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[kame-sennin]

when it comes to black folks these police aint playing, shoot first ask questions later.

their current response kinda shows their true colors.

I think we need to take a step back and realize that the police are responding to the murder of a citizen by one of their members with brutality and militarized weaponry.

 

[mre]

#IfTheyGunnedMeDown

https://twitter.com/YouFellForNELL/status/498852097014910976/photo/1

Hmm, I wonder which they would choose...

You know, the patches on that sash are arranged to vaguely resemble a club or a mallet. Of all the patterns he could have arranged his patches in, he chooses to go with one he knew would intimidate and elicit a fear response in anyone who saw it.

 

[SierraOne]

Why does a small town police force have enough military equipment to wage a small scale war?

Collaboration with other agencies in the greater metropolitan/county area. Typical in large scale responses.

 

[block tower]

i love how in all the videos by media, regardless of how they are trying to portray the story, there is a definite us versus them vibe between the police and the community.

 

[Velcro Fly]

I think we need to take a step back and realize that the police are responding to the murder of a citizen by one of their members with brutality and militarized weaponry.

i think it's more a response to the looting from last night and making sure it doesn't happen again

 

[AlimNassor]

#IfTheyGunnedMeDown

https://twitter.com/YouFellForNELL/status/498852097014910976/photo/1

Hmm, I wonder which they would choose...

Holy shit those jeans must be over $200 cause they loook fucking niiiiice. But that wouldn't work because he isn't throwing up gang signs, wearing baggy clothes, etc.

 

[Punchy4486]

I think we need to take a step back and realize that the police are responding to the murder of a citizen by one of their members with brutality and militarized weaponry.

They are responding to looting and riots. A Quik Stop was burned down. I don't approve of what's going on, but this situation is bad enough without ignoring the facts.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

To be fair, the city is mostly black.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2923986.html

 

[Byakuya769]

I think we need to take a step back and realize that the police are responding to the murder of a citizen by one of their members with brutality and militarized weaponry.

But that devilhawk guy said he's seen similar displays of force at Westboro protests. Nothing to see here.

 

[The Lamonster]

Isn't Ferguson a mostly black area though?

 

[SierraOne]

What is the racial makeup of the city? That seems incredibly disproportionate... unless whites are the minority?

 

[block tower]

this isn't news to anyone. they should also add "if your black, the nicer the car you have the more frequent you get stopped category ".

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I'm sure non-violent protestors will have no problem dealing with this.

What movie is this from?

 

[Brakke]

The "bad" one actually looks rather innocent IMHO. Needs to be more thuggish.

Shop a hoodie up in there.

Just caption it that he's blasting the rap "musics".

 

[TAJ]

Holy shit those jeans must be over $200 cause they loook fucking niiiiice. But that wouldn't work because he isn't throwing up gang signs, wearing baggy clothes, etc.

There's no audio. It could be a rap car. You don't know.
EDIT: Damn you, Brakke

 

[mre]

To be fair, the city is mostly black.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2923986.html

It's still disproportionate. Whites make up ~30% of the population but only ~13% of the stops.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Isn't Ferguson a mostly black area though?

What is the racial makeup of the city? That seems incredibly disproportionate... unless whites are the minority?

Yes.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2923986.html

It's still disproportionate. Whites make up ~30% of the population but only ~13% of the stops.

I didn't say it wasn't. It's probably a lot closer than other places though.

 

[Amon37]

Means nothing without knowing population statistics for the town.


Edit: beaten.

 

[sub_o]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

 

[CrimsonCommie]

To be fair, the city is mostly black.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2923986.html

Population is 67.4% black
Stops were 86% black
Arrests were 92.7% black

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

Yes.

 

[jordan0386]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

Every outside of African descent, sure.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

Who do you think they burned to get the pot going

 

[sphagnum]

According to Wikipedia:

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 21,203 people, 8,192 households, and 5,500 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,425.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,322.6 /km2). There were 9,105 housing units at an average density of 1,470.9 per square mile (567.9 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 29.3% White, 67.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

 

[Velcro Fly]

Even if the amount of stops were equal for population, among those stopped you are more likely to be searched and arrested if black.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

According to Wikipedia:

There are better sources than Wikipedia, and it's already been posted.

 

[Camp Lo]

This shit looks like a Kayne West music video.

 

[mre]

Population is 67.4% black
Stops were 86% black
Arrests were 92.7% black

I'm now taking bets on how long it takes someone to link to the "Color of Crime" or some other source relying on it, to demonstrate how blacks are significantly more likely to commit crimes than whites.

The over/under is at 50 posts.

 

[Mumei]

Poorly trained in nonviolent solutions

what constitutes as police misconduct varies from county to county and even from department to department

consequences for misconduct are minimal , only 1/3 cops nationwide are convicted, read this too

Very good! For additional context, this topic I made about a federal monitor for the Newark Police Department is also useful. There are now thirteen municipalities with a federal monitor because of widespread police abuses; I mentioned similar issues in Albuquerque from another article in that topic.

Oh, and funny thing. Probably unrelated:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into the shooting, Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the FBI in St. Louis, confirmed on Monday. The FBI will also continue to monitor the county police investigation.

Can't imagine why they might see a need to conduct their own investigation, in addition to overseeing the local investigation. Can you?

 

[CrimsonCommie]

Even if the amount of stops were equal for population, among those stopped you are more likely to be searched and arrested if black.

Yep 9 out of every 10 of people arrested there were black.

 

[alstein]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

It is in spots.

This sounds like a corrupt PD. I wonder if a town could ever just voluntarily fire all its cops.

