Reports of killing innocent people are as old as history itself. However, the killings of unarmed African Americans have recently come into the public domain. Overall, it is estimated that young black citizens in the United States are 4.5 times more likely to die at the hands of police compared to other races and ages. The stories of the young people are shocking, horrifying and leave us with more questions than answers.
The deaths of Eric Garner on the month of July in 2014 at Staten Island and that of Michael Brown on the month of August the same year, are probably what brought public and media attention to the killing of young African Americans. Mr. Garner died after a police officer put him in a chokehold-prohibited by the law. As he choked, he repeated he could not breathe eleven times as life left his body. Although medical examiners ruled his death a homicide, the police officers involved were not indicted.
A month later, in August 2014, Michael Brown got shot and killed in Ferguson in unclear circumstances. He was just eighteen at the time and was shot at close range. It is not clear whether he was surrendering or advancing towards the police officers. However, it is crystal clear that the young man was not armed when he also was shot.
Michael brown and Eric Garner are not the only African American people who died innocently in 2014. A 34 year old man Rumain Robinson was killed in Arizona when police officer mistook his bottle of pills for a weapon. In November the same year Akai Gurley was reported shot in a dark stairwell in unclear circumstances. The same year also saw the deaths of McKenzie Cochran in Michigan, Dante Parker in California and Jordan Baker from Houston all who were not armed.
Even in earlier years, unarmed African Americans were getting shot and killed. In 2013, a 34 year old Miriam Carey was found shot in her car by police officers after a chase. She and her daughter in the car were not armed. Five bullets hit her and lost her life on the scene. Jonathan Ferrell was shot and killed after being apprehended by police.
In 2012, Reynaldo Cuevas got shot and killed by a police as he attempted to flee from smugglers who had been robbing his place of work. The police officer was not found at fault and therefore, his case did not go to the jury. Tamon Robinson was not armed when he was shot running towards his mothers building after he was confronted by the police officers about stealing paving stones.
Other African American people who were shot unarmed include Danroy Henry and Derrick Jones in 2010, Reginald Doucedt in 2011 and Ramarley Graham in 2012. In 2006 Sean Bell was killed by police officers the eve of his nuptials even though he evidently was not armed. In 2003, among those who were fatally shot was Ousmane Zongo and Alberta Spruill.
In 2000, unarmed Price Jones was fatally shot in a case of mistaken identity. In 1999, Amadou Diallo was shot when his wallet was mistaken for a gun. Many more African Americans have been killed while unarmed by police officers, security agents and vigilantes.
The deaths of Eric Garner on the month of July in 2014 at Staten Island and that of Michael Brown on the month of August the same year, are probably what brought public and media attention to the killing of young African Americans. Mr. Garner died after a police officer put him in a chokehold-prohibited by the law. As he choked, he repeated he could not breathe eleven times as life left his body. Although medical examiners ruled his death a homicide, the police officers involved were not indicted.
A month later, in August 2014, Michael Brown got shot and killed in Ferguson in unclear circumstances. He was just eighteen at the time and was shot at close range. It is not clear whether he was surrendering or advancing towards the police officers. However, it is crystal clear that the young man was not armed when he also was shot.
Michael brown and Eric Garner are not the only African American people who died innocently in 2014. A 34 year old man Rumain Robinson was killed in Arizona when police officer mistook his bottle of pills for a weapon. In November the same year Akai Gurley was reported shot in a dark stairwell in unclear circumstances. The same year also saw the deaths of McKenzie Cochran in Michigan, Dante Parker in California and Jordan Baker from Houston all who were not armed.
Even in earlier years, unarmed African Americans were getting shot and killed. In 2013, a 34 year old Miriam Carey was found shot in her car by police officers after a chase. She and her daughter in the car were not armed. Five bullets hit her and lost her life on the scene. Jonathan Ferrell was shot and killed after being apprehended by police.
In 2012, Reynaldo Cuevas got shot and killed by a police as he attempted to flee from smugglers who had been robbing his place of work. The police officer was not found at fault and therefore, his case did not go to the jury. Tamon Robinson was not armed when he was shot running towards his mothers building after he was confronted by the police officers about stealing paving stones.
Other African American people who were shot unarmed include Danroy Henry and Derrick Jones in 2010, Reginald Doucedt in 2011 and Ramarley Graham in 2012. In 2006 Sean Bell was killed by police officers the eve of his nuptials even though he evidently was not armed. In 2003, among those who were fatally shot was Ousmane Zongo and Alberta Spruill.
In 2000, unarmed Price Jones was fatally shot in a case of mistaken identity. In 1999, Amadou Diallo was shot when his wallet was mistaken for a gun. Many more African Americans have been killed while unarmed by police officers, security agents and vigilantes.
About the Author:
If you want to learn more about the killings of unarmed African Americans come to Street Light Productions. For more details on Artist Roosevelt Matthews Jr. (Aka Rapping Police-Blade-Onetime) go to http://streetlightsproductions.com right now.
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