So some legal people have shut down the opportunity for there to be a special independent prosecutor for the Breonna Taylor case? My blood is boiling hearing about this. I know they wouldn’t try that if Black cops gunned down a white woman in cold blood. They’d be wearing orange jump suits by now or possibly get the electric chair if the races were reversed. Of course, the sellout of the century Daniel Cameron isn’t going to be involved for obvious reasons.
This is so unbelievable, but I’m sadly not surprised given the state of how the injustice system works in America which is a shame. No, just because a different president is going to take office next month won’t change anything about this situation. Breonna Taylor was straight up murdered and the charges were only for a shot up wall for “wanton endangerment” compared to a woman who was killed even though she and her boyfriend had nothing to do with some drug-based criminals. This shouldn’t have happened.
See, I didn’t ignore the Breonna Taylor case or any other stories of racial injustice even though I haven’t posted on here as much recently.
Breonna, you didn’t deserve this…
Tag Archives: Police Brutality
Kenneth Walker is lawyering up against Louisville, KY as well as LMPD
Finally, there’s some semblance of positive news and updates in this heinous event. Kenneth Walker is Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend in case you didn’t know. He got himself a lawyer and is filing charges against both the city of Louisville as well as LMPD. That is a step in the right direction especially with all the injustice him and his late girlfriend suffered in that botched raid. Kenneth was falsely accused of attempted murder even though his own apartment was broken into and had to defend himself and her. He was a legal gun owner and the castle doctrine should apply here. Kenneth was traumatized after Breonna was murdered (WHO CAN BLAME HIM?!) and it was sickening getting those charges and being silenced. After all this time about the cops not being charged, there’s finally some legal action going on. I really hope justice is on the side of him and the Taylor family especially with the horrific things that happened to them. Even the other tenants in the same apartment complex said the police never announced who they were when they broke into Kenneth and Breonna’s apartment room. This was an atrocity and no one should ever have to go through this.
May justice favor Kenneth Walker. Never forget Breonna Taylor.
What’s happening in Kenosha has me infuriated.
Before I get to these relevant issues, I want to make something clear. Even though I recently did those video projects and promoted the new Ospreyshire track, it doesn’t mean that I have been ignoring what’s going on. Being able to do videography gave me joy even with the hard work involved, but that euphoria has wavered before crashing when more things happened.
I’m sure you all know about Jacob Blake from Kenosha, Wisconsin by now. He’s a Black man who became another victim of racially-coded policing as he got shot 7 times behind his back in front of his kids in his car. Thankfully, he’s still alive, but he’s paralyzed for the waist down and could possibly be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. Yes, I heard about the story about how there was allegedly a knife on the driver’s side floor, but he was unarmed on his person, and I have suspicion of that knife being planted evidence. The cop who shot him is on administrative leave and the others with him didn’t have their body cameras on. The only reason people know this is because of that cell phone video. Recently, Blake’s dad found out that his son was handcuffed to a hospital bed when he visited him. ARE YOU SERIOUS? I’m sorry, but America has no right calling other countries out for human rights violations when devilry like this happens. What kind of a psychopath would handcuff a PARALYZED MAN to a hospital bed? It’s not like actual murderers get treated better than this. Yes, I’m being sarcastic and the next paragraph proves my point.
Protests erupted in that Southern Wisconsin city to the surprise of no one. However, there was a so-called militia that walked around armed to the teeth. One such member was the 17 year old Kyle Rittenhouse from Antioch, IL. This thug shoots three protestors and killed two of them. There was video of him walking around right by Kenosha PD, and nobody does anything to him! He didn’t get arrested until after the fact and he’s now being charged with 1st degree murder among other crimes. I’m glad they pressed charges, but I’m not celebrating until there’s a conviction. If Rittenhouse is convicted he’ll be in jail for life without parole. So let me get this straight…someone gets paralyzed for breaking up a fight, but a double murder suspect is arrested while unscathed? This destroys the credibility of Kenosha PD and I’m glad people are seeing the stark contrast in treatment. As one can see the meme above, it also shows that if you’re Black with a toy gun, you get riddled with bullets no questions asked. But someone with a real gun can kill people and is treated so much more humanely. Rittenhouse is a hardcore blue lives matter supporter and was radicalized online, so that explained a lot about his actions. Do you think an armed Black or Arab teen would get the same treatment in that case by gunning down people?
