'I Can't Breathe', Eric Garner
'I Can't Breathe', Eric Garner

Should the police be allowed to arrest you, give you a ticket, or just choke you to death for committing a misdemeanor? A grand jury in Staten Island thinks so. They were examining the case of Eric Garner, a black man that had previously illegally sold loose cigarettes the day before, was confronted by police and put his hands up before being pounced upon by other officers and was placed in a chokehold and wrestled to the pavement.

A viral video shows him exclaiming, "I CAN'T BREATHE!" His unconscious body lay in the street for about seven minutes without medical aid or any regard by the police for his well-being.

How Bad Must Police-State Brutality Get?

It was confirmed by an examiner that Garner's death was a homicide. He died from the chokehold and "the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police." Furthermore, the incident was caught on video. Missing are the uncertainty, hearsay, and conflicting witness accounts that were present in the case of Mike Brown. We know exactly what happened. Watch the video.

Would you indict the officer? Yes or no?

How Bad Must Police-State Brutality Get?
How Bad Must Police-State Brutality Get?

Are white police afraid of black men? If you see a black man at night, are you afraid?

Police are rarely charged with murder when they kill people while on duty. In a seven year period, departments reported 2,600 justifiable homicides and 41 unjustified killings. Criminal Justice Prosecutors depend on the police and the police depend upon the prosecutors. They are all part of the same good 'ole boy system. Most whites think the results of these grand juries were fair, and that these killings were not motivated by race. Minorities tend to think the results are not fair and these cases are race related.

A black man is killed every 28 hours by a police officer or vigilante.
A black man is killed every 28 hours by a police officer or vigilante.

What is your race and what do you think? Are black people wrong and whites right? Yes / No

Very few people understand that lawyers, prosecutors, the police guild have gotten together to develop a law doctrine of qualified immunity, which is often claimed by Republicans that judges are making laws from the bench. Immunity laws have been made by judges. The Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts, and State Supreme Courts have weighed in to decided they are immune to accountability before the courts.

Often, if one attempts to sue a cop for wayward conduct such as accidentally running in to your car, shooting you accidentally or on purpose, the qualified immunity kicks in to protect the officer/defendant. If a civilian is able to hire a top attorney to represent him, the city, county, or state pays for the defense of the wrongdoing cop. If you watch your television, you will always see the police union weighting the story to the benefit of their brotherhood. The brotherhood has free civilian attorneys paid for by you. They set the rules and contracts as to when they will work, what they should be paid, and how much access should be granted to the public regarding information on rogue cops.

Lastly, and most importantly, if the brotherhood doesn't get its way, it will strike and leave a community without protection while they wrangle over dollars. You will notice in no state where state workers' salaries have been cut, the governors do not touch the budget of the police (such as Governor Walker of Wisconsin). Very few cities require police officers to live in the limits of the city where they work. We think officers should be members of the communities they work for.

Homicide - 'Thank God truth is finally out', says widow
Homicide - 'Thank God truth is finally out', says widow

What do you think?

Officers are also financially untouchable. Even in the rare cases where they are found guilty of misconduct, it is typically the city (read "taxpayers") that is fined. This means that if you are assaulted by an officer and she is found guilty, you are going to pay a tiny percentage of the resulting fine. Should officers or taxpayers be held responsible for officer misconduct?

The cases of Brown and Garner may have many differences, but what they share in common is a lack of indictment of a police officer that killed an unarmed civilian. Police protections are choking civilian rights, and we can't breathe!

163 comments

  1. Sue Nicholai's Avatar Sue Nicholai

    The problem as I see it is a lack of respect. Too many blacks don't have respect for their own lives or others. Setting the stage for others to think well of the whole black community. Yes original when blacks where first slaves and freed,many of the owners had to believe they where less human than they where inorder to make it okay with there flesh to use them to get ahead finanacially. Until the man believes he is equal and lives his life with this understanding.There will be no peace for that person because they are too busy trying to make other think what they want them to. Trying to make someone respect you by making them fear you has never worked. Living your life by what you know to be true and let others think what they want is true respect. That does not mean we work for equal treatment by the law but seeking equal treatment than special treatment that many groups expect just because they were not treated equally in the past. As long as things are run by people their will be inequality all we can do is work to change it.

    1. Candace Barber's Avatar Candace Barber

      Absolutely! I appreciate your thinking. Well said. :)

    2. auntmama's Avatar auntmama

      I think we need to put the riot gear down and open our ears, our hearts our minds and accept that people feel what they feel. The roots of racial hate are ancient, rooted in numerous societies who upheld systems of slavery. But we are the country that made it commodity trading and built such wealth on the backs of the enslaved. What if we did accept another view point, if only for a day or the length of a conversation? You are so right, fear has never worked. The riot gear meant for protection is dividing our community into a police state. A fear state and when we are afraid, we fight back. Non violence worked 50 years ago. It can work again.

      1. B.C. Citizen's Avatar B.C. Citizen

        So how do you respond to this?

        A Memphis teenager has described the September teen mob attack at a Kroger grocery store as “fun,” telling a reporter “That’s just what kids do.”

        On September 6, a violent mob of Memphis teens randomly assaulted Kroger customers and employees, according to this Inquisitr report, in an incident that was captured on cell phone video. Although the victims were white, and most of the teens and adults in the violent mob were black, Memphis police did not classify the attack as a racially-motivated crime.

        Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1535136/memphis-teenager-on-violent-kroger-mob-attack-its-fun/#u8b6IYkE6Dm1mVoS.99

        WREG (Memphis) reporter Katie Rufener recently interviewed two Memphis teens, who were identified only by nicknames, and asked them about the Kroger mob attack, as well as the problem of Memphis teen violence in general.

        “The Kroger attack… That’s just what kids do, our generation, I mean.”

        Memphis is plagued by youth and teen crime and violence, according to WMC (Memphis). Several high-profile incidents of youth violence have surfaced in Memphis in the past few months. Besides the Kroger mob attack, there were two related attacks on innocent motorists driving past after a football game, and last week, an 11-year-old youth was beaten at a junior high school.

        The young men interviewed by the WREG reporter blamed the police, whom they referred to as a “government gang,” for the Memphis youth violence.

        “To be honest the police make you want to do sh*t. I’m sorry for cussing, but the police make you want to do things, especially when you’re walking by and they bother you for no reason. Then when they’re not around, you feel like you should be rebellious.”

        And as for the consequences of their actions, the men took a casual – almost flippant – attitude toward the idea of doing time in jail. “Nobody cares about jail. You go in, and you get out. If you don’t get out, you’re in with people you know.”

        According to CBS St. Louis, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton has his hands full with the Memphis youth violence problem, and his administration has proposed a variety of solutions, including banning Friday night football, transition programs for incarcerated youth and a summer jobs program. But the young men interviewed by WREG are having none of that.

        “Why would I break my back for $300 every two weeks when I can make $300 a night off one serve? Speaking for the robbers, you can make that in a minute or two.”

      2. Bob's Avatar Bob

        Times have change. All these black people would still be alive if they did one thing. Do what the police tell you to do.

    3. Lea Weisenbach's Avatar Lea Weisenbach

      Well said.... This is not a race issue..This is human rights issue. Blacks are killing themselves and they don't put this much effort into stopping it. The blacks don't like how they are treated then stop the intimidation and stop complaining about jobs when the rioting and looting just closed some business.

      1. WRD's Avatar WRD

        These 2 incidents have become a major focal point. Furgerson is MUCH different from the NY incident. Blacks are committing crime and murdering each other at an astrinomical rate. But that is not made an issue. This issue HAS to be RACISM and injustice. Sharpton and company are only interested in $$ and power and it is now the "race baiters" job to "gin up the base" because most of this is political and votes. What is good for the folks and healing a nation matters not a wit with these folks. Much of this is smoke and mirrows (wish I could spell) for political reasons...... Blacks and the under class continue to be used as pawns. It is Sad Sad indeed where there are so many opportunities for good wasted.

        I agree the Garner arrest and death is very disturbing. I personally learned at the age of 17 after getting beaten up by an arresting cop once they had me alone and in my cell (they then added the charge of resisting arrest to justify my injuries) that when a cop says stop, put your hands up, or what ever.... my response is YES SIR OFFICER! and compliance behavior follows.. Period. Never had a problem since. Simple.

      2. Gwen's Avatar Gwen

        Most communities in this country are still segregated especially in the inner city. Most crimes committed are against those in your neighborhood. To single out black on black crime and leave out white on white crime makes me wonder.

    4. Aya's Avatar Aya

      So what does that broad context have to do with a police officer choking a man to death. So black do not respect themselves so let's choke them to death? Diversity in beliefs, in lifestyle, in choices is what keeps the economy interesting. It creates jobs for social workers etc...
      What's your point here? Thanks.

      1. majickmann's Avatar majickmann

        Now, you know for a fact there was no choke hold, no choking. So... what is your point?

  1. Pat's Avatar Pat

    An officer who is supposed to uphold the law should never be above the law. And if the laws do not treat everyone equally in enforcement, judgement and sentencing then the laws must be changed to have a just society.

    1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      The office broke NYPD policy, not the law. The police where enforcing the law by have to restrain a man during a verbal altercation with them and then resisting arrest. It's clearly shown in the video provided.

      1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

        You don't have to restrain a person for a NON TRAFFIC SUMMONS and that is what happens when a person sells single cigarettes. Apparently you have YOUR SHEET over your eyes. I saw the man put his hands up and the police attached him from all sides and the back and took him down with a choke hold.

        1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

          Unfortunately, you are only going by what other people are stating. Obviously you are not a police officer or in law enforcement. Anyone who resists arrest can and will be restrained. The officer in this case DID NOT use a choke hold, but used a head lock. He did not break any policy of the NYPD or the law. This man has been arrested many times before and he did not want to get arrested again this time. He resisted and did not put his hands up to comply. We agree, the law of selling single cigarettes should not be enforced by the police, but they are forced to do so by the government. It is a shame that people of all races in this country totally disrespect police for doing their job.

          1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

            Very good point that some of the police do not want to be wasting their time and resources enforcing the loose cigarette law. It's easy to forget things like that.

