Philadelphia Beating?

[Miss_Ambitious #9]

Greetings Sorors,

I was watching TV the other day and ran across some startling news, I'm sure you all have heard about. I was astonished as I saw a group of cops/police officers beating a (black) man in the street. I caught bits and pieces of the story, but after putting it together, I realized that the police officers were attempting to arrest him. Some say that the policemen were doing their jobs and some think it was/is a racial issue.

I want to know what do ya'll think about this issue.

I know my intellectual and distinguished sorors will voice their opinions!


With much love,
Miss_Ambitious #9
"No matter what the situation is, react with class!"

[Momilton]

You know and I know that whatever the race of the persons doing the "beat down", the fact is, that it was an African-American Male was the deciding factor in their feeling it was permissible to react in this unacceptable fashion.

[This message has been edited by Momilton (edited July 17, 2000).]

[ZetaAce]

Hi, I hope you don't mind me responding. I watched the video of the beating. I think the cops were doing their job (he DID steal a police car and shoot a cop, among other things), but I do believe that it was excessive. They had the handcuffs on him and that's when all activity should have stopped. I don't think race was their motivating factor when they went off, I think it was anger and emotion (which isn't good either). Don't forget, there were black cops in there kicking and punching on him too. I also read that 3 of the cops are already in jail because of the incident. I think it's a shame, but I also think that the young man needs to take some responsibility for his actions too.

ZetaAce

[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited July 17, 2000).]

[HER_STORY]

i agree with zeta ace, it was excessive but HE WAS RESISTING ARREST FOR DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

[kiml122]

I hope you don't mind my replying. I am from the city of brotherly love and I think the beat down that the man received was very excessive. As of right now, they have not found the so called "gun" that was used to shot the cop. The thinking here is that one of the cops guns went off and shot the cop in the finger. I'm not sure if I am going to say that it was racial, because some of the main cops kicking his butt were black. I do feel that emotion got the better of all of them, and they went a "lot" crazy. The cops from that district has been taken off the streets until the investigation is over.

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Peace
KL

I also thought that the beat down was a little excessive, but the man did break the law. I used to work at the local police station as a dispatcher, so I know the emotion that can get involved with car chases or any serious, possibly life-threatening situation. We are ALL humans and know that sometimes you can't turn your feelings off like a switch. The same cops who grieve and sympathize when a life is lost (just the other day a 7-year old boy was killed by a garbage collection truck in my hometown) are the same ones who get upset (like all law abiding citizens do) at some people's lack of respect for the law.

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Prestigious #22
"24 Reflections of Perfection"
Spring 1997

[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited July 17, 2000).]

Even though the defendant obviously broke the law, there is absolutely no excuse for excessive force. I know that it is hard to control your emotions, but when working with the general public, controlling your emotions is a must.

I work in the criminal justice field directly with criminals (from minor misdemeanants to serious felony offenders). I have been called every name in the book, have had physical threats, as well as deputies holding inmates back from physically harming me. As mad as I get from the name calling, threats, etc., I know I must maintain my professionalism. I had to learn that I am just as responsible for my actions (or reactions) as the inmates/defendants are for theirs.

Too many law enforcement officials are using their emotions as excuses for their irrationale behavior.

[prettygyrl]

I heard about this ordeal also. Regardless of what that man did. He did not warrant a beating like that. I do not know if it was racially motivated so I will not speak from that aspect. As poilce officers their job is to uphold the law no matter how angry they get. Beating a man that is laying on the ground in handcuffs in most def against the law. If they can not emotionally handle the situation then maybe they should have stepped a few feet back. When someone is resisting arrest the officers are supposed to try and with restrain the person without violence before any beating even comes about. I have a hard time believing all those officers could not restrain that man without excessive force! If all of us was just standing around beating the hell out of someone because they made us real angry we would all go jail right? well then that is exactly what should happen to them. They are not exempt from the law.

[HER_STORY]

the man thomas jones is trying to get a law suit, i hope he wins so that that money can go to HIS victims. he has victimized alot of people, just prior before the car chase he car jacked a 68 year old senior citizen. i was really disgusted about that-- i really hate when senior citizens are mistreated. no he may have not deserved a beat down like that. but i can't help wondering how many of his victims did he show mercy to. sometimes we put ourselves n situations that could have been avoided!!