I do have an interesting perspective on this situation because I have actually been to both Kenosha and Antioch before. I don’t know any of the people involved in this case, but I do have familiarity with those areas. The thing is I used to live not far from both places during my teenage years. Lake County, Illinois is the northeastern-most county in the state and it’s also the 2nd wealthiest (DuPage is #1 in the Land of Lincoln). When my family lived there, it was because of my dad’s job as a pastor and we lived in a parsonage in one of the suburbs. My family would’ve never been able to afford to live in most of the towns in any other situation. We were middle-class from an annual income standpoint, but we were one of the poorest families in where we lived. Not all of Lake County is like this, but I’ve visited towns with more McMansions, Benzes and North Face jackets than I would be accustomed to. Antioch is a majority white (88.79% according to their last census) town that would be considered upper-middle class. It’s also not far from Kenosha, since it’s right on the IL/WI border. Some of you that actually read my books would know that one of my characters Rozenn Padgett from Hollandus Landing is from that town, but I digress. So many people I’ve met from the more affluent parts of the county have come off as fake, entitled, and racist to me with dog whistles and more overt reasons. There have been times where I’d shop in some of the stores and I’d be followed around even though I was going to buy something. During my high school years, I would hear stories of teens doing hard drugs and drinking, but never got punished since their parents were school board members, cops, lawyers, city council members, etc. Kenosha on the other hand is a more diverse place. It was closer to get to than Chicago during those times, and parts of it felt like a mini-Milwaukee. I didn’t have too many issues over in that city, but some people treated me worse than others. It’s just a shame that this tragedy just ripped apart that city.
I’ve been so angry at what’s going on in the 4th largest city in Wisconsin, let alone this country. You’d think that after what happened to George Floyd or Breonna Taylor, that people would have more sense when it comes to race relations, but to say we have a long way to go is an understatement. I’m trying to be as civil as I can in this post because I have so much internalized rage from hearing these stories that I don’t bust a blood vessel or anything like that. Is justice too much to ask?
LA County and Compton Police are infiltrated by gangs to terrorize Black People. A whistleblowing sheriff proved so many people right by exposing this.
I don’t want to downplay the seriousness of the situation, but how sad is it that after finding out about this expose, the thing I said next was “And next on the news…Water is wet.”
Chalk that up to something most of America thinks is just a conspiracy theory when Black people say it until they’re proven right just like the War on Drugs, The Southern Strategy, The Devil’s Punchbowl, or even outside of America such as medical experiments done to Africans against their will (See: Cold Case Hammerskjöld). Basically, an LA County sheriff exposed the infiltration of the Executioners gang inside police departments in that part of Southern California. They would celebrate with illegal arrest quotas and tattoo parties after shooting people. This consists of white and Latinx officers with the latter clearly being used as race buffers. What made me furious wasn’t just because of the rampant injustice including racially profiling Compton’s mayor, but that the local channel clips blurred out the Executioners while leaving the whistleblower’s face intact. That shows you EXACTLY which side their bread is buttered on. When was the last time you’ve seen Black gang members have all of their faces censored in the news? Double standards, much? It’s situations like these that only give more rhetorical strength to those protesting against police brutality and racism. It’s crazy how many innocent people have been wronged by these gangsters with badges. Phil made a great point about how this could be a field day for criminal defense lawyers regardless if their clients are innocent or not. These cops have NO RIGHT to talk or press charges if they’re arresting gang members when they have some on the police department (not that anyone should join a gang to begin with).
This is sick how they’ve been able to fly under the radar. This isn’t the first or only police department to have this issue, but it’s one that’s being exposed right now. These police departments should clean house of all these criminals who managed to not be in the jails for their actions. You can’t say one type of gang is bad when a different one with good only because they have badges. Unbelievable…
An older news story, but still relevant: Where’s #MeToo when it comes to Brett Hankison?
Just because the protests haven’t been getting as much mainstream coverage doesn’t mean they’re disappearing. I’m still going to talk about the Breonna Taylor situation and others or at least continuing the discussion on race relations on here and even my other blogs.