        2. John Nianouris's Avatar John Nianouris

          Sam you are mistaken. The black man was clearly resisting arrest and thus, LEO have every right to use any means available to them to subdue the suspect. LEO have no idea if the suspect is armed or not. Further, selling loose cigarettes is against the law. If the black man had not been violating the law, he would not have been restrained.

        3. WRD's Avatar WRD

          woow... I saw the same film and it appeared to me he was resisting... having stated that why would anyone care if he was selling single cigs... I forgot... the politicians made the law... and cops have to enforce. Don't resist .... YES SIR OFFICER is the appropriate responce... always works for me.

        4. KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv's Avatar KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv

          Thank God someone on here has good sense!

      2. msb's Avatar msb

        God bless us for trying to speak up for ourselves.Its pretty sad when we can't speak to another human being so we can voice our opinions.Well I guess Jesus was persecuted for trying to tell others about Gods love too.I hope one day we will all see each other as God sees us all and love each others as blacks whites,and any other nation.

  1. Tayalor Fraser's Avatar Tayalor Fraser

    I have something of a unique background which means what I say has no more credibility than anyone else. However, I have been a nurse in a prison. When you see primarily black faces in the prison, you realize there is a disparity in the number and make up of the arrests and prosecutions in this country. Does this mean that more black people commit serious crimes? Probably not. It just means that we have become a nation that is afraid of our own brothers and sisters. Sad, really. Recently, there was a truly sad incident where a 12-year old boy was murdered by the police. He had been brandishing a pistol and had it in his belt. when the police tried to apprehend him, they told him to lie face down on the ground. However, the first thing he did was reach for the pistol. The police reacted and tragedy struck. The pistol was a toy. Here's my point: The parents should have been more involved and not allowed their son to have a toy pistol. Secondly, they should have taught their child to obey the commands of the police. I feel for both the parents of the child and police officers. While it was classified as a righteous shooting, that shooting will remain with the police officer forever. Very simply, in this country, we need to wake up and start dialoguing with each other, before the fact, rather than after.

    1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

      Unfortunately, we must disagree with your assessment.The reason for the disparity in prison is due to the fact that more serious crimes are committed by blacks. In fact, there is more black on black crime than you can shake a stick at. Now we are not saying that there are not cops out on the beat who are racist, but most of them are fair to everyone. We have to take exception to your statement that a 12-year old boy was "murdered" by the police. When the boy reached for the gun, the police officer has to make a split second decision. It is not easy and someone thinks. The officer did not know whether the gun was real or not because it was altered. So don't blame the officer for what he did. The officer feels bad enough for the rest of his life that this child made the wrong decision and took a life.

  1. MLG's Avatar MLG

    Have you ever lived in a inner city and seen the violence that the people of all races have to live with. I have, it is scary and it is even worse, if you are a police officer that has to watch your back every second, it can be horrific. I asked a person of color why don't you move? Because, that is what I did. She had no reason, why, other than that is were she had lived forever and her family lived there. They have lived that way so long they just can't change. Which, is what needs to happen so they can evolve. They (meaning people in these areas,) think it is okay to loot and hurt their selves and their neighbors, the lack of respect for life in these communities need to change. Their leadership needs to change and their faith, they need faith in something, they need to believe in their selves, they need to look up instead of down. Faith, God and Community. Less Government and giving them littlest bits, just keeps them down. I am sorry they will never see it and hate is the only thing they will know, Hate and Anger guides them, that live in those big poor cities.

  1. Gavin Simpson's Avatar Gavin Simpson

    I am sorry to say I cannot agree with everything stated in this article.

    "We think officers should be members of the communities they work for"

    This would make the local police very open to abuse, intimidation, corruption, put their lives at risk, etc. Law and order would therefore fall apart 100%. If an area has a high crime are, it is very obvious the criminals would "take care" of the police first.

    I live in a country with an extremely high level of corruption amongst government officials and their supporters. Unfortunately our President himself stated in court papers, in his corruption investigation, that corruption is a "western" thing, and black people cannot be corrupt. Now tell me, where in the world were there such violent protests against these kind of truly racist remarks as made by a state president?

    Violent crimes in South Africa are higher than anywhere else on the world, and a women get raped every 3 hours. Armed robbery is a daily event in almost every suburb in every city. We also have the highest murder rate than anywhere else in the world.

    This is what happens when law and order are destroyed by corruption, and where are the violent protests, the burning, the pillaging, the destruction?

    Do those protesting the United Stated justice system want to be like South Africa? Be afraid of what you wish for.

  1. docproc's Avatar docproc

    Obey the laws of the land. Do not resist arrest when they tried to handcuff. This article was wrote by an individual who is prejudiced. Not by the will of God . They should be ashamed of themselves

    1. Aya's Avatar Aya

      Look at the video again. The murdered man was on the ground being strangled by the police officer while the remaining policemen were putting handcuffs on him. That's a shame in a country that is denouncing the barbarism in the rest of world..... What was that police officer getting out of that situation?? Was he too angry to even let go of the man's neck?? "I can't breathe" means just that!!!

      1. majickmann's Avatar majickmann

        The man was not murdered. He was not being strangled by the police officer. "I can't breathe" doesn't mean just that. It can mean and most likely mean, that the criminal wants the officer to stop, wait for a knife or gun to be produced and possibly maim or kill the officer and/or others. That's the real world. Reverse your research to instances where a Law Enforcement Officer is maimed or killed. You may find a new perspective.

    2. KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv's Avatar KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv

      ".Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.” ― Elie Wiesel, Night

  1. Yvette's Avatar Yvette

    God has the final judgement nothing goes unpunished. God brought us out of slavery and you will bring judgment to garner and for the same killing. we have to put God first and all will be right with us again.

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      AMEN..........WITH SO MANY POINTS OF VIEW......I THINK THAT WE FINALLY HAVE TO AGREE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISAGREE AND LIKE YOU SAID.......PUT GOD FIRST......HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE AND STILL IN CONTROL.......OH HOLY NIGHT.....TIS THE SEASON TO SPREAD HIS LOVE

  1. loraine gunderson's Avatar loraine gunderson

    Yes I would indict the officers. There is too much police brutality and abuse. I DO NOT think it is a racial issue. I think white people do not stand up and stick together for a fight. People are being abused by law enforcement all over the usa. There is even a KKK in my town of which many officials most certainly must belong. You don't have a club without members. There is rampet abuse of human and civil rights going on all over our country Law enforcement is entrapping peaceful people along with criminals to feed their system with the money they to keep them all paid. We have more prisons in the USA than any other country in the world! Law enforcement are not being trained. They should have an education before entering any academy. They should be required to think and if they can not get an education at some higher level than high school, they should not be considered able to process rational thought. They should not get all of their training by ex cops. Something should come first. Many teachers at academy were retired from the force with anger issues. They do not need to be training new cops. The cop in the Ferguson shooting is now expressing wishes to be a teacher, which is my point. This aggression is being taught. Yes they should be prosecuted. The cops should not be above any laws.Lack of education, too much brutality, too many rights being violated....we have lost respect and should not be forced to respect them as they have become. My only disagreement to the protests is that this is not racial problem but a law enforcement problem. White people just don't fight back or stand together when oppressed.

    1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      NYPD policy was broken, the law wasn't. The man who died was having a verbal altercation with police.. even though plain clothes he clearly knew they were policy... and then forcibly resisted arrest. He had to be restrained to be taken into custody. The Grand Jury made the correct decision in not indicting since no laws were broken.

      1. Kristy's Avatar Kristy

        Agreed Most Reverend. Again, once he raised his voice and resisted, it escalated to an unfortunate end, with many factors in play. A society cannot take one single event and toss it into a bag of all other similar events that happened prior. Each situation is different. People (individuals) are different. This is sad, no doubt. Personal accountability, that is what needs to be looked at...every single time. Things need to change, yes, on every level. I truly feel that if each individual is accountable for their actions, each and every day, doing the "right" thing, behaving as law abiding citizens (officer, government, anyone)-we wouldn't have half of these issues.

    2. Candace Barber's Avatar Candace Barber

      Your comments are biased and come across as racist. Are you commenting out of personal experience or the facts?

      1. John Nianouris's Avatar John Nianouris

        So….your opinion matters but others don't? You are saying if someone disagrees with you then they are racist and biased. That's not the Godly way Candace. Everyone's opinion matters - regardless of whether or not we agree with them.

        1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

          Grand Jurys job is not to determine guilt or innocence! The grand jury plays an important role in the criminal process, but not one that involves a finding of guilt or punishment of a party. Instead, a prosecutor will work with a grand jury to decide whether to bring criminal charges or an indictment against a potential defendant -- usually reserved for serious felonies.. People are no racist because they disagree, they can agree and still be a racist. The KKK wore hoods to prevent people from knowing who hey were. A Racist is usually a coward. They disagree from behind their SHEET. Now speaking of your comment to Candice. IT seems you are judging her. That is not the Godly way either.

          1. majickmann's Avatar majickmann

            Interesting... I was with you until --"Now speaking of your comment to Candice. IT seems you are judging her. That is not the Godly way either."

            How did you conclude John Nianouris' comments were judgmental?

    3. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

      We totally disagree with your entire assessment of the situations. We think you should rethink your opinions before making any inaccurate statements.

  1. Donna Menendez's Avatar Donna Menendez

    Any death by another is just wrong! As I watched this video I saw a person arguing with someone I guess the police. Then they wanted to put him in cuffs and he resisted. That is why it looked like they took him down. He was using force too. The person who or persons responsible for the man's death looks to me that they were doing what they were supposed to do. I think he would still be alive if he would have just not resisted them. I am part of the human race! Not black or white! We need to stop looking at color, it only makes us blind to the truth!

    1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      This was not about ra e it was about a poor person. Had he been a rich person he would have been written a NON traffic summons. Poor people have to go to jail because police do not respect poor people and violate their rights quite often

      1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

        We are sorry Sam, but you are totally wrong with your opinion. Rich or poor, the man was violating a law, period.

        1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

          given that he was not selling loose cigarettes when the cops confronted him, what law was he breaking at the time?

