~~August 26, 2014~~
I subscribe to “Upworthy“. I receive their updates, videos and emails. I received this one recently. In view of the vital information presented and the time in history that we are living, I feel very strongly that it needs to be shared. I take no personal credit for this information. It was all gathered, compiled and presented by their staff.
“As it appears in …..”
I’m merely providing another forum for dissemination. All graphics in the slideshow were prepared and presented by Upworthy. All images in the slideshow and all information are the intellectual property of the original presenter.
John Crawford was holding a toy gun as he stood in the toy section of a Walmart. Before the police shot him to death in that same aisle, John managed to say, “It’s not real.” But it was too late for John.
Sean Bell was going to get married. One night, he was driving away from his bachelor party with his friends, Joseph and Trent. Suddenly, he hit a minivan. Four undercover police officers from the minivan began to shoot at them without warning, firing a total of 50 bullets at the three unarmed men. A wounded Joseph turned to Sean and said, “S, I love you, son.” Sean’s reply: “I love you, too.” Joseph and Trent survived, but their best friend, Sean, didn’t make it.
One of the witnesses in the Trayvon Martin trial, Rachel Jeantel, was on the phone with Trayvon moments before the scuffle with George Zimmerman that ended his life. One of the last things she heard the unarmed Trayvon say to the man who was following him with a gun that fateful night: “Why are you following me for?“
Michael Brown died August 2014. Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson shot him at least six times, twice in the head. Michael was not armed. His friend and eyewitness reported that Michael said: “I don’t have a gun. Stop shooting.” Minutes later, he was on the ground, bleeding. Dr. Michael M. Baden, the man who did Michael’s autopsy, told the New York Times, “In my capacity as the forensic examiner for the New York State Police, I would say, ‘You’re not supposed to shoot so many times.'”
Amadou Diallo died right outside his own apartment in the Bronx. He was unarmed. Four police officers shot 41 bullets, hitting Amadou 19 times. Later, they claimed that they had mistaken Amadou for a serial rapist. That same day, some of the last words he said to his mother as he spoke over the phone were, “Mom, I’m going to college.“
Eric Garner died July 2014. He was unarmed. Police officers were trying to arrest him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. Eric suffered from asthma, and as a police officer put his arm around Eric’s neck during the arrest, he managed to gasp, “I can’t breathe!” The New York City medical examiner’s office ruled Eric’s death a homicide, pointing out that the officer’s chokehold might have been a big factor.
Jonathan Ferrell had been in a traffic accident and was knocking on a homeowner’s door for help. He was unarmed. A video later used at the trial showed that when police officers approached him, Jonathan held his hands out in a non-threatening manner. The police officers never identified themselves. They fired 12 times, and 10 of those bullets hit him. Even as Jonathan lay on the ground, bleeding and dying from 10 gunshot wounds, the officers handcuffed him. Jonathan’s dead body remained handcuffed all the way to the medical examiner’s office.
Oscar Grant was on a subway train in Oakland when a police officer forced him out of the car and onto the subway platform. Oscar was lying down when a second police officer shot a bullet into his back. “You shot me! You shot me!” Oscar yelled before he died. That officer later testified that he meant to use his Taser on Oscar instead of his handgun. A court later ruled that the two had no legal reason to get Oscar — who was unarmed — off the train.
Kimani Gray was standing on a street in Brooklyn when police officers approached him. The officers claimed that when they approached Kimani, he pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at them. But one eyewitness, Tishana King, said Kimani never pointed a gun. She also said the police officers didn’t identify themselves when they approached. Police officers shot Kimani at least seven times, even though Kimani hadn’t shot a single bullet. One witness said some of Kimani’s last words were, “Please don’t let me die.”
Kendrec McDade died after a man called Oscar Carillo made a phony 911 call, telling police officers that he had just been the victim of an armed robbery. He later admitted that he had lied about the guns. The two officers eventually found Kendrec in an alleyway. They began shooting after Kendrec apparently moved his hands to his waistband. But Kendrec didn’t have a gun on him. All he had was a cellphone in his pocket. Court documents show that Kendrec’s last words were, “Why did you shoot me?”
~~GALLERY~~
I have no words. I think these description of events speak for themselves. I do know that there is a load of evidence regarding a total lack of disregard for black human life.
BLACK LIVES MATTER!!
We ALL are ONE!!
I have no words, I haven’t had words for days now.
LikeLike
I totally understand. I feel that too ….. When I read this article & saw the graphics, I was speechless.
LikeLike
the fact that you posted the article shows you think it was wrong. but the “political” Cartoons Say your racist. If someones doing something wrong they should pay. it doesn’t matter whether they are white or Black. Yes some of the shootings above were wrong, BUT If someone is reaching for unknown the cop has to react because its him or the Criminal. Some of the people above were doing wrong and they knew it. Please Reply
LikeLike
I believe, from what you have written, that you got the point of the article wrong. My intention in posting this is that I believe that these people were killed without giving them a chance at all. The assumption is there …. that they did something wrong, as you say. And yes, they should pay. But “lethal force” shouldn’t be the only or first option. There should be other options tried before actually shooting someone and them find out that they were holding a phone, going for their wallet or had a toy gun.
And, by the way, you are incorrect in saying that I am racist because that I am not!
If the action is kill or be killed, it leaves no other option but to have a dead person and usually it isn’t the policeman because he has the advantage of his position and his fire arms … in this event that the “criminal” as you say has no arms …. which I believe happens frequently.
LikeLike
If you look at the gallery, those were the last words of the ones on “the other side”. No guns, no advantage …. how can that be racist?
LikeLike
Pingback: At the end of the day …. Race/Off: Jon Stewart’s Rant!! | It Is What It Is
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
TO START THE DAY …. in light of the current climate, an Upworthy update is perfect. Throwback Thursday …. Wish this was different but the current reality is here for you to see!!
LikeLike