OT: Twitter comments by athletes about the Ferguson case

Eggcelsior

GATraveller said:

Yes I'd be OK that he wasn't charged if it was my son.  He already tried to take the officers gun then tried to charge him.  Who's to say he wouldn't have gotten control of the gun the second time and killed the cop??  He was twice his size.

This is false. Brown was 6'4", 290. Wilson is 6'4" 210-220 based on his own testimony. 

Acn

KennyLee said:

Didn't know the grand jury that heard all the evidence was so chocked full of famous peeps.  Oh, wait.....they no-billed.  Never mind.....guess they're all talking out of their ass about stuff they have no knowledge of as usual. 

Stick to sports, acting or whatever.  And masses, don't think because someone can shoot hoops or makes $20M a film makes them some kind of expert on social ills. 

I agree 100% with your second point and couldn't disagree more with your first point.  Just because they are all public figures does not mean that they lose their constitutional right to free expression. 

Sardonicus

Fouker187 said:

Because this guy has a badge it isn't murder?  Hiding behind a badge is one of the reasons these areas are so racially charged in the first place. 

Just presenting another side here.  There are so many forces at work there is no way to tell what motivated this killing.  Things are not always as they seem on the surface. 

No sir.  Because "this guy" wasn't indicted for murder, it isn't murder.

A dozen people who were legally authorized to say so, said so.  Maybe they're wrong but if I disagree with them on that at this point, I am only voicing opinion.

(I don't have any info besides what I've read via media and I have NOT read the GJury's transcripts.  You?)

>- B-) >-

Lit

I am so sick of hearing dumb asses ask if its ok to shoot someone for stealing cigars. Thats not what he got shot for. I wasn't there I don't know what happened nowhere near the store he stole the cigars from but stating he got shot for stealing cigars makes you sound stupid. You are right up there with the smart people that looted and burned their own town to show us white folks.

DieselkW

Please people, there are two separate groups of people, looters and protesters.

They are not the same. Looters are taking advantage of a situation and committing crimes. Protesters have a Constitutional Right to protest what they feel is an injustice.

Lumping looters with protesters is disingenuous. 

Sardonicus

DieselkW said:

Please people, there are two separate groups of people, looters and protesters.

They are not the same. Looters are taking advantage of a situation and committing crimes. Protesters have a Constitutional Right to protest what they feel is an injustice.

Lumping looters with protesters is disingenuous. 

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

dldawes1

johnkitchens   People that knew me then....cannot imagine that I am even the same person....people who know me now, can't even imagine I was ever the person I used to be.

I have been the Chaplain for our local Police department and County Sheriffs office for about 6 years. I have finally become part of our LE family after many of those 6 years. LE officers are under so much stress especially when some badguy insists on confronting them violently. I don't think any of us can judge this officer until we have walked in his shoes. 

As for Brown...I've walked in his shoes ( except I'm white...but what has that got to do with it ????).  It's not the color that got him in trouble, it was his choices. And yes....I'd say the same if it was my son and I believed he did what Brown did.

lkapigian

DieselkW said:

Facts we know, not Internet Bull:

Officer Wilson was treated in the hospital and released for a "minor abrasion". I've seen the pictures.

Officer Wilson testified that he is 6'4" and 220 lbs.

Officer Wilson testified that Mike Brown was 35 feet from his vehicle when he died.

Chief of Police reported that Ofc. Wilson had no knowledge of the Swisher theft at the time.

Mike Brown was initially shot in the right hand. 

Mike Brown died when he was shot in the top of his head.

Mike Brown died 148 feet from Darren Wilson's vehicle.

Grand Juries fail to indict, nationwide, 0.01% of cases.

Grand Jury is not a trial, and a prosecutor that wants an indictment will get one. Prosecutors do not present exonerating evidence to a Grand Jury unless they do not want an indictment.

Conjecture on my part:

Mike Brown would have had to reach across Darren Wilson, practically kissing him, with his left hand extended between the officer and the steering wheel, to reach his service revolver holstered on his right hip with the butt up against the back of the seat. Good way to get your arm broken.

Therefore, I believe Darren Wilson had his gun unholstered and was pointing it at Mike Brown when he attempted to exit the vehicle. Mike used his size to keep the officer in the car, and grabbed for the gun that was pointed at him. Big mistake. Got him shot in the hand. 

Mike then ran for it, losing a flip flop and his hat, and was fired upon as he fled. (Witness testimony, don't know if it's correct, but we do know that Mike ran away from Ofc Wilson.)

Again - witnesses say Mike gave up running. I have no idea how much space there was between Ofc Wilson and Mike at the time of the fatal shot, but we know the fatal shot was the one to the top of his head. Seems to me the only way to shoot the kid, at 6'4" tall, in the top of the head is if he was charging with his head down, or falling from having been shot a half dozen times. 

We might never know, because there won't be a state trial where all the evidence would be collected. 

I think there should be a trial - that's how you separate the innocent from the guilty in our system of justice. I do not think a trial will convict Ofc. Wilson - he is allowed by state law to use deadly force on a felon.  But I think a trial is necessary to determine if the use of deadly force was justified, necessary, and in the line of duty.

