The New York Times released a video simulation and multiple reports recapping the shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville Metro Police Department officers last March. It is compelling on many fronts and illustrates the tragedy of Taylor's death juxtaposed with the challenges for law enforcement  safely serving warrants. No cameras captured the final minutes of Breonna Taylor’s life. We used crime scene evidence and testimony to reconstruct what happened and show the mistakes that led to her killing by police. With @singhvianjali @NatalieReneau @DrewJordan_NYT Thread 👇https://t.co/z4pvAWJHLs — Malachy Browne (@malachybrowne) December 28, 2020 This latest N.Y. Times report offers a comprehensive recap but most people made up their minds about Breonna, Black Lives Matter, police, and the justice system months ago. The comments thread
Tag: police shootings
LMPD forced to shoot man who points weapon at officers — If people would comply with officer commands, they’d likely see a different outcome
Man beats ex-wife and son. Police called. Man answers door announcing "I got a gun" as he raises it above his shoulder. Police officer tells him to "put it down." Man replies "back up" as he points the gun at the police. Man dead. Officer #1 in the video is Lenert Ekzy and Officer #2 is Carlyn Alexander. Ekzy was the first officer on the porch and had to make a split decision once the armed man turned his gun barrel toward the police. Wouldn't life work out much better if people complied with police commands? If the police are in error, all of that can be sorted out in a peaceful way in just a few minutes or at the courthouse later. But
His life matters and so does his life
Now that we've had a few days to exhale from the massacre of Dallas police officers by Micah Xavier Johnson (below) who said that he "wanted to kill white people...especially cops," let's bring in a mix of voices. WAPO: White America's worst nightmare - black men who sow disillusionment NY Times: data shows no bias in police shootings but more physical contact with African Americans NOLA: Baton Rouge police have a history of brutality toward blacks DO THE NUMBERS: Fewer black people are shot by police than white or Hispanic people; and the percentage of crimes by various races illustrates how police are more often patrolling African American neighborhoods DATA: The color of crime is another issue that must be part of the
America under fire
Police officer deaths by gunfire in 2016 are up 63% from this same time last year. A sniper named Micah Xavier Johnson, who professed to wanting to kill white people (especially cops), murdered five police officers, shooting a total of 12 cops and 2 civilians during a Dallas rally protesting police violence. Johnson's online presence illustrated his rage toward white people. Apparently, no one noticed. The protest was a response to a pair of graphic police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana earlier in the week. After the Dallas police officers were assassinated, some people took joy in the actions of the shooter. A New York Times guest editorial posted hours before the Dallas shootings railed about police shootings of black
In the big story of life, explore all of its dimensions
It's been 50+ years since President Lyndon B. Johnson's "The Great Society" strategies were enacted to extricate America's poor people from the clutches of economic inequality. Taxpayers spent an estimated $13 trillion to $22 trillion on programs, infrastructure, and cash payments to redistribute wealth. Rioters in various parts of 2015 America claim that systemic economic injustice is still holding people down. The Great Society had some wins and losses. What now? And what of the police officers, national guard, fire fighters, and other first responders whose lives are endangered by mobs intent on destruction? Gang members said they were not trying to hurt police, just calling attention to police injustice at large. Should the public, as Baltimore's mayor suggested, offer space