Ferguson, MO

[Kevin]

If what the Ferguson police have to say is true, apparently, Brown was involved in some sort of robbery prior to being shot. That definitely doesn't justify him being executed if that's what happened, but it does hint that Maybe Brown isn't the best martyr.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/us...ouri.html?_r=0

[KAPPAcino]

Originally Posted by Kevin

If what the Ferguson police have to say is true, apparently, Brown was involved in some sort of robbery prior to being shot. That definitely doesn't justify him being executed if that's what happened, but it does hint that Maybe Brown isn't the best martyr.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/us...ouri.html?_r=0

I knew something was up with him. The media always seems to paint a picture of innocence on a guilty kid. I knew he did something. I agree that he shouldn't have been shot because of just that, but I'll put money on it that there is something more to it that caused his demise.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KAPPAcino

The media always seems to paint a picture of innocence on a guilty kid.

He wasn't "guilty". He was "suspected" of a strong-arm robbery in which he stole a $48.99 box of cigars. And the officer supposedly did not know the teen was a suspect in the robbery. If he committed the robbery, perhaps he was aggressive with the officer because he assumed the officer knew about the robbery. We will never know.

The details of this incident remain to be revealed. I don't assume the circumstances warranted him being shot and I don't assume the officer was in the wrong. I do know the trend of Blacks being shot and beaten by the police (and the increasing trend of armed citizens shooting Blacks). It is the "shoot first, ask questions last" that is disproportionately impacting Blacks, particularly Black men. This is more likely to happen to Blacks, particularly Black men, despite being a small percentage of the U.S. population.

[KAPPAcino]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

He wasn't "guilty". He was "suspected" of a strong-arm robbery in which he stole a $48.99 box of cigars. And the officer supposedly did not know the teen was a suspect in the robbery. If he committed the robbery, perhaps he was aggressive with the officer because he assumed the officer knew about the robbery. We will never know.

The details of this incident remain to be revealed. I don't assume the circumstances warranted him being shot and I don't assume the officer was in the wrong. I do know the trend of Blacks being shot and beaten by the police (and the increasing trend of armed citizens shooting Blacks). It is the "shoot first, ask questions last" that is disproportionately impacting Blacks, particularly Black men, based on being a relatively small percentage of the U.S. population.

Agreed that we'll never know what happened, knowing based on what the media has released that there were no cameras in the area. But if he just robbed a store which based on the surveillance camera, it was him, the same altercation he had with the clerk, probably was a similar one he had with the police. If that is true, with his size, and not knowing if he had a weapon on him, I'd have shot him too, regardless of his race.

[DrPhil]

But, those are hypotheticals that do not warrant calling him a "guilty kid."

[KAPPAcino]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

But, those are hypotheticals that do not warrant calling him a "guilty kid."

It's more than obvious it was him in the video. Still don't know what happened with the police. But at this point, I'm not taking Brown's side just because he's black.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KAPPAcino

But at this point, I'm not taking Brown's side just because he's black.

Neither am I.

There are options beyond "guilty kid" or "take Brown's side just because he's Black"