What I'm worried about is the conversation between the two before things got out of control. "Get on the sidewalk" "**** you Mr. Cracker Po-Leese Man" 

If Mike Brown was executed by a pissed off cop because he was "talked back to" by an "uppity N**R" that didn't respect having a weapon pointed at him ... that's what trials are for....

I don't want to think Officer Wilson is dead inside and is not sorry for what he did, and would do it again like he said he would. But a kid with a toy gun, a young man in Walmart with a BB gun, a cigar stealing "felon" ($10??), all get shot dead by police, all young African Americans. Ohio is an "open carry" state!! Why did these two get shot to death where it's legal to open carry?

Compare that to Jarod Lee Loughner, injured and killed 19, arrested without being shot.

James Holmes in Aurora CO, arrested without being shot after injuring and killing 70.

Nidal Hasan (A Friggin' Psychiatrist) was not fatally shot, arrested after killing and injuring 43 people

One Goh was arrested without being shot after killing and injuring 10 people.

Scott Dekrai was arrested after killing and injuring 9 people.

I could go on - and yes, police have killed many other shooters, but normally those shooters are shooting at police when they're killed. 

If it is true that Mike Brown had his hands up over his head, in the act of surrendering, and was shot anyway... then Darren Wilson is guilty of executing a prisoner. Doesn't matter what was said, doesn't matter what was stolen an hour before, doesn't matter - innocent until proven guilty, it is not the officer's job to execute unarmed civilians no matter what. He may protect himself, he may protect others with deadly force, but he MAY NOT execute a prisoner under any statute.

The officer's job is to make an arrest and let the courts decide guilt.

He was started @ 35 Feet and wound up 10-15 feet from officer brown- Blood trail shows that at shows that he made moves towards Office Wilson

Yes Officer Wilson was aware of the robbery, that is why he called for back up and backed his car up back towards Brown

These are important facts and the fact the Browns blood was on the inside and outside of Officer  Wilsons Car

When is it ever OK to attack a police officer and try to dis arm said officer.....Keep in mind witnesses said Officer Wilson stood over Brown and fired shots into his back.......it wasn't unitil 3 autopsies including one requested by his family, did not show that, then the witnesses changed their stories

I am sorry, I really don't see any other outcome

FarmerTom

Little Steven said:

Just wondering if there was a trial and the verdict was NG would the results be the same?

While there is no way to know, I personally think there would be little difference.  Even if the grand jury had indicted him or had there been a trial and he was found guilty, I doubt there would have been little difference.  Oh yes, his family was concerned about their town and neighbors.  "Burn this bi**h down"  Yes sit, a voice of reason.  I don't think I need a degree in psychology to determine the sort of parenting received by this guy and that mob of hoodlums. 

Was officer Wilson right or wrong, I don't know.  But I do know those business owners had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Browns death or the grand jury verdict.  I will defend their right to peacefully protest whatever they feel is unjust, whether I agree with them or not.  But I cannot accept what that mob of thugs and thieves did to Ferguson.  Any sympathy I felt for that family is far outweighed by disgust and anger at their actions. 

Some may think me racist for this view, I don't think I am, but right now I really don't care. I do know I am a poor farmer that is working my tail off to support my family and pay taxes that support this bunch of worthless trash.  And now we will pay for what they have destroyed. I can only hope (But seriously doubt) that those involved in any destructive act are arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Whether they are black, white, orange, or polka-dot. I don't care.  I am sick of hearing excuses. 

Has there been and is there still discrimination in this country?  No doubt about it.  Can I change that or make it go away.  I don't think so.  Can one rise above it and improve their lot?  Absolutely.  But first you have to want to and be willing to put forth the effort.  Far too many are perfectly willing to wallow in the gutter and blame someone else for their plight and demand that those possessing a little self pride and motivation share the fruits of their labor with those content to live off the system.   .

That's my rant for the day.  Some will agree, some won't.  And in the end it won't make one didly da<n bit of difference.  If you are trying to improve your lot in life and work or have worked for a living, have a good evening.  Otherwise, well..........

Sardonicus

:-?  Wait.  Did you hear what they said?

They said:

"Twitter comments by famous athletes about the Ferguson case.

Interesting.  Not surprising. Racist, maybe?

Funny how they are all "African American" ."

" . . . made worse by "celebrities" and other idiots chiming in as if they have a clue about anything that was going on." 

" yakety yak. They all have an opinion."

"Stick to sports, acting or whatever.  And masses, don't think because someone can shoot hoops or makes $20M a film makes them some kind of expert on social ills."

" I'd defer to your run of the mill Egg owner over some actor or sports star in general."

:-?   Interesting.  :-?

Hmmmm . . .  Not a peep from the above quotees about the comments made yesterday by 'famous athelete', 'celebrity', and "sports star" Charles Barkley. 

Perhaps celebrity comments really are okay . . . 

. . . so long as we agree with them. 

Right?

B-)