I am not surprised that the Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile last summer was acquitted, but I am disturbed. Indeed, I was disturbed that Castile was pulled over more than 50 times in last 15 years of his life. Was Castile just the unluckiest motorist in Minnesota history or is this state of affairs commonplace? Regardless, Castile had yet another injustice done against him today. He is hounded in death as he was in life.
Don't get me wrong. I'm in no mood for the mob justice practiced by Black Lives Matter against Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson or by Marilyn Mosby following the Freddie Gray shooting in Baltimore. And given the occupational hazards involved with policing there will be occasions when lethal force must be used. Regrettably, however, we are arming too many police officers who aren't fit to be police officers, You can ask the family of Tamir Rice.
Just for once I would like to see an officer convicted for murdering an innocent African-American civilian. Because as it stands police effectively have a license to kill in this country, especially African-Americans. Hell, a police officer can shoot someone eight times in the back on camera, plant a taser on his victim and still not be convicted of murder.
If police officers don't get convicted of killing innocent civilians there's going to be a lot more of it. And why wouldn't there be? If there are no consequences for the taking of another life if you wear a badge then a lot of bad cops with bad intentions are going to be feeling pretty smug right about now.
How can the police enforce the law if they are deemed to be above it?
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