When you consider the problems that BART officers are prone to create you have to wonder what they are being instructed to do. In yet another case of overreaction, a BART officer goes to the extreme.
Now while excessive force in any police department is something to take notice of, I want to point out the differences in this case compared to the murder of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day 2009.
In the Oscar Grant case there were multiple videos showing that Grant and the other men being questioned by police were not resisting. In this case there were 6 - 7 officers present. In this case Oscar Grant was unarmed, possible handcuffed behind his back, definitely laying on the ground with an officer on his back. Oscar Grant was shot in the back and killed, I believe on purpose.
This recent situation deals with a drunk White male (reportedly Michael Gibson, 37, of San Leandro). The White male is belligerent and seeking to endanger the people on the train. The officer acts quickly, and excessively, to place the suspect out of the reach of other passengers. Though slamming the drunk into a plate glass window with enough force to break the window is extreme, there was no need for deadly force. Additional officers were not brought to the scene.
In addition, notice that the officer was also cut by the breaking glass. Several people approach the officer, and in fact one seems to be helping to hold down the suspect. Which compares to BART officers earlier this year, who were aggressive to passengers that were only videotaping the altercation with Oscar Grant, and keeping a distance from officers.
Was the recent action of the BART officer extreme? Yes, though the intent seems to have been to remove any threat and potential escalation as quickly as possible. But there was a definite limit to what the officer was willing to do. Which is not the same thing that routinely happens when the suspect is Black, Hispanic, or any other person of color. It is a fact that police across the country have been repeatedly found to act more aggressively and violently with a person of color than any other person, even when not in a potentially violent situation.
I saw all this because it is likely that this recent BART case will likely provide the drunk with a get out of jail free card. Because the drunk will likely be paid a huge settlement. Because this case with the White drunk IS getting national attention. But at this time the Oscar Grant case has not resulted in these same things. In fact, it is highly likely that ex-officer Johannes Mehserle will be able to get away with what he did.
The Oscar Grant case has been delayed, the venue moved out of Oakland to a "neutral" place (think Rodney King), and the media has avoided the case in extreme. The city, as last I am aware, is unwilling to make any payment or accept any blame and wrong-doing.
I want justice, for ANYONE that is a victim of true police violence. Not the get rich quick schemes that some cases create. Not the sensationalized media-driven cases. Not the questionable cases of shootouts and violence initiated by a suspect. But covering for police is not the answer or justice.
Oscar Grant and his family have been victims of Johannes Mehserle, Oakland, BART, and the media. This is a reflection of a systemic flaw in our law enforcement system. And this flaw is now becoming an issue even White Americans are being affected by. But I don't want to wait until there is an epidemic - like how crack was ok until White Senators kids got addicted, then it was a problem - because it is too late by then.
Justice for Oscar Grant is justice for all of Oakland. It is an indication that across the country at least some attempt is being made to stem a virus that is growing, not by the year, but by the week. Anything less is just an excuse for the racial bias that is a reality in our law enforcement and legal system.
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