Man Arrested While Picking Up His Kids: 'The Problem Is I'm

[anodyne]

 I am on my ipad and cannot c/p the text or video.  


m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/the-problem-is-im-black/379357/

[Deleted]

I was going to type something, but I have no words. 

[blink]

This is absolutely heartbreaking.

Necessary force and the idea that he started it is insane. The first words out of the male cop's mouth was "you're going to jail."

If these are the nice cops, I don't want to see any mean ones.

[Deleted]

Here is the video:

[Deleted]

I mean seriously???

[anodyne]

Aug 29, 2014 8:48:10 GMT -5 @wandering said:

I was going to type something, but I have no words. 

I watched it 20 mins ago and am still hollow.  

[miniroller]

I can't believe this is the country I live in

[bugandbibs]

The panic in his voice asking for help is heartbreaking.

I don't trust cops. I just don't. They do more harm then good.

[IIOY]

Aug 29, 2014 9:02:36 GMT -5 @choco said:

I really really want to just punch these cops right now. This is stuff of my nightmares since I am always worried it will happen to DH. I just can't with people.

::hugs::

[notsocreepylurker]

So they started questioning him because he was sitting in a chair?

[Deleted]

Fuck.

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2014 9:05:16 GMT -5 notsocreepylurker said:

So they started questioning him because he was sitting in a chair?

I know, right? And he wasn't even in the area anymore. 

Like why did he even need to be questioned anymore? It's not like it was reported that he trespassed and stole something. 

So basically the police can do whatever the fuck they want, pull guns, taser people, murder people and it doesn't matter because they are the authorities. 

I guess we all just need to shut up and be like, "yes mastah"

[anonymous]

This is so horrible. OMG. His voice when he is asking for help is heartbreaking and it does sound like there is a kid in the background.

Like choco, i also worry about this. My DH is black, our son is as fair as I am-a stranger looking at him would never be able to guess he is mixed. I honestly worry about this with DH when he is out with DS. He has gotten stopped before for no reason (so obviously his skin color) so what's to say this couldn't be him.

And the PD's response after the fact? Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?! This country is fucked up.

[aurora]

Disgusting - both stories in this thread.

I was thinking about having read once that it's as young babies that we best learn to identify physical traits that we use to identify people. The (article? blog? wild hypothesis?) said that young babies are most frequently exposed to people of their own races, and so learn to focus on the typical traits to distinguish between people of their own race, and that's why people (claim to?) have a harder time distinguishing between people with other races. Sort of like kids learning to distinguish between subtle sounds in their own languages.

However, I have no idea if what I read had any basis in fact - it was a long time ago. Does anyone here know?

I want to be very clear that I'm not excusing any of these cops in any way. However, if what I read has any basis in fact, it might inform additional procedures and training to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

[cville]

WHAT.THE.FUCK. I can't decide if I'm mad, sad, resigned, depressed, or just appalled.





(Also, Tyra is about has Harvard educated as is my left foot. Screw that.).

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2014 9:19:09 GMT -5 aurora said:

Disgusting - both stories in this thread.

I was thinking about having read once that it's as young babies that we best learn to identify physical traits that we use to identify people. The (article? blog? wild hypothesis?) said that young babies are most frequently exposed to people of their own races, and so learn to focus on the typical traits to distinguish between people of their own race, and that's why people (claim to?) have a harder time distinguishing between people with other races. Sort of like kids learning to distinguish between subtle sounds in their own languages.

However, I have no idea if what I read had any basis in fact - it was a long time ago. Does anyone here know?

I want to be very clear that I'm not excusing any of these cops in any way. However, if what I read has any basis in fact, it might inform additional procedures and training to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

Yeah it's absolutely true that "all look same" is real based on research. 

That doesn't excuse getting stopped for driving while black or any of this other mess. 

[smock]

I'm so disgusted with the behavior of these officers (especially the male officer), and heartbroken listening to the poor dad.

And it's just so frustrating to read the comments on the story pointing out that "sue them all" isn't actually a very practical response to this kind of police abuse. Is there anything we can do to stop these sorts of situations? Or punish the officers involved? Should I be writing letters to someone or protesting something?

[aurora]

Aug 29, 2014 9:25:04 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Yeah it's absolutely true that "all look same" is real based on research. 

That doesn't excuse getting stopped for driving while black or any of this other mess. 

No, of course it's no excuse. As I said initially, both stories are disgusting.

I'm just wondering if having that info in training and revised procedures would prevent at least some innocent people from being picked up and abused. I realize it won't go so far as to eliminate racism completely - I just don't know how to do that.

[racegrrl714]

Aug 29, 2014 8:57:39 GMT -5 miniroller said:

I can't believe this is the country I live in

DITTO.

[anonymous]

Aug 29, 2014 9:41:08 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Some good cops better get out there and do some PR for the boys in blue. Soon. Because they are losing in the court of public opinion.

But are they losing in the court of public opinion?  I don't think they are and that is what might make me feel the most hopeless about this situation-that so many people ARE okay with and support this shit.

[AJL]

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2014 9:48:39 GMT -5 aurora said:

Aug 29, 2014 9:25:04 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Yeah it's absolutely true that "all look same" is real based on research. 

That doesn't excuse getting stopped for driving while black or any of this other mess. 

No, of course it's no excuse. As I said initially, both stories are disgusting.