        2. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

          Are you to stupid to know selling cigarettes is a NON TRAFFIC SUMMON OFFENSE.. There should have been no physical arrest. He should have been issued a NON TRAFFIC SUMMONS. Maybe you should change from THE POLICE SHIELD to THE POLICE SHEET or better yet POLICE WHITE SHEET with eye holes..

      2. Kristy's Avatar Kristy

        The officer had right to question. It was the response and resist that brought it to the next level. Not because of his color but the information the officers had and accessed at the time of the incident, his reaction, etc. It should not be read into with emotion or altered in your own mind. The facts were brought forth and examined in a court of law and ruled on. Period.

  1. Mr. Tacom's Avatar Mr. Tacom

    Garner, 43, had history of more than 30 arrests dating back to 1980, on charges including assault and grand larceny, Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1659026/eric-garner-criminal-past-emerges-30-arrests-in-34-years-including-assault. Also, Garner did not die at the scene, a common misconception among those discussing the case on social media. Instead he “suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance taking him to the hospital and was pronounced dead about an hour later Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1659026/eric-garner-criminal-past-emerges-30-arrests-in-34-years-including-assault

  1. Ray Hayes's Avatar Ray Hayes

    Whether you are right or wrong an officers order must be followed. An unjust arrest can be argued later in court.

    1. Mary's Avatar Mary

      I don't question that there is racism, sexism, and many other isms. I agree, the directions of the police should be followed and not be responded to with violence otherwise violence will be returned. The spin of racism added to the recent events is increasing violence and some people even believe it is justified because of that. It is a sad situation and is being driven by the media.

    2. Emma Wilson's Avatar Emma Wilson

      Check out the video again. What orders was given? I did not hear any. Mr. Gardner told cops to stop harassing him. He is then pulled to the ground by several officers. He was not resisting or striking any officer and not fighting back. He was restrained, so was the additional step of a choke hold necessary? It was obvious he was not going anywhere. Only stating he could " not breathe." But, ignored by cops. Since choke is illegal, why was it used? Restraint is restraint! He could not move! The cops lives was not in any danger. Emma

      1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

        For some unknown reason, we saw two very different videos. I saw the exact opposite. The police where there to arrest him, he got into a verbal altercation with police and forcibly resisted arrest and had to be restrained to be arrested. That is what I see in the video. Plus the man who was arrested and died was hollering so he is heard over what the police are saying, hence the verbal altercation.

    3. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      I am not sure if you spoke out og ignorance or you just wanted to muddy the waters with your Police BIAS when you choose to give out this wrong information for this particular situation. . Selling single cigarettes is a NON TRAFFIC OFFENSE. A person is issued a NON TRAFFIC SENTENCE. The police escalated this into a KILLING. The police should be held accountable for their actions., When a police officer is involved in illegal conduct with a black person or a poor citizen the District attorney does not try to get an indictment and let the jury of his piers make the decision. The DA never presents "Brady Material" when a black man or poor person is suspected of committing a crime. should be ONE LAW FOR ALL THE PEOPLE, not one set of rules for Black and poor defendants and another set of laws for the Police.

      1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

        The police didn't escalate this the man having the verbal altercation and who then resisted arrest did.

  1. Barbara's Avatar Barbara

    I believe state and church should be separate - Church teaches us to love all God's creation - That how I feel.

    1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      They are separate and as a result society has gotten worse not better. The moral fiber of our Country is gone.

      1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

        MOST REVEREND I ask you was the moral fiber of our country gone when the KKK preachers stood in the pulpit and preached their garbage. YOu don;t have to answer if you were one of those preachers.

  1. Dr. Asha Sharma's Avatar Dr. Asha Sharma

    This is not a black and white issue. Is is a issue of defiance and a disrepect for law the people of color in America need to wake up and start becoming productive members of the American society and not wanting free hand outs and thinking that they are due something because they were slaves over a hundred years ago. Many races have been slaves and injustice done to them many have left their home land due to the injustice and came to America with little money clothes food and look at them to day!!! They do not steal, burn buildings, shot other members of their society. The people of color ( blacks) show go to their churches and the leaders of the churches show tell the society how they may become productive members of they society through hard honest work. Dr. Asha Sharma

    1. James's Avatar James

      Exactly! I wish people would watch the car cam videos on YouTube where police are killed because they let their guard down just for a moment to get an idea of what it's like being a police officer and who they are dealing with.

  1. mustang's Avatar mustang

    Eric die of a heart attack later in custody. He was put in a carardide hold after he refused to cooperate with the police. He then became an unknown threat. Are the police expected to walk away from a crime because the person is black. Police dont get up each morning and say "i think ill go kill a black person today". I hate to say it but perhaps we should look at who are the ones breaking the law. Our society needs more education so people are impowered and dont feel the need to break the law.

  1. Renee Hendon's Avatar Renee Hendon

    Many overweight ( big gut) people especially with asthma have what is known as positional asphixia.( They stop breathing due to position) If they fall on their front, their belly fat stops the diaphram moving and even more if someone presses down on them. It is a little known, but common condition that is often overlooked even by the person who has it or their doctors. Some people with neurological damage will stop breathing if flat on their back too. If a person cannot breath, they should be rolled onto their side immediately as basic first aid.

  1. DONOVAN's Avatar DONOVAN

    i find it very familiar that it's only the people with a criminal history are the ones causing all the problems with the Police Officers and are always getting arrested for committing crime.. No matter what age they are, they were involved in criminal activity when confronted by Officers. As so far as the younger criminals, parents MUST take most of the blame for raising kids that never have, never will respect the Police, our Laws or any ones Religion. It does not matter what the color of ones skin is, religion or name, a crime is a crime. If one resist arrest after committing a crime, the Police should be allowed to protect themselves by any means. We as a society can not let the criminals take over any area of our country. Let our Police enforce the laws and do a job no one else will do.

  1. Kristy's Avatar Kristy

    I agree with Ray Hayes, when an officer of the law orders you to do something you need to comply. At that point, your rights come into play and anything unjust can be argued. The situation is extremely sad and disturbing. Many are protesting the outcome and they have a right to-it would be more beneficial to those whom are protesting to take the time, education and compassion that each of them have and do something more productive to make changes that they feel need to be made. The judicial system is put in place for a reason and the ruling will not ever be satisfying to everyone. There is too much violence, anger and hate in this world. In my opinion, that is what needs to change.

  1. Barry's Avatar Barry

    Respect the Police. If they say get down, GET DOWN ! They are civil servants there to protect all of us.Sure,there's a Rogue one here and there. But in general, there all we have to keep society from going back to the Wild West days.

  1. Marsha Williams-Harris's Avatar Marsha Williams-Harris

    No one bothered to count the officers killed in the line of duty. A chock hold is an approved method of take down and protection in self-defense. All that could be seen were the backs of the officers in the take down. He resisted, was much larger than the officers and obviously refused to cooperate. They didn't shot! They tried there best to do their job. Why can't suspects just stop and follow directions given by police officers? Their actions exemplify their communities...a pure lack of respect for authority! What communities doing now...protesting...is shameful, disrespectful and I simply a show of hatred for those who are paid little to protect and serve.

    1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

      a choke hold is expressly forbidden for police officers; it was not an approved method...

      1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

        not approved for use with the NYPD. It however does not break the law only policy.

      2. Mary's Avatar Mary

        My understanding is that the media is using the words "choke hold" but the police did not use a "choke hold". The type of restraint was not that type that prevents breathing - an "air choke". He apparently did not die directly from the restraint. Many things could have been done differently by both Eric and the police. Eric was highly agitated even prior to the restraint. The restraint was quickly removed and his statement that he couldn't breathe was made after the restraint was removed. The autopsy revealed no trauma or inflammation to the neck. I have sympathy for his family and friends. I also feel badly for the police and the violence that has occurred because to the misinformation by the media.

  1. William's Avatar William

    Very much agree. It is always best not to argue with the police, especially when you are engaged in some unlawful activity. More than likely the person would have gotten an "appearance ticket", a small fine and would have gone on with his life. But aside from that, what is bothering me is the type of one sided journalism displayed the above article that I would not have expected from this site. This incident has caused irreparable harm to many people involved, obviously including the deceased. I choose not to be a "street-corner" preacher, I wish to help people spiritually. To help them make sense out of seemingly senseless acts. To do otherwise, regardless of methods, does a dis-service to them as people and us as a society. Everyone in this incident deserves our compassion, understanding and prayers. Just my personal opinion.

  1. mariposasholistic's Avatar mariposasholistic

    I believe that this situation was handled unprofessionally and abusive. The man was being instigated by the police and became defensive. There were at least 4 police officers at first surrounding him and then 3 jumped him after he claimed he did not want to be touched. There was no need to touch him as they were speaking to him. There appeared to be no remorse after discovering he was dead.

    I realize being a police officer is difficult and officers face many situations on a daily basis that we would never have to, however, the focus of the police is to keep the peace and uphold laws. In this situation and many others they instigate situations and become violent without fear of persecution.

    I have lived in numerous central american countries where even the police are not this aggressive to their citizens and focus on trying to be peaceful rather than forceful.

    These acts simply reinforce that police members (not all) are aggressive, inept, and without remorse in regards to supposedly protecting the people they are hired to protect.

    1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      Every one like to praise the police. IF you really take an indept look at the police you would find a scary picture. You would be shocked to find most police officer spend an entire career and MAKE NO FELONY ARREST. IT is to easy to pick on the poor and harder to pick on the REAL CRIMINAL. The police spend the majority of their time not looking for real crime and real criminals. .

    2. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      Really, did we just watch the same video? That is not what I saw at all. The man in the video was defensive and abusive with just one officer and other had to be involved as the man in the video escalated things.

  1. Sirrium Sirrium's Avatar Sirrium Sirrium

    If a mans hands are in the air he is surrendering. That would be following an order wouldn't it? Many of these deaths have occurred after hands were raised.

    1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      There were no hands in the air, not possible since he was forcibly resisting arrest.

  1. Cynthia Schultheis's Avatar Cynthia Schultheis

    If a police officer breaks the law, he should be tried and sentenced in court. How does the grand jury find there's no responsibility on the officer's part? We need to take a better look at the make-up of the grand jury. Sad, that over 20 years after the Rodney King incident that fueled protest and riots in LA, we've learned NOTHING.

