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AIBU?

Aibu too not understand the reaction of the Ferguson Michael Brown in the USA

534 replies

Natashathemum · 26/11/2014 18:32

My Dh thinks that it is a disgusting example of racial inequality in America. But i think having read a lot of articles/news that the police officer was only protecting himself. Although it is unfortunate that someone so young died.

However Dh feels strongly it is disgusting racism. He called me blind and crazy (lighthearted). Aibu for thinking this.

OP posts:
Nomama · 26/11/2014 18:35

After this and the latest, 12 year old with what turned out to be a plastic gun, I have decided America is a totally alien world and I really cannot comprehend, empathise, understand comprehend much of what the hell happens there.

So I now tend to park it in a dark recess of my brain until I have the inclination to mull it over - which may be never.

Frankly, I find it horrendous, terrifying and a very bleak warning of what we are fast becoming!

MrSheen · 26/11/2014 18:39

Protecting himself against what?

The police in the US manage to apprehend violent serial killers without killling them, if they are white. Why can't they apprehend an unarmed, black teenager, who may, possibly have robbed a shop who has his hands above his head without shooting at him 12 times?

If there isn't a racial element then why is it always black kids being shot?

Nomama · 26/11/2014 18:40

Thje answer to that question, MrSheen, is why the though to of the whole concept/continent remains parked in a dark, inaccessible area of my brain!

GingerPuddin · 26/11/2014 18:41

On average every 28 hours a black person is killed by police in America. That makes me sick. There are things that are deeply wrong but its very hard to know how to solve this.

toomanybooksnotenoughspace · 26/11/2014 18:41

My understanding of the case is that although Michael Brown was behaving aggressively towards the police officer and tried to attack him, he was shot repeatedly when he had his hands up and this therefore shows that he was not in a position to continue fighting against the police officer.

Carrierpenguin · 26/11/2014 18:42

Yanbu. The youth was behaving in a threatening manner and the officer feared for his life. I've never been shot by the police because I don't go round threatening police in a menacing way, perhaps the rioters should look at the behaviour of the yob they are defending?

BirdhouseInYourSoul · 26/11/2014 18:45

I thought the officer said he was was grabbing for his gun?

I find it hard to believe it needed 12 shots to stop him though. I think that's where a lot of the doubt may come from. It seemed excessive and people are suspicious that it was done to make sure he didn't talk.

cheesecakemom · 26/11/2014 18:46

Protecting himself from what? I don't understand why they shoot to kill. Couldn't they shoot the legs?

The guy had no weapon but apparently he looked angry and "demonic"! So he had to kill him. I personally don't understand that. So he deserved to die?

They just shot and killed a 12 year old black kid with a plastic gun (I think this has happened before to another black man). It just seems very odd to me!

Natashathemum · 26/11/2014 18:46

I suppose the reason why young black men are targeted because of social problems like poverty. Poverty subsequently creates crime. African Americans suffer more poverty. They do seem to be gun mad america though.

OP posts:
Ir1na · 26/11/2014 18:47

I don't know if the guy was innocent but it wouldn't surprise me - Americans always seem to shoot first and ask later!
What I definitely DON'T understand is having his family on TV encouraging people to "burn the place down"! When people were killed in rioting in the UK over something similar, didn't the parents of one of them tell people to STOP IT and it worked? Not encouraged them to do it more - they and the channels showing it are very irresponsible IMO!

Patrickstarisabadbellend · 26/11/2014 18:49

Yanbu.

Natashathemum · 26/11/2014 18:49

Apparently the man didn't have his hands above his head. But was running towards him. That's what I've heard

OP posts:
Daydreamersea · 26/11/2014 18:53

What happened is that the main witness lied and said that Michael who was shot dead had been holding his hands up to surrender. This was allegedly not true. Therefore the case has now fallen apart and the witness has gone into a witness rehabilitation programme.

Nomama · 26/11/2014 18:55

See.... totally alien.

WTF is witness rehab? Or should that have been Protection?

It being about America it is hared to tell if Daydreamer has chosen the wrong word or not.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/11/2014 18:59

The gun culture coupled with institutional, ingrained racism is what killed that boy.

Horrific.

angelohsodelight · 26/11/2014 19:02

The police officer was cleared. The evidence if forensics etc in the car and at the scene prove this. Op - your husband needs to read all the facts.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/11/2014 19:04

100% white police force where the overwhelming majority of the community is black. The policeman in question is saying that it would have played out exactly the same way if the victim had been white. And that his conscience is "completely clear".

The boy's mum (or perhaps sister or other family member) had a good point. How can your conscience be completely clear if the gun in your hand was the thing that killed anyone - guilty or not, armed or not, justified or not, in self defense or not. How can anyone have a clear conscience over shooting another human being, no matter what the circumstances?

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 26/11/2014 19:07

Angel, a lot of people think that the problems extend up through the court system in that part of the world, so the fact that he was cleared doesn't really say a lot about any underlying racial bias or motivation.

I reckon the police would have been a lot slower to pull their guns on a white perp. Only my opinion, of course.

angelohsodelight · 26/11/2014 19:09

But Brown was in the middle of the road blocking traffic, creating a danger to himself and others. Hadnt he just stolen stuff from a shop? It's granted that if he had walked on the sidewalk like normal peoe he wouldn't be dead.

FoxgloveFairy · 26/11/2014 19:14

I find it hard to get past the fact that the vast majority of people executed for murder in America are black men. Maybe there are socio-economic pressures that make such men more likely to turn to crime? Or it just seems okay to off this man because he's black? Don't have the answer.

MQv2 · 26/11/2014 19:14

"Couldn't they shoot the legs? "

Regardless of the specifics of this case, no they can't.
It's completely unfeasible and a danger to the police and the public.

MQv2 · 26/11/2014 19:15

Sorry that should say in cases where firing the weapon becomes necessary

Daydreamersea · 26/11/2014 19:21

Ooops yes I meant witness protection

EveDallasRetd · 26/11/2014 19:22

According to "Anonymous" who have been holding #OpKKK for the last week or so, whereby they are 'outing' and hacking the FB pages, Blogs and Personal Websites of members of the KluKluxKlan, 3 members of the Ferguson Police Department are members of, or have liked the pages of Ohio KKK chapters.

A black 17 year old was recently jailed for 23 years for killing an ex Police dog and yet a white man killing a black teenager doesn't even go to trial.

And a 12 year old black boy is killed for holding a replica gun.

I think I can understand why people are rioting.

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