 

[sphagnum]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

This mantra was only really adopted in force in the latter half of the twentieth century. We were a flat out white supremacist country for the majority of our existence and that obviously still lingers, especially when people are still alive from the days when it was openly acceptable to say the n-word. The system is structured the same way as it's always been though there has been progress - but that doesn't change the reality of the situation.

 

[kame-sennin]

i think it's more a response to the looting from last night and making sure it doesn't happen again

They are responding to looting and riots. A Quik Stop was burned down. I don't approve of what's going on, but this situation is bad enough without ignoring the facts.

Many people at the scene said police provoked the riots. Riot gear and dogs were out last night when there were only peaceful protests. Nevermind the whole, killing a teenager tends to piss people off, thing.

 

[mre]

There are better sources than Wikipedia, and it's already been posted.

Wikipedia got its stats from the census:

The racial makeup of the city was 29.3% White, 67.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

White alone, percent, 2010 (a) 29.3% 82.8%
Black or African American alone, percent definition and source info Black or African American alone, percent, 2010 (a) 67.4% 11.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent definition and source info American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, 2010 (a) 0.4% 0.5%
Asian alone, percent definition and source info Asian alone, percent, 2010 (a) 0.5% 1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent definition and source info Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, 2010 (a) Z 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent definition and source info Two or More Races, percent, 2010 2.0% 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino, percent definition and source info Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2010 (b) 1.2% 3.5%

So where's the harm?

 

[sphagnum]

There are better sources than Wikipedia, and it's already been posted.

The Wikipedia article's source is the census. It has the same statistics.

 

[Elfforkusu]

Allegedly this is the police saying this:

Jesus christ.

To serve and protect

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Can't imagine why they might see a need to conduct their own investigation, in addition to overseeing the local investigation. Can you?

Probably because there was just a riot in a large U.S city area and they want to be damn sure all the information and investigation is solid, vetted and beyond reproach.

The Wikipedia article's source is the census. It has the same statistics.

Then just quote the census?

 

[block tower]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

in U.S. cities its fairly good and IS a melting pot. outside of major cities it starts to depend on a lot of factors. this incident happened in MO, which is in the deep south, so while im not trying to generalize and give the south any more of a bad rap, its not the most racially open minded part of the U.S. a lot of historical prejudice is still alive and well, thats not to say that it isn't very diverse and a great place in certain areas though.

 

[sphagnum]

Then just quote the census?

I basically....did?

This is kind of an odd argument.

 

[abuC]

Is this kind of discrimination really runs deep in US? I mean, I always thought that it's supposed to be melting pot, country of freedom.

I posted this earlier in the thread

Only 17.6% resulted in any fines or convictions, while the other 82.4% were entirely innocent.

Stop and frisk is basically legal racial profiling and that is in NYC.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

I basically....did?

This is kind of an odd argument.

The problem is with Wikipedia anyone can change anything. It's never really a valid source. Better to avoid in general. Not really an argument, but a tip.

 

[Cyan]

As a general note since it came up: as with all other mod actions, if you think a thread title needs to be changed, it's usually going to be more effective to PM a mod with a link to the thread and a quick explanation of what's wrong with the thread title rather than complaining in the thread itself.

 

[mre]

Then just quote the census?

Because the editor of the wikipedia article put the statistics into a nice sentence. No one's writing a thesis or adhering to MLA standards for sourcing their posts.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Because the editor of the wikipedia article put the statistics into a nice sentence. No one's writing a thesis or adhering to MLA standards for sourcing their posts.

And yet you'd have to check the source to verify the author didn't change anything. Again, original source is best.

 

[Byakuya769]

in U.S. cities its fairly good and IS a melting pot. outside of major cities it starts to depend on a lot of factors. this incident happened in MO, which is in the deep south, so while im not trying to generalize and give the south any more of a bad rap, its not the most racially open minded part of the U.S. a lot of historical prejudice is still alive and well, thats not to say that it isn't very diverse and a great place in certain areas though.

Really getting tired of people playing the "it's the south" card. You can't go to google and find a slew of bullshit like this happening elsewhere in the country. Fucking hell... NYPD anyone?

This shit is not going to end as long as people living in large cities continue with this bullshit fantasy that all the racists are in the "deep south." Lived in TN and FL, didn't get any slurs thrown my way until I lived in DC.

 

[sphagnum]

Jesus christ.

To serve and protect

Michael Bay knew.

 

[Mumei]

Probably because there was just a riot in a large U.S city area and they want to be damn sure all the information and investigation is solid, vetted and beyond reproach.

They are investigating the shooting, not the riot.

Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said: “Attorney General Holder has instructed attorneys in the Civil Rights Division to monitor developments related to the shooting incident in Ferguson, MO.”

The FBI said Sunday it is assisting the St Louis County police in its investigation and will review the findings of the local investigation.

Some community members have called for a federal investigation of the shooting. Federal authorities typically await completion of the local investigation before deciding whether federal action is needed.

This is unusually proactive, though I would agree that it is important that the investigation be on the up-and-up.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

They are investigating the shooting, not the riot.



This is unusually proactive, though I would agree that it is important that the investigation be on the up-and-up.

I didn't say they were investigating the riot,but it's a damned good reason to be involved with the shooting investigation.

Why are you picking pedantic arguments?

I'm, not, you decided to push the point on something pretty cut and dry.

 

[JBourne]

The "bad" one actually looks rather innocent IMHO. Needs to be more thuggish.

Shop a hoodie up in there.

I see marijuana residue on his person. Also looks like he's resisting.

 

[mre]

And yet you'd have to check the source to verify the author didn't change anything. Again, original source is best.

Why are you picking pedantic arguments?

 

[SierraOne]

Can't imagine why they might see a need to conduct their own investigation, in addition to overseeing the local investigation. Can you?

Politics.