    1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

      He didn't break the law. Only NYPD policy was broken, the law wasn't.

      1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

        The officer did not violate any NYPD policy. The officer did not use a "choke hold". He used a head lock, something totally different. Ask any expert martial arts trainer.

        1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

          not according to the coroner. He died from a choke hold, regardless of how the police try to characterize the situation. It was officially ruled a homicide.

          1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

            Joseph, unless you read the entire report and cite everything in the coroner's report, you cannot make a fair statement.

        2. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

          Police Shield You are a LIAR. The name was changed but it was a choke hold designed to restrict blood passing through the cor rotted artery.

  1. Mike Ravenscraft's Avatar Mike Ravenscraft

    Well I have seen the video but the man did not died until an hour later, do I agree with the cops no I do not but they have to be able to handle the job and as big as this man was maybe that was the only way after all he did have 31 other encounters with them. there are 8000 black on black killings each year and a cop might have 1 % why don't you ever hear about the 8000 is it ok for them to kill each other no it's not so let's stop with the race card.

    1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

      it's always interesting to hear that we should never mourn or question the death of a black man at the hands of a white man because blacks also kill each other. Here's something to chew on, should we ever mourn or question white deaths because white people also kill white people? http://www.vox.com/2014/8/21/6053811/white-on-white-murder

    2. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      When they don't have the killing of people they are doing their job. I played the POOR card along with the Black card. What should i do say the person was not black or not poor.. WHY ARE YOU PLAYING THE RACE CARD. You did not tell us how many white on what killings thee are each year.you a reading .,Does the 1% apply in the white killings also. The medical examiner who is a DOCTOR said it was a homicide. You I guess are a super DOCTOR so I guess you can rule from the video it was not a homicide. BE careful Mike it is windy in NY I would hate for you coat to blow off and MAYBE we see your SHEET..

  1. Brother Bill's Avatar Brother Bill

    mariposasholistic, sorry but the police DID have reason to touch him. he was stopped for breaking the law, selling cigarettes without paying the NYC tax. Mr. Gardner refused to obey the police. The misdemeanor now became a felony, resisting arrest. The black female sergeant in command was observing and did nothing to stop the other police officers.

    Mr. Gardner's severe obesity and other medical problems led to a situation where Mr. Gardner died. The amount of fat on his body lead to reduced lung function, I am sure. When the police got him down and pinned him to the ground, the amount of fat most likely pushed up against the diaphragm, reducing lung capacity even more. A person in average condition would have been uncomfortable, but not endangered. The police had no ability to understand the medical problems.

    Police members are NOT aggressive, unless they have to be to enforce the law. They are not inept and to say they have no remorse is ridiculous. It appears you have an axe to grind with police and that is coloring your views.

    I also have lived/visited in other countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. I have seen numerous times the local police were more aggressive and abusive than American police. Try the German police. Very professional, but very firm in enforcing the law.

    1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

      he was not selling cigarettes when police confronted him. Yes, he had done so on previous occasion but was not at that time. Also, while I see your point that his size may have contributed to issues, the police are expressly forbidden to place people in a chokehold, and their justification for why they needed so many officers to attack him was his size made him a formidable threat. How can his size both make him a threat worthy of a take down by several officers yet at the same time make him so fragile he would die from an illegal police move that would have made others merely "uncomfortable" as you say? And yes, police attack people that are handcuffed, that haven't done anything, etc. Take a look at Department of Justice investigations of several police forces for doing just that.

      1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

        Joseph, unfortunately, you are wrong in your assessment. It is obvious to us that you have never been a police officer. You never know the strength of your opposition when making an arrest. We have seen many times when a person of normal weight and size high on drugs, easily fended off 4-5 officers trying to get them into handcuffs.It is certainly not easy one bit.

        1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

          so you walk around assuming everyone is armed and high? Sounds like the wrong position from which to view the world as a civil servant.

  1. Paul Revere's Avatar Paul Revere

    Yes the officer should be held accountable and go to prison ! this is what your Government is preparing for Army Regulation 210–35 Installations Civilian Inmate Labor Program http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r210_35.pdf

    This document represents the doctrine adopted by the Policy Committee of the CFR during. The following document, dated May 1979, was found on July 7, 1986, in an IBM copier that had been purchased at a surplus sale. Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
    http://www.stopthecrime.net/docs/SILENT%20WEAPONS%20for%20QUIET%20WARS.pdf

    Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars Document - Full Read https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_38tsQ4p0I

    You had better prepare for one world-ism as Revelations says well be coming or modern day term as per Ronald Regan to Bush and Obama THE ONE WORLD ORDER ! The documents above are YOUR Government's documents. Go to the links !

    1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

      Your are sadly most likely correct my friend. GOD help us all!

      1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

        YOU KNOW......I MUST TRY TO INTERVENE AND CHANGE THE "SADLY CORRECT"........WE SHOULD ALL REJOICE AS WE ACTUALLY ARE LIVING AS REVELATIONS UNFOLD.....WE ARE THE GENERATION THAT IS WITNESS....TO THE EVENTS THAT ARE BIBLICAL....WOW...JUST TODAY....CUBA...RUSSIA AND JAPAN ALL MAJOR NEWS STORIES.... GIVE GOD THE GLORY....HE IS IN CONTROL AND WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS....SPREAD THE FAITH IN HIS PLAN.....AS REVELATION IS THE GUIDE TO THE END TIMES... FOR SATAN....THATS ALL....JUST THE END OF SATAN.......TIS THE SEASON TO BELEIVE....JUST THE FAITH OF A MUSTARD SEED....RIGHT??

  1. Most Reverend's Avatar Most Reverend

    I don't know what 'fight' the lovely commentator is talking about. What I see is a man having a verbal altercation with police who appear in plain clothes, but the man clearly knows they are police and during this verbal altercation he resorts to resisting arrest. He had to be physically restrained to be arrested. No I would not indicted the cop who did the choke hold. He should however be disciplined by the NYPD for not using correct policy.

    1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      Look through the eye holes of your sheet and you might be able to see what fight.

  1. Kevin's Avatar Kevin

    I strongly disagree and it seem there are a lot of uninformed opinions posted on here as well. Both of these individuals would still be alive if they were law abiding citizens and not resisting arrest once caught. Have we lost track that both were committing a crime and were in the process of being arrested? Since when is it ok to fight police officers????

    The NYPD did not have a choke hold on this obese individual and as soon as he stopped resisting the officers and was cuffed the officers got off the individual. Face the facts - he was a fat slob and his poor health killed him.

    The black community leaders would do a service to provide a message of respect to the police officers in lieu of all this hate and disregard for authority.

    1. REV. DAVID ARMITAGE's Avatar REV. DAVID ARMITAGE

      Very good comment Kevin.

  1. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

    I lived in Staten Island for ten years and can speak to this situation with objectivity. The police maintain law and order..period! They do not want any more problems than they already have with the citizens. When a police officer tells you to do something, you do so without question. Halt, you stop. Hands up, means put your hands in plain view above your head.This large individual resisted arrest and was subdued with necessary force. Many Blacks act aloof of social mores and exhibit a behavior that flaunts authority.

    He was breaking the law and paid the ultimate price for resisting arrest. Lets compare Michael Brown's situation: he just committed a felony theft/assault and then assaulted a police officer. He too died due to a brazen lack of respect for authority. Michael's buddy then perpetrated a lie, actually ran away and never saw much of the encounter. Let's arrest him and Michael's step father for crimes committed

    Common denominator: I ain't listening to the PoPo. Pants below the knees with gold grills for dental work, looting/vandalism and calling women bitches/ho's is archaic behavior that indicates a propensity for disrespect, violence and de-evolution. This situation is going to get much worse before it gets better.

    Blacks need a strong authority figure to stand up and tell it like it is. Jesse and Al are opportunistic race baiters just waiting for the next situation to capitalize. Bill Cosby is not cutting it these days. Professional athletes act like children and most Black Congressmen are jumping on the race bandwagon. Where are the Black leaders??

    The grand jury was correct: no indictment. The young naïve girl holding the sign has no idea about the crime rate and statistics implicating young Black males with those crimes. Blacks simply need to behave and act better in society.

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      WHERE ARE THE BLACK LEADERS THAT COULD BRING REASON AND COMMON SENSE TO THIS SITUATION AT HAND.....WELL PUT.....ESPECIALLY....WHERE IS OUR PRESIDENT.....HE COULD SAY WHAT YOU DID AND BRING SO MUCH GOOD TO THE WORLD...IT ANNOYS ME TO HEAR THAT WE STILL HAVE A RACE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.......HELLO....WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT.........NOT TO MENTION THE BILLIONAIRES THAT CAME OUT OF THE SPORT ARENA FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO..... ANYWAY.....UNBELIEVABLE THAT MORE IS NOT WRITTEN OR COMMENTS MADE LIKE YOURS........YOUR ARE RIGHT ON....WRITE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

        Were are the idiots. Oh I see now that i have read this post and your reply.

        1. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

          Mr. McBride,

          You spelled the word -where- incorrectly! Seems the pot is calling the kettle Black.

          Don't be part of the problem but act as the solution. Help Blacks stay in high school, stop committing crime and practice responsible parenting.

          1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

            I imagine you would find a misspelling to comment on. See if I spell this correct.YOU APPEAR TO ME TO BE AN INBRED IDIOT.

          2. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

            Mr. McBride,

            The correct sentence syntax would be to use the word correctly instead of the word correct. It is indicative of your educational achievement that you must resort to using inflammatory familial attacks when attempting to respond to an academic discourse.

            Get an education and then come back to discuss this topic with the adults.

          3. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

            Tom maybe you should get your mother some education then you all may stop in breeding. I would be careful talking about committing crimes. Prostitution is a crime also. Guess who I am talking about. Keep replying and you can find out., Hit me up n my e-mail and I will tell you the computer story sam The at sign gnbc.com

          4. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

            Why do we need to point out that someone misspelled a word. To me that is such a small point. So if we need to point out mistakes in grammer how will we ever deal with the new immagrents to this nation??? We sure are going to be busy checking English posts. Break out the red pens folks.