I do apologize if this is older news for anyone knee deep in what’s going on in Louisville, KY, but I didn’t know this until recently. It’s infuriating enough that the cops still aren’t even charged for the murder of Breonna Taylor, but apparently Brett Hankison has been accused of sexually assaulting various women. This is just disgusting on so many levels. As one can tell by the title, where’s #MeToo when it comes to this situation? I know he’s not a celebrity, but people have been taken down and canceled even though they were innocent (see: Nate Parker). This really shows how you have certain women out there who are just activists of convenience instead of getting real justice. Those same people don’t even care that a woman was murdered in her own house, so I hate this double standard when it comes to who is treated better or who gets demonized. This should give even more reason to charge him now, but the legal system is still twiddling their thumbs on the matter and giving the Louisville protestors even more reason to be on the streets.
I can only hope that they finally charge and convict everyone who killed Breonna Taylor as well as getting Brett Hankison for his sexual assault crimes.
Music Spotlight: Fight the Power 2020
I have my issues with BET, but I thought this was a great tribute regardless. One of my friends showed me this video which was for this year’s BET Awards. Public Enemy made a new version of “Fight the Power”. This song came out 31 years ago and it’s still relevant. They came back with Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought from The Roots, Jahi, YG, and Keedron Bryant. This was very necessary and relevant given the times. It’s a shame how nothing’s changed since that song came out or even the movie Do the Right Thing. I was even surprised to hear references to the Haitian Revolution, Breonna Taylor namedropped twice, Seneca Village (FKA Senegal Village) in Central Park being an all-Black community a long time ago or Juneteenth in a mainstream channel. There were great lyrics and one particular highlight was Rapsody (in my opinion, had the vest verse and a shoo-in for guest verse of the year) saying “You love Black Panther, but not Fred Hampton.” WOW! I thought I would share this updated version of this classic rap song with you.
Brett Hankison was fired. No, that’s not justice. Breonna Taylor didn’t deserve to be killed and all of you know it.
I’m not going to let Breonna Taylor get swept under the rug. As much as people talk about George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery (which they should continue to do so), people can’t be ignoring what happened to this murdered paramedic. It’s already confirmed that it was a no-knock warrant which they JUST made illegal and they already had the suspect in custody.
Sure, Hankison was fired, but why just him and why aren’t there charges pressed against all three of them?
This is just sickening and it’s clearly murder. They also had some nerve to charge her boyfriend to begin with even though they had no right being in their home and he was defending himself and Breonna from a home invasion. She didn’t deserve this and she was doing her best to save lives especially during this pandemic.
I really hope that justice can win even though it’s going to be really hard for this to happen.
Rest In Power, Breonna Taylor.
Another proof positive example of color-coded injustice. Exhibit A: Sebastian Arzadon in Lawrenceburg, TN
I wasn’t aware about this story until just yesterday. Boy, do I need to talk about this. In Lawrenceburg, TN, there was a double murder suspect named Sebastian Arzadon who was finally caught by police. What did the cops do while he was detained? He got free bottled water and medical treatment! Wow, if I saw that video out of context and with no commentary, I would’ve thought they were treating some person who saved a child or animal from a fire or an emergency situation. I’m sure people like George Floyd for example got similar treatment despite not killing anyone, right?
Oh, wait. He’s dead!
Lawrenceburg PD, thank you for proving the anti-racist organizations right. If you wonder why people chant “Black lives matter”, this is one of the reasons why. I’m also glad Phil brought up the similarities with Dylann Roof whom as you remember killed 9 people at a church and got free Burger King from the feds. This is unbelievable. Some may argue that it’s a different police department in another state or that Arzadon didn’t resist arrest.
Neither did George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castille, Terrence Crutcher, Alton Sterling, Tamir Rice, and so many more. That argument is invalid.
That police chief in the video who said they would treat anyone the same way regardless of race is such an obvious lie that if Pinocchio said the same thing, his nose would grow a foot longer instantly. I have NEVER seen a Black person get treated that way ever in my life in America. If someone argues that this country treats murderers better than innocent people or at least those with non-violent crimes, then this is one example. You can also add Brock Turner, Ethan Couch, Niklaus Cruz, and others on that list, too.
I do tip my hat off to the internet and Snoop Dogg for calling this stuff out and meme-ing this clear double standard.
Observations, Questions, and Rants about How Messed Up Everything Is
I don’t feel like doing anything poetic. I need to let off some steam about the chaos going on. This climate has made me sad, furious, and nervous among other things. Some of the answers should be obvious to some of you when I ask these questions.
