The act of mourning expiates the understandable hurt and anger. Whether or not it serves notice to the various white-controlled power structures in our many cities where such outrages occur is hard to measure. At least there was universal forbearance displayed by NOT drumming up street riots, setting fires, etc., which have characterized earlier outrages. If all the pain expressed by those speakers and as was seen on faces can now be channeled into effective, all hands on deck voting efforts is another matter. Anticipating all the expiating messages the speakers gave, I did not watch any of the proceedings, but I am watching to see whether Memphis organizers are wise and diligent enough to parlay all this emotion into action at upcoming elections, with everybody voting. Only by changing the trajectories of governance, of which policing is a big part, can cop behavior be changed. Is the on-hand leadership up to that demanding task? It is the only thing that any power structure recognizes as a threat to the status quo. Ballots can reward or punish. But it takes gumption and being resolute to work constructively to bring meaningful change.
The color of the cops is immaterial. What counts is how cops of any ethnic identity do their duty. The tone, the marching orders, and reward or punishment, comes from the top. How many similar cases of street punishment by Memphis cops has occurred without death or a lawsuit, and without publicity? The five cops in question felt they could get away with it, and tried. The wonder is why any group of city fathers encourages such cop behavior? It is their marching orders that police chiefs follow, when setting up special enforcement groups such as were involved in this case. Start from the mayor's office and work your way down to the police chief to learn where such instructions and permissiveness began, and how it developed. The answers are sure to be eye-opening, and deserving of voter action.
The act of mourning expiates the understandable hurt and anger. Whether or not it serves notice to the various white-controlled power structures in our many cities where such outrages occur is hard to measure. At least there was universal forbearance displayed by NOT drumming up street riots, setting fires, etc., which have characterized earlier outrages. If all the pain expressed by those speakers and as was seen on faces can now be channeled into effective, all hands on deck voting efforts is another matter. Anticipating all the expiating messages the speakers gave, I did not watch any of the proceedings, but I am watching to see whether Memphis organizers are wise and diligent enough to parlay all this emotion into action at upcoming elections, with everybody voting. Only by changing the trajectories of governance, of which policing is a big part, can cop behavior be changed. Is the on-hand leadership up to that demanding task? It is the only thing that any power structure recognizes as a threat to the status quo. Ballots can reward or punish. But it takes gumption and being resolute to work constructively to bring meaningful change.
The color of the cops is immaterial. What counts is how cops of any ethnic identity do their duty. The tone, the marching orders, and reward or punishment, comes from the top. How many similar cases of street punishment by Memphis cops has occurred without death or a lawsuit, and without publicity? The five cops in question felt they could get away with it, and tried. The wonder is why any group of city fathers encourages such cop behavior? It is their marching orders that police chiefs follow, when setting up special enforcement groups such as were involved in this case. Start from the mayor's office and work your way down to the police chief to learn where such instructions and permissiveness began, and how it developed. The answers are sure to be eye-opening, and deserving of voter action.
The race of the cops dont matter NOW...but its certainly been a HUGE factor UP to now.
And voting? Are u serious?
Overestimated factor.