          5. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            I think you brought your dead mother to the party. I guess looking for sympathy and got the facts of life. Now you want to cry foul. You want to side with BIGOTs so you are fair game. You brought your dead mother to the party so she is also fair game. You should have told her to be responsible parent. Street walkers are not responsible parents. Just keep posting your idiocy and I will tell you WHAT I REALLY THINK.

          6. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

            I have read several of your posts and you attack poster's mothers here with great frequency. Is that your best response? You are acting like an uneducated thug that cannot compete on an academic level, as evidenced by your replies.

            Try some serious discussion about Black crime rates, high school drop out rates, and recidivism. Stop attacking our mothers and initiate a real discussion about the Black social situation. If you have not noticed, we share the same biosphere; meaning we must get along. Do your part!

        2. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

          Read the discourse and see how he attacked me on a personal level for stating my opinion. It was a back handed way to express an obvious point. People like mister McBride have a chip on their shoulder and seriously need to get a dose of reality.

          Again I ask; where are the Black leaders? Samuel L. Jackson is also acting like a buffoon. Blacks need to stop being opportunistic concerning theses situations. Who is crying for the Black population of Chicago being decimated daily?

          1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

            DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO SAMUEL L JACKSON HAS DONE...............THE O'REILLY FACTOR AIRED IT....AS HE VOICED AN OPINION OF DISBELIEF AT WHAT HE SAW....AND, I MUST SAY THAT I FEEL IT MAY HAVE ACTUALLY SET BACK THE BLACK MOVEMENT BY ABOUT 40 YEARS.....WOW....UNBELIEVABLE THAT HE STILL THINKS THE WAY HIS VIDEO PROJECTS AFTER ALL THE BLESSINGS AND LIFE HE HAS BESTOWED UPON HIM....I FELT LIKE CRYING OUT TO HIM.......HELLO...ITS OVER......YOU HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE....WE HAVE A 2ND TERM (MIND YOU) BLACK PRESIDENT.....COME TO THE PARTY!!!!...but be nice! behave yourself....just like the rest of us have to do...thank you

          2. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            Tom you sound like a IDIOT. IF you want to know where the Black leaders are ASK YOUR MOTHER. I guarantee she knows where they are.

          3. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

            Edegreeonline, I ask a rhetorical question and you attack my dead mother. Shame on you!

            Your inability to partake in serious social discourse is obvious, as you can only resort to odious retorts designed to instigate and inflame.

            Grow up and act like the Gaussian distribution of our total society.

          4. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            These are 2 separate things. The black crime rate does not give a policeman the right to MURDER black men. The MOB murder people but they are not murdered by Policemen. When you bigots start looking at the real problem, it will get fixed. This is not really about black men or white men it is about rich and poor. Those with money are treated different. In victoria TEXAS a poor 76 year old hispanic man was attacked and tasered. Yet the BIGOTS don't want to acknowledge that the POLICE are out of control. GO look at this video taken from the police car and see if you can blame it on Black Crime. http://www.click2houston.com/news/victoria-police-release-timeline-of-investigation-into-officer-tasing-man-76/30275356

          5. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            TOm be sure to read this: The FBI releases findings from its four-week investigation into one of the most destructive cyberattacks against a company on US soil.

            IF the police would use their resources to capture REAL CRIMINALS instead of killing poor people for selling cigarettes, they might be able to stop some of the REAL CRIME.:Oh but that would defeat their REAL PURPOSE. "They would not have the time to abuse the poor.

          6. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

            Ok, the cyber attack scares me to the bone. I firmly believe we are under a serious assault and our cyber infrastructure is very open to being compromised. We have not heard the last of this topic.

            Now, I cannot condone lawless behavior and the man in question in Staten Island was the center of an investigation initiated by the local merchants. A real question: do you think he was only selling untaxed cigarettes?

            We as a society must stop minor crimes if we want to establish a pattern of civility. You cannot ignore a crime just because you feel it is not hurting anyone.

            The tax on those cigarettes, even though I abhor the product, funds public services, lighting, trash collection, street sweeping, road maintenance, etc.

            In summary, we cannot allow an individual to break the law, as we all pay the price for their selfishness. He was simply breaking the law and resisted arrest.

            Now the real question no one wants to address. Did he die from being choked or was it his overall poor health and huge mass; I do not know, do you?

          7. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            Tom, had the hispanic man
            https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2014/dec/13/victoria-police-officer-investigated-for-tasing-dr/

            died I guess you would have asked about his age since he was 86 yeas old. Just glossing over the fact the police committed an illegal act.. You sound like a total card carrying BIGOT and a certified IDIOT. At the police assault people you want them to give you a health report. You want them to prove they are in good health and would not have died had hey not received the battery from the POLICE.

  1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

    FIRSTLY.....I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT 99% OF THE POST THAT I READ WERE SUCH A VOICE OF REASON.....FINALLY....AND, I AM SO VERY MUCH AT PEACE TO SEE THAT PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE MINISTRY AND THE NEWSLETTER HAVE THIS CALM RESOLVE AND SANITY TO THE EPIC PROBLEM WE ARE FACING WITH THE CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION NOW BEING WITNESSED BY US ALL.....THAT BEING SAID..........BOTH INCIDENTS....OVER A CIGAR AND CIGARETTES.....REALLY....BUT, THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE PICTURE....BOTH INCIDENTS THEN ESCALATED OVER RESISTING ARREST....AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM.....WITH ANYONE ...BLACK ..WHITE.....OR PURPLE.....BASIC NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY...AND, SORRY TO SAY ....BUT, PARENTS- PARENTS -PARENTS ARE MORE TO BLAME THAN ANYTHING....BUT, THEY ARE PROBABY OUT OF TOUCH AND AFRAID OF RECOURSE FROM THIER OWN CHILD....question?....WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE YOUR CHILD $5.00 FOR A CIGAR....OR TELL YOUR CHILD ....DON'T EVER POINT THAT PLAY GUN AT ANYONE!!!! AND, LASTLY A DECENT JOB FOR A MAN TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT 5 OR 6 CHILDREN WITH BLACK MARKET SALES.....WOW...BOUGLES ONES MIND TO HEAR WHAT BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS MAKE FOR A LIVING ALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SKILLS WITH A ball...... ANYWAY ...ENOUGH FROM ME.....THANK GOD....WE HAVE ...GOD...IN HIM DO WE TRUST AND RELY!

    1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

      This is not a Black and White problem it is a POLICE and poor people problem. Some people that think they are in a middle class can not see it until it hits them. Others are in it JUST FOR THE MONEY

  1. Mathew Hall's Avatar Mathew Hall

    It was murder @ the officer should pay for it did Rodney King deserve it they just got caught it happens all over the Country even all over the World we are not imune

  1. Jack L. Finney's Avatar Jack L. Finney

    I agree it's a police problem. Police in this country are out of control and at some point it has to be dealt with. The Supreme Court has ruled that police are under no obligation to protect their community, so what do they do? It seems at this point they are just a profit center for the community. They're more concerned with confiscating property and money than they are with serving and protecting. Killing people under very flimsy pretense is wrong no matter what. Judge, jury, and executioner they should never be.Thou shalt not kill, i've read that somewhere, when do we as a people start following that doctrine.As ministers we should know this.Do unto others....

  1. Father Flannagan's Avatar Father Flannagan

    They were unarmed CITIZENS, Unarmed Black CITIZENS, if they can be killed with such abandon we all are vulnerable. When I was a kid, cops use to duke it out, with fists or clubs even with a knife-armed suspect. The Fascists are in charge now and they have an army.

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      I FIND IT IRRESPONCIBLE FOR A FATHER TO LEAVE SUCH AN INAPPROPIATE FEAR DIALOGUE.........ONE WAS A THIEF....WHO KNEW IF HE WAS UNARMED....AND HE HAD NO PROBLEM TRYING TO GET THE OFFICERS GUN....AND, THE OTHER A CRIMINAL.....A LARGE ...ANGRY CRIMINAL.......GET THE FACTS ....BEFORE YOUR VENT...AND, CAUSE MORE ANGER AND HATE FOR THE VERY PEOPLE THAT PROTECT US.....I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHO YOU WOULD RUN TO IF....SOMEONE WERE CHASING YOU WITH A GUN...OR IF A HUGE HUGE MAN WAS COMING AT YOU .....MY POINT IS THAT ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF THEM ARE PERFECT......THEY DO COME IN HANDY WHEN IT IS YOU BEING CHASED OR IN TROUBLE........NONE OF US ARE PERFECT......WE JUST ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE HOOKING UP TO THE ONE WHO IS.....RESPECTFULLY......JOANN ps...when you were a kid...most of the kids cops duked it out with weren't sky high on drugs...which make them super strong and super crazy

      1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

        Nicely said Jo-ann...

    2. Krvin DeFranco's Avatar Krvin DeFranco

      These were two unarmed CRIMINALS one of who tried to get an officers weapon to shoot him. When you were a kid a knife was the most lethal weapon generally used in the commission of a crime. Now they run in packs, and usually are packing a gun even young teens who have no fear, or respect for authority or their fellow man. Wake up! I have news for you "Father Flannagan" there is such a thing as a bad boy. There's more evil on earth now than at any point in history so you better thank God for cops and support them.

  1. piphany's Avatar piphany

    The police perform one of the most dangerous jobs there is. The thing that everyone is too politically correct or even afraid to say is that the reason blacks have a higher arrest rate is because, unfortunately, blacks commit a higher number of crimes per capita. On the other hand, whites, Hispanics, etal are treated no differently when confronted by the police for committing similar crimes. The bottom line is: don't commit the crimes and the police won't have a reason to arrest you. And if you are being placed under arrest, don't argue, resist, run, fight, or otherwise give the police a reason to do a "takedown" or shoot you. Just put your hands behind your back and wait for the handcuffs. And if you're a twelve-year-old wannabe thug, don't waive a toy gun around in public!