I'm just wondering if having that info in training and revised procedures would prevent at least some innocent people from being picked up and abused. I realize it won't go so far as to eliminate racism completely - I just don't know how to do that.

I didn't think this was an instance of mistaken identity though. I guess that's why I don't see the correlation. 

The black men and women I know who have gotten stopped (including myself) walking around or driving it hasn't been due to mistaken identity, but "suspicion" based on god knows what aka absolutely nothing except for being black. 

I guess I'm just being a debbie downer because this has been going on forever, but thanks to social media it seems to be at least getting some traction. 

[aurora]

Aug 29, 2014 9:56:48 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Aug 29, 2014 9:48:39 GMT -5 aurora said:

No, of course it's no excuse. As I said initially, both stories are disgusting.

I'm just wondering if having that info in training and revised procedures would prevent at least some innocent people from being picked up and abused. I realize it won't go so far as to eliminate racism completely - I just don't know how to do that.

I didn't think this was an instance of mistaken identity though. I guess that's why I don't see the correlation. 

The black men and women I know who have gotten stopped (including myself) walking around or driving it hasn't been due to mistaken identity, but "suspicion" based on god knows what aka absolutely nothing except for being black. 

I guess I'm just being a debbie downer because this has been going on forever, but thanks to social media it seems to be at least getting some traction. 

Sorry, you're right and I wasn't clear that I was referring to @choco's post with respect to the mistaken identity part, not the OP and the dad.

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 29, 2014 9:40:00 GMT -5 smock said:

I'm so disgusted with the behavior of these officers (especially the male officer), and heartbroken listening to the poor dad.

And it's just so frustrating to read the comments on the story pointing out that "sue them all" isn't actually a very practical response to this kind of police abuse. Is there anything we can do to stop these sorts of situations? Or punish the officers involved? Should I be writing letters to someone or protesting something?

I also agree the solution isn't "sue them all." This is an example (among many) of horrible training.  No ability to really assess what the situation actually IS; no ability to know your purpose as the cop in the situation; no true knowledge of laws in your city and state; no ability to self-regulate your emotions and reactions--just jump to a defensive posture and reaction.

It's really shameful. 

[iammalcolmx]

I cried through most of that video. When his voice started cracking I was done. Him asking for help;then being tased. If I had to rate what bothered me the most was how he was being emasculated. My mind went to how this has been happening to our men since we stepped off of the Slave ship and it's still happening today. 



However I did LOL when he said " Get off my dick, are you gay?"

[iammalcolmx]

Aug 29, 2014 10:15:14 GMT -5 cjoy said:

I always think "Oh, I live in a liberal, diverse city" and then this shit happens. It's so fucking disheartening.

And I can't get the police to show up for shit in my neighborhood, but a black guy sitting in the skyway warrants a three officer response. Jesus Christ.

Just call them and say there is a strange Black Man sitting around your neighborhood!! See how fast it takes for them to appear.

[Deleted]

I don't even tear up very easily, but this video has full out made me cry. I'm so sad/angry/defeated that it's hard to articulate how I truly feel about this.

[FloFTW]

I am crying at work. How people can try to excuse this any more is beyond me.

[Deleted]

I call bullshit on the idea that it's never highlighted that cops do good work and are the good guys. It's a pervasive idea that the cops are just trying to help people, are doing the best that they can, etc.

If that wasn't the narrative, Ferguson wouldn't be a thing. If that wasn't the narrative, the officer who shot Mike Brown would be on unpaid suspension until the evidence was fully fleshed out and every little step was gone though.

The fact that this shit happens and happens regularly is religiously downplayed and swept under the rug if not flat out presented as a figment of the black man's imagination. Because if the black man did not start nothing, there wouldn't be nothing.

Fuck

that

shit.

[foundmylazybum]

Aug 29, 2014 10:51:09 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Aug 29, 2014 10:37:24 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

So in the very beginning it sounded like the female cop was responding to a call. I couldn't really hear well. So if that is the case I don't have an issue with them approaching him based on a call. But after that fuck it all. I am so tired of police saying that people have to talk to them or give them their ID. There is nothing wrong with making a contact. That is what police do. But if the person refuses to hand over their information or walks away the contact is over. You have to have an actual reason to turn that contact into a stop (when the person is actually detained). And there clearly was not one here. I can tell you police are not learned this in training and if this guy did file a complaint or sue the officers should lose.

And this isn't a problem with MOST police. It is still a very small minority. And MOST police are trying to do good in their communities, but that is never highlighted and will never get media attention.

That was gut wrenching.

Good cops doing their jobs usually don't kill people though, so yeah there's no "news" to report. But what they CAN do is band together and come out and say, "we don't condone this and that and the other" and go out in the community not just to knock people over the head with batons, but to build relationships with the residents. Get out of the car. Get off the bicycle. Walk a beat. You can't just show up when shit is FUBAR if you want people to trust you and respect you. That requires relationship building. Maybe that is happening, I dunno. But seems like a lot of people with bad tastes in their mouths regarding cops might feel less skeptical about them if some of the stuff I mentioned above happened more. 

TL;DR version: It's not the media's job to do PR for the good cops.

I thought this was kind of neat. A bystander video taped this and put it on youtube originally. What made me sad was that TONS of comments on the original were that it was just a PR stunt, not real, no way, etc.