That'll learn them damn cops to shoot children playing in the street, minding their damn business....
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That'll learn them damn cops to shoot children playing in the street, minding their damn business....
https://www.facebook.com/UpperPottsg...2?notif_t=like
In case you cant read the FB link:
http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-new...guson-decision
If you cant read that:
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Pottstown-area leaders react to Ferguson decision
http://www.pottsmerc.com/apps/pbcsi....h=400&maxw=667 Protestors cry out in approval of a speaker while gathered in the streets of Seattle Monday in response to the Ferguson grand jury decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. Associated Press
By Evan Brandt, The Mercury
and Marian Dennis, The Mercury
Posted: 11/25/14, 6:30 PM EST | Updated: 29 secs ago
2 Comments
A decision by a Missouri grand jury not to indict a white police officer for shooting an unarmed black man has spurred reaction across the nation and the greater Pottstown area is no exception.
The president of the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County called the violence that followed the decision Tuesday night “tragic,” while a Pottstown pastor said the slow, painstaking effort of making connections among individuals is probably the nation’s best hope for moving toward racial harmony.
The Rev. Reggie Brooks said he was “hurt, but not surprised” when he heard the news.
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“Any rational person who thinks racism isn’t alive and well in America really needs to get their head out of the sand,” said Brooks.
In addition to being the pastor of Victory Christian Life Center, Brooks is also a member of the Pottstown Human Relations Commission and said in that role, he has “absolutely” fielded complaints from residents about their treatment by local police.
“The only thing we can do is to intervene, to try to be a bridge between the residents and police,” he said.
That bridge can be particularly difficult for young black men to cross when you consider the statistics.
As ProPublica reported last month, an analysis of FBI crime report data shows that young black males are 21 times more likely to be shot by police than their white counterparts.
Fortunately, that has not been a problem in Pottstown.
Brooks said Pottstown is “blessed to have had some dynamic leadership in the police department. Have we had issues with some of the officers? Absolutely. But the leadership in the Pottstown Police Department has been fantastic. They care about this community.”
The key to avoiding the kind of conflict and misunderstanding that has erupted into conflict in Ferguson, Brooks believes, is “communication and relationships.”
Its much harder, Brooks explained, to desensitize yourself to a “type” of person, be it the color of their skin or their profession, when you know them as individuals.”
“I have a relationship with our police chief. I have known him for years and I know what he will do and what he won’t do,” said Brooks.
Building those relationships takes time and is more likely to result in better race relations in America than any kind of sweeping change, he said.
“That’s what we always want in America, we want it fixed right away,” said Brooks. “Well, we didn’t get into this situation overnight, so we’re sure not going to get out of it overnight.”
As evidence that racism exists on all sides of the equation in Pottstown, Brooks said “just look at how we say ‘that’s a black church’ or ‘that’s a Hispanic church.’ We need to stop separating from each other. Sunday must be the least segregated day of the week.”
He said he understands the anger and frustration that now grips the African-American community in Ferguson, and he sympathizes, but he nevertheless cannot endorse the violence that has been the result.
“Conflict is not always a bad thing, it depends on what you do with it. It’s often how change happens,” said Brooks. “But violence is never the answer. As much as possible, I live peaceable with all men, but it’s not always easy.”
Limerick Police Chief William Albany said its natural for communities to look to church leaders for understanding and guidance.
“We always go to our ministers because they are a great ambassador between the police and the community,” said Albany, who also heads up the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County.
It was to church leaders that police in larger cities, like Philadelphia, reached out to in the wake of the grand jury decision, looking for a way to try to prevent violence; a problem with which smaller towns like Limerick and Pottstown did not have to contend.
But police in those towns do have to contend with violence from suspects and he pointed to the media’s repetition of the description of Michael Brown as an “unarmed teen” as a problem because it creates the impression that Brown had no potential to harm police officer Darren Wilson.
“Part of the fallacy is that an unarmed man can’t kill you,” Albany said.
As for the specifics in the Ferguson case, Albany was unwilling to second guess the results.
“We, the public and outlying law enforcement, only know what we read in the press,” said Albany. “The grand jury has hundreds of pages of actual evidence. They made this decision based on the evidence presented to them.”
However, he did share his thoughts on the aftermath of that decision.
“I think it is tragic that a lot of damage is being done to the local businesses that support the neighborhood,” Albany said.
Im sorry... but this disgusts me. More the comments on the original article on the Pottstown mecury's page.... like i commented there... "Everyone is a statistician and Monday night QB.... strap on our uniform... do our job...THEN, and ONLY THEN, judge. My brothers/sisters amd i will step in front of a bullet to protec you and your child, but when its my own life that is about to be taken... I need to be criticized to save it...we have systems in place to decide whether reactions were right or wrong. OFFICER WILSON nearly died that night and did what he had to do...TO SURVIVE...People make me sick.
they're are three sides to every story.
aren't you on your honeymoon? quit worrying about this crap and enjoy your time away from it!
I just do not understand any argument that says he was not indicted based on racism.
Other than he was white, kid was black, evidence is void of that BS and is just evidence, which showed he was in his rights to shoot. I do not get it.
I think you'd almost have to know their mentally around here. There is no ownership on wrongdoing, no "oh my bad"...Quote:
Originally Posted by shownomercy
They want... no, NEED the indictment in order to justify everything they've done. I've listened to their "expert protesters" being interviewed on the street. They are grasping for straws to keep the movement going. I almost feel as if they are trying to incite more violence in order to rack up more deaths to add validity to their presence. Then you hear the looters and rioters interviewed and it's embarrassing to listen to. Most don't even know why they're out there. It's just a free chance to go steal and be a menace. However, as bad as it is, it could be worst. They could have gave them the indictment (wrongfully) and where would we be then? Same place most likely. Plus the next time something like this happened they would fire it right up again and there would be no justice. It's a mess...
Lol... like i said... i get caught up in down time. I only have access in the room... so its usually while she is getting readyQuote:
Originally Posted by Formula218
And yes... side 1... side 2... and the truth.
That was my biggest fear... ^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by firebird_1995
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omfglmaocokespew!!!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by popo8