    1. Universal Life Church Ministries's Avatar Universal Life Church Ministries

      your language implies you lump all members of a given race together. "Wannabe thug" as opposed to a white child being a wannabe cowboy? Also, are you advocating that when a child is shot for playing with toy guns (something most of us have done at some point), that it wasn't a clearly stupid move by the officer and is instead the fault of a child (bear in mind we don't allow children to vote, be in serious romantic/sexual relationships, or give legal consent because they are children and lack the mental facilities to understand situations the way that adults do)?

  1. Rev JBD's Avatar Rev JBD

    I believe the most common problem we have with issues like this is that no one who voices their opinion so strongly has ever been in the situation. The following is my opinion only and I express it from EXPERIENCE, not how I feel at the time I saw the video. Should the officer be indicted? No, Should some type of administrative action be taken YES. What action? Training defiantly for starters. Why? He attempted to obtain control of a suspect and the suspect refused to comply so he used the amount of force necessary to control the situation. NO MATTER WHAT THE CRIME IS if you are in the right then why fight? All that will do is get you or someone else hurt. You may beat the rap but you will not beat the ride. DO it legally, and then hold those accountable for false accusations. The suspect REFUSED, as he stated "do not touch me", to comply with the officer. He was clearly larger than the officer. Did the officer go too far??? At first I would say yes to an extent as the situation did not get extremely violent at first. However, he was refusing to comply and obviously was stronger than the officer. That is what officers are trained to do. It’s not to be mean or powerful. It is for safety. You can’t always say please and thank you and people comply. It was obvious in this case because no one was raising their voice but the suspect was agitated but NOT violent, just uncooperative. Too many times I have seen people NOT comply saying "I’m not doing anything wrong", yet refusing to comply. The suspect being larger or more powerful than the officer with hands up saying I’m not doing anything and walking away only to provoke attention to themselves for bystanders (someone with a camera) to watch and say he wasn’t doing anything when the officer threw him or her on the ground. Yet again if they weren’t doing anything wrong why were they not doing what the officer told them to do? IF you get pulled over and the officer asks to see your driver’s license are you not going to give it to the officer because you don’t think you were doing anything wrong? Are you going to argue with the officer? Are you going to drive off? NO you won’t. You will give it to the officer, get your ticket and either pay the fine and gripe about it OR you will fight it in court. Could this situation gone bad. O yes, in a heartbeat. Google officer injuries and you will see plenty "ROUTINE" stops and etc that have gotten officers killed or seriously injured. Give this about 3-6 months and you won’t hear about these kinds of incidents for a while. Why? Because the media needs to eat and another "hot" story will be in place. Think about it. How many murders, missing children, high speed chases did you hear about on 9-11? I bet none. But you know what??? They still happened. How many times do you hear about officers killed in the line of duty PROTECTING us? Not many huh? Google it and see how many there are each year. You will be shocked. The last thing we want to do is desensitize our officers into the attitude of I’m not going to do anything to this person no matter the crime because I don’t want to get sued, hurt, or fired because he/she is a different race than I am. What’s bad is that race is brought up when the situation is black vs. white the majority of the time. How often do you see race as an issue when its white vs. white, black vs. black, black vs. Hispanic, Asian vs. white, and it goes on and on. Why is that? Asian's can’t hate white people? Black people can’t hate Hispanic people? Etc? In my town where were the protesters when a black serial killer killed a Hispanic man, shot an Asian man in the head, killed 2 white ladies and last killed a white fireman that caught him raping his 2 white nieces? All within a 3 month time frame. Where were the racist protesters for that? Or the second black serial killer that raped, and killed 4 elderly white women before being caught. I saw no racist protesters for that demanding justice, looting, burning down houses, businesses and etc. The Bible, Koran, prophecy, or whatever you choose to believe teaches all the same meaning at some point. Accept, have faith and forgive. We are not here to judge only your higher power can do that. God, Buddha, Allah, etc. We enforce our man made laws and in the end you will be judged and have your day to explain and be forgiven when the time comes. But until then we must accept the past. Learn from it and Teach from it. We cannot change it. BUT we can change the future. Do not become part of the problem, be the solution. Do what you think is right within the boundaries you are given. If they are not right then help make the change to make it right. I am not pro police or anti police. I am for what is right and fair for everyone. I work in Law Enforcement yes. I am a supervisor. I deal with complaints on a daily basis. Most can be dis-proven with the tools I have. Audio and Video recordings and witnesses. I stand behind the people I supervise given they are within the law their training and policy. If they are not then shame on them. They have and will face the consequences. Lets stop complaining and start doing something about it. Put the pressure on those that make the laws, not the unfortunate ones that have to enforce the laws that someone else believes should be in place because they don't like it. The law makers should listen to what the people want. We need to stop living in the past. Times have changed. It is time we change with it.

  1. Joy Christi's Avatar Joy Christi

    Yes, the police certainly have a tough job and everyone makes mistakes. The difference between the mistakes of Mike Brown and Eric Garner and the officers that ended their lives are, that the officers are still alive. Nowhere on the state or federal level is the punishment immediate Firing Squad.

  1. Rev. Lee Feldman-Redick's Avatar Rev. Lee Feldman-Redick

    It's clear that white supremacy is the prevailing paradigm in the US; and, in many of the posts, here. This poison warps rational thought processes. The courts and the police are one-and-the same. People "conveniently" choose to forget US history: Founded upon slavery and genocide; built up upon slave and immigrant labor; and so forth. Grand juries are a prosecutors "dream": Anything "close" to "reasonable cause to bring to trial" is the benchmark.

    Some, here, feel quite comfortable putting blame on Black people. Interesting, to say the least. Several years ago a right-wing economist/think-tank/DOD adviser wrote a book, Turbo Capitalism. In this text he "crunched the numbers" and concluded: For inner-city youth, crime is a Rational Choice. Now, ask yourself, what kind of outmoded, sadistic system would operate that way? Apparently, to many, here and elsewhere, Black lives do not matter!

  1. peace on earth's Avatar peace on earth

    ok now reading al that is here and all that was on TV and the news and the papers,, I feel that the officer was a little hard on this man, I said man.. I agree with others here RESPECT and Obey the law and a officer when they ask and tell you to do what they say. this was a man who was known to break the law before, he should of just done what he was ask to do, again RESPECT & OBEY the Law... on the other side of this,, we need to stop using the words black or white man when we talk about things that are happing,, there men, when we start saying a man/women was shot/killed/robbed or what ever, race will never go away if we/you/I keep using the statement a white man or a black man did what ever. this is the 21st century, if we what racism to end in this world we need to change the way we talk when telling the news of what is going on in this world. I feel that there are way to many people don't want it to end so that money and fame and for what other things I would rather not say. get a job, stop sell drugs and get a real lift and put in your due, don't keep looking for the big hand outs, there gone. protest ? yes that is your right in the USA. but don't steel burn and destroy others property in doing so, what right do you or anyone to do that. that is just wrong.. we all need to wake up and start looking at all as the same as we are/you are,,. treat each other as we would like to be treated. KIND FAIR RESPECT . I know we can do it, we need to start so all will live together

  1. Jane Ester Crow's Avatar Jane Ester Crow

    I read all that is being said here. It sounds as though 3/4 is of European descent with a few officers involved. I do believe police officers serve and protect their own, that being cops and whites. The Pliocene force from it's origin have been taught to protect their own and a black life is worthless. I also understand the fear of those who perpetuate violent acts on others project and tranfer that fear onto those they fear because of the violence they created. In short their fear is from their negative acts toward others so their guilt forces their unnecessary fear I upon blacks. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What do Europeans expect? They perpetrate chaos with the expectation of peace? And then blame the victim for defending self? What makes their life more important than the next? I hear much privilege going around here without consideration of how I dignified blacks have been treated since the trade began. It's about humananity toward all. Who's the big bad wolf here with the ego looking to claim self as the righteous. Sounds like the enemy instead.

  1. marc's Avatar marc

    When people can put themselves in the police officers shoes and see the disrespect, lying and lack of morals they see on a daily basis, then they have room to speak. The man in question had been arrested over 70 times for selling illegal cigarettes, not twice, not five, not even ten times, over SEVENTY !... When is it enough? Yes this is a misdermeanor charge, but 70 times? The problem is that the liberal judges don't want anyone to do jail time, they just want to fine people, counties have realize they can make a lot of money off of criminals. Judges need to be more harsh, we need more prisons and people need to start showing respect to police, then maybe the police might start showing respect to them. When you take crap everyday day in day out, you eventually start dealing the crap back. We as humans can only take so much crap. Blacks in America should start teaching their children respect and responsibility. Yeah them good work ethics. All their children see now is parents abusing the systems, disrespecting each other and the more children they have the more welfare they get. Blacks fought so hard to be treated equal, they need to start acting equal, pull you own weight, no one press them anything. The past is the past, show that you want to be a part of society instead of being a burden on society.

    1. Timothy's Avatar Timothy

      Murdered for not paying taxes.

      1. Thomas F Gibson's Avatar Thomas F Gibson

        No, he died from breaking the law, being overweight, having poor health, and resisting arrest. He knew the drill: hands behind your back to be cuffed. He was a man of experience with over seventy arrests! He staged this little production but did not think through the consequences of his actions.

        I have noticed a trend among many Blacks that they can act in any manner they choose and not be held accountable for their actions. This is a sad culture that needs to change and very soon. Read many of the comments here; we are tired of their antics and will soon rebel.

        Now, when a Black gets shot by a White police officer, the urchins come out of the woodwork and cry racism. In reality, it is their attempt to win the lawyer lottery. They see a chance to score a bundle and this is opportunism at its worst!

        Check the Black high school drop out rate, criminal conviction rate and prison recidivism rate. These are real statistics that defy subjectivity.

  1. Cardinal Rolf Eithorn's Avatar Cardinal Rolf Eithorn

    It is sad to read the idiotic, single IQ comments of most of the posters. The most-rev, police shield especially, seething with a fascist point of view, the police are not above the law. Their duties in most cases are not life threatening or require an attitude of 'us against them'. Yes, it a racist thing. Yes, it is a class thing. The single fact of all these homicides committed by police occurred is not black on black crime or failure of the victim to obey and cede our civil rights to any cop, the real fact is police don't respect anyone but each other. As for including any links, the link to common sense, human rights, mutual respect, etc, are experiencing server issues due to American insanity..

