It's often difficult to commence troubling conversations. I cannot say that I can begin to comprehend consciously what it feel's like to be an African American individual in this country. I do, however, empathize to my full capabilities with the black community and send my deepest condolences as you continue to spend days mourning for the loss of loved ones.
It's often difficult to accept responsibility for troubling situations. I cannot say that I can begin to comprehend what it means to put on a badge and uniform and defend the citizens within this country. I do, however, empathize to my full capabilities with the law enforcement community and send my deepest regrets to those recently lost in the line of duty last week in downtown Dallas, Texas.
On the night of July 7, 2016, my hometown fell into the brink of despair during the peaceful protest of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. To individuals who are uncertain or unaware, the Dallas Police Department came to the rally to protect the protesters as they expressed their voice in spite of the recent killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Sterling was a 37-year old black male who was killed by a white male officer in front of a convenience store for selling CDs, and Philando Castile, a 32-year old black man who was brutally killed by a white male officer during a routine traffic stop. It was later on in the protest where 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas, a military veteran who'd served in Afghanistan began to snipe down the DPD.
Micah Johnson was unaffiliated with BLM. Dallas Police Department would eventually run into Micah within a parking garage after having wounded two civilians, seven officers, as well as killing six officers. Micah told officers he was "upset about recent police altercations, claiming he wanted to kill white people, specifically white officers, and that he acted alone," according to Police Chief David O. Brown.
After a prolonged standoff, Micah was killed.
"We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was," Brown said. "Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger. The suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb."
Micah Johnson had no criminal record or known terrorist ties, a law enforcement official mentioned.
Micah Johnson served in the U.S. Army Reserve from March 2009 to April 2015, training as a carpentry and masonry specialist, according to records released by the Pentagon. Johnson got deployed for about seven months in Afghanistan, from late-2013 to mid-2014.
These events only come to show that violence solves nothing. I am outraged by all the senseless killings. This isn't to say as Americans we should not be doing anything, because we should. These series of events do not derive from the fact that we need police reform. As an Officer of the Law, you have a sole responsibility to fulfill:
The Police Department is dedicated to serving the people of the community, and strives to reduce crime and provide a safe city.
How can that be though if your own brothers in law enforcement kill senselessly, and you do nothing to speak out about it? After asking two local police officers for comments on the recent shootings, I was left with nothing but a respectful decline on the matter.
Why is it that Officers of the Law are the last ones to admit mistakes? You're just as human as civilians. It's okay to admit that as a department you've handled things poorly and will take the right actions to assure citizens it will not continue to occur. Would that not provide better results from an outraged public than defending your officers by giving them paid leave and attempting to justify the killing?
Baton Rouge PD stated that the Alton Sterling had a lengthy criminal history and carried a gun on his personnel illegally. That doesn't propose that you've been given the okay to shoot. Moreso, you've been given the okay to disarm and arrest in order to protect the people.
Philando Castile was killed by Minnesota PD during a routine traffic stop. When asked whether he had any weapons, Philando openly stated he was carrying a registered weapon. It was after the officer asked him to show him ID that Castile reached for his wallet before being open fired. His girlfriend and four-year-old daughter witnessed their loved one innocently gunned down in front of their eyes while viewers watched his girlfriend stream the incident live on Facebook.
But this isn't new. Racial killings by officers have been happening for decades. We simply have cameras now to prove it.
"It's just that ever since the national media shed light on police brutality killings three years ago I've been hearing the outrage from the black community. It's good to speak openly about this subject and continue to find creative ways to bring attention and awareness to this just as the #blacklivesmatter movement has done. But I've also been hearing that we need to fight back against the system. I've heard blacks openly say lets bear arms and show them how they'd like it. Even though that man is unaffiliated, there is a focal point to his crime that stems from that hatred, frustration, and impatience that blacks have been feeling for millennials. And even though it's unwarranted it still makes it hard for those of us in the middle who just want to be protected, equal and live along side whites without any animosity. This is where my frustration comes from," Johanna Piard, a 20-year old writer based in Miami, Florida said this when asked about the subject at hand.
I'm not black, so I can't say I will ever truly understand. However, I'm a human being who cares deeply and that is more than enough. I've seen the news for the past years and I've continued to watch senseless killing time and again. This year thus far we are at 179 mass shootings in our country alone—it’s only July. That’s the result of neutral state action and systematic racial prejudice.
So in an era of colorblindness, my question to you is: what are we going to do to change it?
"We may have all come on different boats, but we are all on the same ship now." - Martin Luther King Jr.
