebook.com/sandra.bland.5070/videos/vb.73304051/10100590806905754

    No doubt some police officers need to do a better job of remaining professional, just as some single-moms need to do a better job of raising and nurturing newborns, infants, toddlers and children who mature into teens and adults respecting their peaceful neighbors.

    Peace.

    Black *(Children's)* Lives Matter; Take Pride In Parenting; *End Our National Epidemic of Child Abuse and Neglect*; End Community Violence, Police Fear & Educator's Frustrations

    ReplyDelete

Agree? Disagree? Let me hear from you.