Just say “NO” to racism

I am writing this with tears of sadness in my eyes and anger for the inappropriate ways some individuals have and continue being mistreated around the world. More than anything I wish I could say that racism was unheard of and wasn’t something anyone had to encounter, but unfortunately I can’t. I highly doubt anyone will ever be able to explain to me how or why in a country CLAIMING to be FREE everyone isn’t treated equally. Why does the color of an individual’s skin determine the way they are treated and viewed in our society? No one ever will be able to do this because it is completely and totally ABSURD and WRONG!

The entire world has been amid to two pandemics, but only one is discussed openly. No one can deny the COVID-19 pandemic that has been going on for several months, but what about the racism pandemic that has plagued the lives of many for centuries?

I am starting with the most recent examples, but there are so many others I will also discuss throughout this post. Police brutality has existed long before the two recent situations of police killing innocent unarmed black people. Do you truly know what police brutality means? It means using excessive and or unnecessary force by personnel affiliated with law enforcement duties when dealing with suspects and civilians.

It wasn’t but 18 days before the four police officers in Minneapolis, MN killed an unarmed innocent black man, enraging people around the country, did another police officer in Atlanta, GA kill another unarmed innocent black man. After the riots that went on for weeks, I would have thought the police force would not continue following these unacceptable behaviors and treatment of black individuals. Maybe I was just fooling myself because I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I guess it is just me being naïve and wanting to see the good in people, but also thinking police officers want to serve and protect civilians. The unfortunate and clear truth about most police officers is, they are just uneducated, arrogant, and angry bullies with a shiny gun and badge that don’t think laws apply to them and they can get away with murder. This is something that should have already ended, but needs to come to an end immediately!

There are countless numbers of innocent black individuals who were killed by a police officer over the years. Considering there are so many, I am only going to discuss eight of these innocent people that lost their lives too soon and for no valid reason.

Going back six years on July 9, 2014, an unarmed black man whose name was Charles K. Goodridge in Houston, TX was shot and killed by an off-duty officer. This off-duty officer was working as a security guard at the apartment complex Goodridge had previously lived at. Goodridge had been evicted from this complex, which the police officer/security guard was aware of. So when he saw Goodridge in a common area he went back to his apartment to retrieve his gun and handcuffs. The police officer/security guard proceeded to hunt for Goodridge ready to arrest him for trespassing, but Goodridge resisted and tried to run away but was unfortunately shot in the process. Goodridge was left untreated or even offered first aid as he lay there on the ground bleeding from the two bullet wounds that penetrated his abdomen. At one point he tried lifting his head, but the officer using his foot pushed his head back down onto the pavement. After not getting medical attention on the scene and the hour wait to arrive at the hospital, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

It was only 8 days later on July 17, 2014, when another unarmed black man was brutalized by a police officer. Eric Garner in Staton Island, NY was accused by a police officer of selling single cigarettes without tax stamps. Garner simply denied what he was accused of and told the officer he was tired of the constant harassment. The officer did not take kindly to this and began attempting to arrest Garner. Once the officer placed his hands on Garner, he pulled his arms away. At this time the officer thought it was necessary to put his arm around Garner’s neck and continued wrestling him to the ground. Multiple other officers joined in to assist with restraining Garner, while he reiterated three words, “I can’t breathe” 11 times as he laid face down on the sidewalk. Even after Garner lost consciousness the officers kept him in a chokehold and only turned him onto his side. While they waited 7 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, not one of the officers attempted to provide first aid to Garner. One hour later, Garner was sadly pronounced dead at a local hospital, which could have been avoided if only they tried to help him when he stated he couldn’t breathe.

Less than one month later in Ferguson, MI, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by another police officer. Brown was walking down the street with a friend, both boys were unarmed and not causing any problems. Of course, the officer-involved stated he was acting in self-defense by choosing to fire his weapon several times. Brown’s friend that was there when his friend was killed has explained they were walking away from the officer after they were told to get off the streets, which they had explained they were a few moments from their destination. Brown’s friend said the officer came back towards them in his patrol car and after a few words tried pulling Brown into the car. Brown freed himself from the officer and started running away, when the officer exited his car, shooting his gun multiple times, which ended another innocent black man’s life.

On November 22, 2014, in Cleveland, OH a 12-year-old child, Tamir Rice was shot and killed by a police officer. Rice, being a young boy was outside playing and holding his toy gun acting like he was shooting it. The officers that first saw Rice were responding to a 911 call about a man flaunting a gun at a nearby park. Moments after the two responding officers saw the boy and say they didn’t know he was a child, but thought he was the man that was called into 911, one of the officers didn’t waste any time and fired two shots, one of which killed this little boy. Most young boys play with toy guns and aren’t aware of how some may view this as a threat. In my eyes, this was a heinous act that could have and should have been avoided. Sadly, Tamir Rice’s parents lost their child, and the officer that fired the fatal shot was not charged with criminal charges as he should have been.

On the morning of April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, SC, another unarmed black man was shot and killed by a police officer. Walter L. Scott was on his way to an auto parts store when he was pulled over for a non-functioning brake light. After the officer involved had finished talking with Scott and was going back to his patrol car, Scott exited the vehicle and started running away. It was at this time the officer began his chase on foot. Scott and the officer became involved in a physical altercation when the officer managed to fire his Taser, which did hit Scott, but he continued to try running away again. A few moments later the officer drew his handgun, firing eight rounds at Scott from behind. Scott was struck 5 times, 3 in his back, once in the upper buttocks, and once in the ear. This sounds like a perfect example of excessive force to me, what do you think?

Another incident that occurred recently was shortly before midnight on March 13, 2020, in Louisville, KY. Police claiming they knocked several times and announced themselves as they entered the apartment of a young black woman, Breonna Taylor to serve a “no-knock” search warrant regarding a tip they received regarding drug activity. When the police busted down the door, Taylor’s boyfriend thought the apartment had been broken into and went for his licensed firearm. Her boyfriend feared for both of their lives and was acting in self-defense when he fired the first shot that hit one of the officers involved in the leg. The officers then responded with their open fire of more than 20 rounds, which hit objects throughout the entire apartment, including Taylor at least 8 times. Taylor was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbors of Taylor spoke out saying they never heard the officers knock or announce themselves and they were also in fear. In this situation, not only did the officers NOT announce who they were, but they also killed another innocent black person and their reason for the search had no validity because there were no drugs found in the apartment.

I want to thank y’all for visiting my site today. I am sure it is obvious how upset I am about this entire situation. I spent most of my life blind to these issues of police brutality and now want to do more or at least something to end this! I am very aware the people I mentioned in this post are only a few and there are many others that experienced police brutality and sadly lost their lives.There comes a time when change is a necessary thing and it takes many people demanding these changes for something to actually get done. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!