  1. Blind Juror's Avatar Blind Juror

    PLEASE stop blaming the grand juries in these cases. They were mixed-race groups, people. I've served on a grand jury here in Colorado for the one-year required term (it's a big commitment) and I can tell you firsthand that the jury makes its decision solely on the evidence that's presented. If the DA's office doesn't have enough evidence to prosecute (cops, in these cases), the grand jurors HAVE TO turn down the case. The jury is NOT "releasing", "refusing to indict", or "failing" to indict. Please differentiate between the legal system (police) and the judicial system (jurors, courts and judges). The grand jury cannot release criminals - that's the legal system. It's frustrating how the media has colored and slanted these stories. And let's do give the police some credibility here - they have difficult jobs and do have to make split-second decisions. Yes, they make mistakes - if anything, a manslaughter charge should be introduced rather than homicide. No cop relishes pulling the trigger.

  1. piphany's Avatar piphany

    Sorry, you're wrong -- a white 12 year old waiving a toy gun and pointing it at passersby is also a wannabe thug. The "toy" gun in question, btw, looked exactly like a real gun, not the cap guns of our youth. Don't blame the police, blame the parents for not raising the kid to know better.

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      AGAIN.......A VOICE OF REASON

  1. mustang's Avatar mustang

    Thank you Piphany! this is a problem with society not 100% police brutality. yes there are cops that are badge heavy, but the majority of police are out to protect the public and maintain order. Imagine what our society would/will be like if police are not able to do their job because of some ones race. truly think about it. people should not have fake guns that look like real ones. Parents should teach respect all people and above "respect yourself" I'm tired of hearing how the police are targeting black folk. the police are targeting those who are breaking our laws as a society. If the majority of those are black folks perhaps the African American community should take a look at that.

  1. Sam McBride's Avatar Sam McBride

    Illinois Just Made it a Felony for Its Citizens to Record the Police and the Media is Silent Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/illinois-felony-citizens-record-police-media-silent/#ftPQL8ZrXfCI6yxm.99 All the police IDIOT that are willing to give up their freedom should be happy. However when it hit home and hurt them they will be sorry they let the police become so powerful. I guss a lot of people are to stupid to understand this is nto a BLACK AND WHITE ISUE it is a rich and poor issue. RICH PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS POOR PEOPLE HAVE NO RIGHTS

    1. Aya's Avatar Aya

      Is there going to be a background check on the police officer choking the man? Does he have unmanageable anger issues?

  1. piphany's Avatar piphany

    With all the accusations of racism flying around in this forum, I thought it would be a good time to revive a poll I did after the Trayvon Martin shooting by George Zimmerman. The poll is on my Wordpress blog and is called Racial Profiling - How Do You Feel? After taking the poll, you can see the results and respondent comments on my blog. Please feel free to forward it to others who might be interested in taking the poll. Here's the link - copy and paste it into your browser.

    http://piphany.polldaddy.com/s/who-s-more-threatening

  1. Ms.Janice's Avatar Ms.Janice

    There has been upresident brutality from police for years. There are so many cases you never hear about them. Humanity has the will to do good and evil. Its the free will that the maker has given us. There will always be the few who make it bad for the peaceful many. Le

  1. KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv's Avatar KESSIAH LOCKHART YOUNG, MDiv

    “Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed....Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.” ― Elie Wiesel, Night

    Why be a minister if all you do is generate more hate, more ignorance, more white privilege. I am shocked by the lack of diversity I see on these posts. Wow!

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      AMEN.....AT FIRST I WAS ENLIGHTENED BY REPLIES......I CERTAINLY DIDN'T READ MANY MANY OF THEM.....NOW I AM AMAZED THAT THOSE REPLIES WHICH ONLY CAN GENERATE MORE HATE ARE ON A NEWSLETTER FROM THE MINISTRY OF GOD...REALLY???? HOW DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO THINK THAT YOUR DISTRUST AN MISTRUST IS IN ANY WAY A MESSAGE FROM GOD......ESPECIALLY THESE PRECIOUS FEW DAYS OF THE SEASON TO BE IN LOVE AND JOY LEFT!!!!!! KEEP THE SEASON PURE AT LEAST!!!!!!!!!!!

  1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

    I am a seasoned retired Police Officer/Homicide Detective. I was a detective for more than 10 years of my service in the Kansas City Metroplex. Any time a life is taken it is a terrible event no matter the circumstances. I was fortunate to have never fired my weapon while on duty. However, there were very close incidents where I could of fired, but at the last minute the suspect always submitted to the commands (thank GOD) I was giving to take the individual into custody. It is ignorant to ignore lawfull commands by any police officer for any reason, you will have your day in court instead of an unfortunate incident such as what happened in NY instead of resulting in your early meeting with your creator. With that said I wish to weigh in on the incident in New York, NY. That was not a "choke hold" that the officer was using! I was a certified instuctor for that hold so I have some knowledge in the use of said manuver or hold if you will. Only the people at the incident really know what the heck happend so everyone should wait for the investigation to be completed. Yes I am certain that officer will disciplined resulting in his dismissal from the department for a breach of NY Citiy's Police Dept. S.O.P. (standared opperating procedure). Watch the taped version of the incident. The officer only had his right arm around the suspects neck which in that position he was in he could not of choked the suspect. The suspect was being taken down and that officer was going down too. Try to imagine if you were off balence and falling how could you put pressure on the neck, please think about that for a minute? First of all it takes both arms to apply this hold or it is ineffective or will not work. The officers strong arm goes around the neck while the other goes behind the neck enterlocking the arms. Once this is accomplished the officer applies slight pressure with his/her strong arm left to right. You never pull the neck of the suspect toward you. In other words when using this technique you do not pull toward the "adams apple" It is the cutting off the blood flow to the brain via the carotid artery just by closing ones strong arm left to right. Please Google "choke holds" to see a image to understand just how the arms of the person appling this technique would appear. As you will see it is no where close to the officers positioning of his left arm in the video. Okay please understand I believe it is a terrible tragedy anytime a death occurs, all I am trying to accomplish is to attempt to articulate a theory of what might of happend. If the officer was not using his arm around the suspects neck there would be nothing to disscuss here. To wrap my comment up I would like to say the suspect was only contacted due to complaints by local business owners. Once the officer arrived the suspect should of submitted to the officers commands therefor the suspect would most likely be alive today. Some might say it is just another case of "suicide by cop". Would I have handled the call different? Yes, I would of requested he move along to a different location away from any stores, but maybe the officer tried that, but, possibly the suspect refused and forced the officers hand.

    1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

      I have an idea! Why don't we send the police officers home for 48 hours all across the country along with all their support divisions? No cops no dispatchers no E.M.T's no staff, thats right just nuttin.... I would wager people would be begging and crying for the police to return to work. Just for a few minutes just imagine what the states would be like. What will you people do that are unfamilar with survival and have no skills what so ever to survive. As a retired cop I am capable of taking care of myself and my family but what would you do if you had 0 skills? In NY City the protesters are saying, "what do we want? (crowd answers) dead cops," "When do we want them?" (crowd answers) "right now!" So here is my point, go out and take care of yourselves or thank the police that protect you, they sometimes bleed or dying for you.

      1. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

        I have a idea. "Why don't you go climb back in the hole you slithered out of. Then stay there until you can find a police person hat will let you you can go put your nose in their BUTT.

        1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

          OOOO.....YOU ARE GETTING COAL FOR CHRISTMAS....THAT WAS UGLY....DARN RIGHT UGLY AND SOOO CHILDISH....."WHERE THERE IS STRIFE THERE IS EVERY EVIL THING."....WOW...YOUR RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE OTHER UGLY MEAN DISTASTEFUL COMMENTS....THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THIS OTHERWISE GODLY VENUE OF TRYING TO SEE THE OTHERS POINT OF VIEW AND FINDING A COMMON GROUND TO BEGIN THE HEALING PROCESS...REMEMBER "TIS THE SEASON"

        2. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

          Well my friend I slithered from the hole behind you because I was hot pursuit attempting to arrest you because you were leaving an easy trail of slim to follow after most likely numerous attrocities toward mankind . Yes, all you pieces of trash are easy to find due to your stupidity and boastfullness making law enforcements job easy. You see the police picks up trash such as you and we put the trash in jail for court proceedings. Now many times the courts let turds such as you go, but, you are always right back out on the street curbs for the police to pick back up. You Sir are a sperm belching gutter slut who has one foot in jail and the other is on a banana peel. Sir when I was just eighteen I was in Vietnam in a fox hole trying to stay alive. By the time I turned 19 I had several scalps tucked under my belt and wore a neckless of fingers around my neck and when the wind blew I smelled of death. You will never intimidate me sir nor scare me by your little man words with no meaning. Its men such as me that make it possible for you to spurt your venimous sperm toward our great society and the greatest country to ever exist. You see Sir you and your ilk are the exception to the rule, the rest of us are not mentally disturbed as you with illnesses such as the ones you suffer from. I truley feel very bad for you and pray you might recover from the devils that run through you. I hope this post was not above your caveman cranial capabilities to understand my friend.

          Many blessings edegreeonline along with prayers from all of us. Oh, and please attempt to get the appropriate mental health care you most assuredly need. Should you need any advice I would be honored to recommend some top notch experts in the area for you.

          1. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            Not a problem, I can use the same one I referred your mother to use when she decided to quit street walking. I think it worked for her, she is only on the block once a week now.

          2. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            Even a fool like you should be able to see the police are out of control if you read this post and read the web page.