How insane is it that reporters are getting assaulted and arrested just for doing their jobs? People know it’s violating freedom and the press and the 1st Amendment, right?
How is it that the Third Amendment would actually come up in conversation outside of the confines of a US government or citizenship class? The fact that it was invoked to get National Guard troops out of DC hotels in my lifetime is mind blowing. It even trended on Twitter of all places, too!
What does this say about society when Sesame Street characters can show up at a CNN Town Hall and address the issues of racism, police brutality, white privilege, protesting, and reconciliation better than any politician of either major American political party during my lifetime?
How is it that plants and instigators of the peaceful protests get treated better than those who are legitimately protesting nonviolently? Also, why isn’t mainstream media going hard against the undercover agents looting and just blame every black person they see who happens to be nearby?
How is it that the Buffalo cops can still lie on an elderly white protestor, get caught lying when the video came out, or how 57 officers “resigned” in support of the police who pushed them? Once the video dropped, white America for one second got to see what it was like to be black when they saw someone who could be their grandfather, father, brother, or even them have his skull crack on the pavement and bleed while the authorities walked by like nothing happened.
How come “Reopen the State” Covidiots can threaten governors, policemen, and can show up willy-nilly with AK-47s and AR-15s on government property and no one does anything yet unarmed anti-racism protestors get met with batons, rubber bullets, flash grenades, or even military forces?
So teachers can be punished (suspended or fired) for yelling at children, yet a cop in Fontana, California can get paid leave for raping a minor 4 years ago, and just NOW get charged for it? I’m sorry, but if anyone doesn’t get fired and arrested for such a heinous act, then NOBODY should be fired!
Why aren’t Breonna Taylor’s killers even charged yet? She really needs justice and those murderers shouldn’t be able to get away scot-free for what they did.
How is it that whatever good cops are there get punished and/or bullied for calling out against police brutality or trying to stop abusive behavior, but the ones who do the abusing get protected?
A football player can conflate anti-racist causes with “disrespecting the flag” and one’s just right to have an opinion, but to call out against systemic racism and they should just “shut up and dribble”? Double standards much when it comes to athletes of certain complexions?
What does it say that people are more offended by people wanting equality than Mark Wahlberg actually committing hate crimes in the 80s against black and Vietnamese people? Boy, does this make Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch look like vile cultural appropriation in hindsight, don’t you think?
How is it that some Republicans can jump ship to support a Democrat? I’m an independent and even I was like “Wait? WHAAAAAT?! How is this possible?”. This makes no sense.
Why is it that the same people who try to stock up on arms in case there’s tyrannical activity in America are eerily silent about legit unconstitutional attacks on peaceful protestors and reporters?
How can so many countries actually protest against racial injustice at once regardless of their demographics?
Those are a few observations I’ve noticed over the past couple of weeks. Hypocrisy, bigotry, and mass confusion has been rattling my brain.
An Untitled Yet Relevant Poem, An Apology, and Some Life Updates
The very allegation of a fraudulent Andrew Jackson didn’t warrant an execution
The globe saw how vile the act was
Earlier on, others in the same profession acted with extreme restraint against tooled up whiners who threatened them and politicians
What stark irony and hypocrisy
That was undeserved in the land of 10,000 lakes
May justice remove her blindfold and for olive branches to renovate this society
[Dedicated to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many more…]
I’m sorry I haven’t been talkative on my blogs over the past few days. I’ve been dealing with different issues. Some are certainly miniscule in hindsight, some are about my emotions, and the current state of America REALLY hasn’t helped. I needed to calm down before posting something very irrational. Is it that hard for people to have human decency? What did surprise me was how many have been saddened about what happened recently. You know that’s something when even mainstream figures of different class and political backgrounds are condemning this. My silence over the past few days was not me ignoring these atrocities. Trust me, I’ve been reading up on these things. I can’t lie, I had to break it up with lighthearted stuff, books, and even the occasional film so I don’t go stark raving mad or dangerously depressed.
I don’t picture myself posting as frequently as I usually do as of recently on this blog. This isn’t just because of the current climate. I also have other things to do like some constructive projects and even educational things.
As sappy as it sounds, I just want justice, peace, and people to just love as well as freaking accepting the humanity of others. It’s certainly a miracle that I have enough compassion to wish for such things.
Ospreyshire's Realm 