            I am sure you will think the police were in fear of their life when they handcuffed, shackled and took to jail a 4 year old for having a temper tantrum

            An Unruly 4-Year-Old Student Gets Treated Like A Hardened Criminal After Temper Tantrum Clearly, students need to behave in a ways that do not endanger other students or inhibit their learning. But handcuffing and shackling a 4-year-old and taking him off to jail goes too far.

            http://www.ijreview.com/2014/12/220143-4-schools-punishment-disruptive-4-year-old-student-getting-recognized-wrong-reasons/?utm_source=afternoonalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=change

          3. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

            Well edge we old guard cops try to weed out the ones that are hyperactive. Hyperactive is a good word. Actually, that habit can be chanded. However, there are other issues that must be addressed by termination. Some people just can't pass all the background test which can be useful.I took a 8 hour mental test, then interviewed by a shrink. We (police) are the most widely educated group of men and women that receive "Race Relations schools/training than any other career. Much of what I just explained varies from department to department. Many small departments in small towns struggle, due to lack of money to purchase training and equipment. I was lucky I had a career with a department and of course through the city. We were paid extreamly well, had beautiful health insurence and retirement. Oh, we had the state of the art weapons too. Not cheap! Hopefully I have shed a glimps of light in this thread

            Merry Christmas, Happy New Year edgegreeonline to you and your loved ones

        3. Krvin DeFranco's Avatar Krvin DeFranco

          You have to ask yourself one question "why are the police there?" Answer: to protect and serve. From what you might ask...criminals that's what. And criminal behavior. If you are not engaged in criminal activity, harassing someone, threatening lives, or property, you have no reason to fear a police officer. If you are acting suspiciously, or if you are anywhere that police are ordered to patrol and you are not supposed to be there, then expect to be stopped and questioned. Period. This is a somewhat "religious" type of blog, so why the absolute filth coming out of your mouth? If people acted as God wanted them to there would be no need for police. You know...Don't kill, don't steal, don't covet your neighbors wife, or goods, honor your father and mother, treat those as you want them to treat you. Try these on for size and you might have a different out look on life. And the police! If you want to bundle up your hate and spew it out , then speak out against criminals and criminal behavior and not those who try to prevent it. Until things change drastically, we need the police, we need to respect them, and support them because obviously there are people out there that support evil and evil doers. Ring a bell?

      2. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

        ITS UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE SUCH IGNORANCE AND A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE FACTS OF THE TWO CASES THAT HAVE BROUGHT ALL OF THE DISCORD AND HATRED OUT IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE THAT ARE DAYLY RISKING THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THEM...AMAZING...HOW EVIL WORKS TO BLIND HUMANS. AND, THEN WE MUST TRY TO GET THEM TO OPEN UP THEIR EYES AND ATTENTION SPANS LONG ENOUGH TO GRASP THE FACTS AND NOT IGNORE THEM TO BETTER FIT THEIR AGENDAS..... NOT EVERYONE IS UPSET WITH THE POLICE....NOT EVERY POLICEMAN IS PERFECT....BUT, I FOR ONE AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE JOB YOU ALL DO FOR US.....PLEASE GO NOWHERE....WE NEED YOU!!!!!!

        1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

          Oh my friend edgreeonlin you are a lost person to think your vebal insults will capture me. Many blessings and a Merry Christmas to you and your family. Oh by the way my mother died when I was 18, that was in December of 1970. Sad really to think that one has to say negative comments about ones mother in an attempt to insight one to violence. I wish many blessings to your mother and family. I assume they must be very worried about your violent demented nature especially during the Holy Season. I will pay for your soul my brother.

          1. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

            I was not trying to insult you I thought you knew what SHE was doing. . I guess the truth does insult some people. I guess coming off the streets was to much for her. I am sure the devil will take good care of her until you can make it down there.

          2. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

            THI FIGHT IS NOW NOT NECESSARY AND THE LOW BLOWS ARE NOT GETTING YOU GUYS ANYWHERE....GO TO YOUR CORNERS AND TAKE A DEEP DEEP BREATH! THEN....CONCENTRATE ON WHAT FEW DAYS WE HAVE LEFT TO SING JINGLE BELLS WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE AN IDIOT....OK...FILL OUR HEARTS WITH JOY AND TAKE A BREATHER!! "you do know you are on a christian newsletter...right?"

        2. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

          Looks that way edge. If there was a misunderstanding then let me be the first to appologize. Blogging can be really confussing.

        3. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

          i AM SURE THIS WILL MEAN NOTHING TO YOU Since you can not see the police are out of hand. But I do hope you read this post I am sure you will think the police were in fear of their life when they handcuffed, shackled and took to jail a 4 year old for having a temper tantramk

          An Unruly 4-Year-Old Student Gets Treated Like A Hardened Criminal After Temper Tantrum Clearly, students need to behave in a ways that do not endanger other students or inhibit their learning. But handcuffing and shackling a 4-year-old and taking him off to jail goes too far.

          http://www.ijreview.com/2014/12/220143-4-schools-punishment-disruptive-4-year-old-student-getting-recognized-wrong-reasons/?utm_source=afternoonalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=change

          1. Krvin DeFranco's Avatar Krvin DeFranco

            What about the school principal? You know the one who called the police. Why do you think she called the police? This kid obviously no angel, may have been a lethal threat to another student. How do we know. You can't discipline a student without an impending lawsuit. Something drastic had to be done in her professional opinion to keep others safe. What would you do? Call the mother and tell her to discipline her child or else he'd meet her in hell like you said to dirty paw? You seem to have all the morality inside your head. Too bad it manifests itself as vicious attacks on police and the other bloggers who dis agree with you. Free your mind and the rest will follow. And try to remember that this is not a secular blog, so please clean up your speech.

  1. Mark's Avatar Mark

    I'm disappointed to see anger and hatred in a blog dedicated to the Creator. Don't you understand that this is exactly what evil intends? That the best way to create more evil is to divide us and seperate us? This is a terrible thing. No one should die like that and we need to start seeing each other as HUMANS not blacks or whites, Asians or Latinos.

    I don't know what the answer is right now, but I can tell you that it involves love, not hatred. Don't allow yourselves to be divided. Stay together in peace and love and let the hatred go.

  1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

    Thank you jo-ann! All I am attempting is to make a point, like it or not the police are the conscience of society. Trust me when I say, we the police will never walk off the job we the police took an oath which is sacred to us to uphold the laws and to dispence justice impartially. I have taken that oath in the military (Vietnam during my Army years) and as a police office and I would die to live up to it. Yes, you are correct that there are bad apples in every aspect of life and our working world which includes police officer, we just need to weed them out of the force because they do not deserve to put a badge on, nor stap a weapon to their side. There is nothing more important in my world than to protect our fellow citizens and to administer the law equally to all. I really do hope this resonates with everyone because it is so important to understand we the police are here for everyone of any race or religion.

    Blessings

    1. JO-ANN's Avatar JO-ANN

      MEANT EVERY WORD....MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOUR SAFE THROUGH THIS....THIS TO SHALL PASS! THAT IS OUR FATHERS PROMISE! MERRY CHRISTMAS

      1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

        Yes! Merry Christmas and may there be Peace On Earth for everyone.

  1. ae7135@hmamail.com's Avatar ae7135@hmamail.com

    Police Officers have a very tough job, may GOD bless them all.

    1. edegreeonline's Avatar edegreeonline

      God should so something. The police are out of control and worse YOU ALL CAN NOT SEE IT. I wonder how you will explain this away. An Unruly 4-Year-Old Student Gets Treated Like A Hardened Criminal After Temper Tantrum Clearly, students need to behave in a ways that do not endanger other students or inhibit their learning. But handcuffing and shackling a 4-year-old and taking him off to jail goes too far.

      http://www.ijreview.com/2014/12/220143-4-schools-punishment-disruptive-4-year-old-student-getting-recognized-wrong-reasons/?utm_source=afternoonalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=change

      1. Charles Brideson's Avatar Charles Brideson

        I'm a former policeman and I have closely monitored various news reports from different news channels and newspapers regarding the Michael Brown police shooting in Ferguson, MO, and the death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY City. First, "Hands Up Don't Shoot" is incorrect and was never a part of the Michael Brown incident - it was contrived by some with self-serving interests! Second, Eric Garner should have simple not resisted, but allowed the police to handcuff and search him incident to his arrest, and work through the process calmly, which he had been through many times. In both cases, the police were responding to complaints from others, which resulted in them responding and contact with both Michael and Eric. Instead, Eric resisted arrest, knowing his medical conditions. What were the police to do just walk away? No, they had a job they are sworn to do and had to escalate their use force when Eric resisted. I can't see how the police had any other options other than the one the police took to resolve these issues. It is not too much force by the police, it's lack of respect for the police, failing to follow simple instructions by the police, resisting arrest, and more. Michael had just committed a robbery and knew it, that's why he reacted as he did. I would have reacted the same way to Michael Brown after he assaulted the policeman and tried to get his gun and flee if I was in his shoes.

  1. Kelly Logan's Avatar Kelly Logan

    Please change headline from "I can't breath" to I can't breathe"...that e on the bend of the word makes a big difference.

    1. DirtyPaw's Avatar DirtyPaw

      Hello Kelly. How do we edit a comment I can not seem to find that opp. Many blessings to you and your family!

  1. Krvin DeFranco's Avatar Krvin DeFranco

    It never should have gotten that far. Eric Garner knew that he was breaking the law. He was cited what 37 times previously. If he said I'm sorry officer I'll leave; it probably would have been over at that point. Mr. Garner was confrontational and showed no willingness to comply with the officers command. When he moved his hands around blocking the officer's attempt to cuff him, he resisted arrest. At this point it became tragic. There was no way an officer that size could subdue a man that size. And given the circumstances of his medical status, a taser might have been fatal to Mr. Garner if used. As was evident from the video it was quite a task to bring him down to be cuffed. Unknown to the officers his cry for help stating I can't breathe was a real physical emergency. Many shoplifters, thieves, and criminals use such tactics while being subdued to stop police or security personnel from cuffing them. This was not racially motivated. Aside from Mr. Garners crime, I believe that not monitoring his physical condition while incarcerated was negligent and should be treated as criminal also. Whether the officer who did the so called choke hold was responsible or not is questionable, as he was alive and breathing as he entered the police station. However, upon being taken to the police station, and unattended to, somebody has to be held accountable. There was no reason for this, or any other man to die over selling loose cigarettes. Period. I, remember guys buying cigarettes off another student in high school, no tax was charged or paid, and NO ONE GOT KILLED!! Although they were within their rights to complain to police, I wouldn't want to be those bodega owners for anything. Having to live the rest of my life knowing what happened over "Money".

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