Submitted by Standing Together Against Racism
In the aftermath of yet another unarmed black man being fatally shot by a member of law enforcement in the US, many people were shaken. Many were angry. Many were overwhelmed, and at a breaking point with grief for the grave injustices that just keep coming time and time again.
Many of us have come to learn that we cannot read the comment section of the local newspaper, or twitter, or other media sites (social or otherwise) because of the grief, pain, and fear that reading through them causes. But when we tune into our local radio station as a part of our normal routine, we should not face the same kind of comments that we work so hard to avoid or at least limit.
It was disappointing, hurtful, and enraging to hear comments by The Bay’s radio host, Jeff Carter, on April 13, attributing blame to Daunte Wright for his own death. By saying that it is partially the victim’s fault for being killed by a police officer is analogous to saying that a woman in a short skirt or low-cut top is partially to blame for her rapist’s behaviour.
Are we not past victim blaming?
For those who need to hear it (for the first time, or the fiftieth), please listen: when an unarmed black man is shot and killed by the police, it does not matter if he had a criminal record. It does not matter if he was attempting to get into his car. It does not matter if he may have committed a crime. It does not matter.
“Innocent until proven guilty” is a core tenet of Canadian law. People who parrot comments like those above are eroding that right.
While many law enforcement officers are good people who do a difficult job, there is a problem with a system when so many lives are lost for no reason.
There was NO reason for Mr. Wright to lose his life. There is NO blame to ascribe to a man who had his stolen.
Fleeing or not. Record or not. Allegations or not.
A police officer is not the judge, jury, and executioner.
We may not be able to tame the keyboard warriors—we may have to find other ways to cope with that kind of media, but as a community, we can expect more of our local media.
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Sharon Burgess et al 1) Being murdered seems like a ridiculous price to be paid for not “doing as you are told” 2) As I recall this is a variation on the argument used in the sixties that relegated “coloured” people to the back of the bus; to separate washrooms; separate schools etc. Remember segregation was the law up until the sixties. By your standards, people of colour would still be segregated.
Thank you for the discussion on such a difficult issue.
I know Jeff Carter only by reputation, and his “on air’ personality. Under his leadership and example, “The Bay” provides incredibly open minded and diverse programming which, I hope, reflects the diversity, tolerance and caring of our community. Financially and through airtime, many causes are supported by Jeff.
His track record allows him balanced commentary.
Agree whole heartedly with the 2 ladies above! Do as your requested to do when questioned or pulled over by law enforcement. If you don’t, you raise the officers concern and risk level thoughts! If you challenge the law, you will not win! This is a great radio station, Jeff Carter does a great job and I as well think that his comments where taken out of context! Listen to the whole discussion! Keep up the great work there Mr. Carter! Safe day to all first responders and those people out there making it work, thank you
Sharon says it very well.
We ask a lot of our police and generally we get good service in return.
Sadly, it is a bit incumbent on the police, as professionally trained people, to wait that second or so before they fire their weapon. This is, I imagine, a very difficult thing to do in the heat of a chase or other physical event. Sadly, pre-emptive use of deadly force has a high chance of a poor outcome socially. It is however unquestionably safer for the police.
I think one has to look at each situation on it’s own merits and ask yourself how you would tend to react in the situation the police have been forced into? It is not always as straight forward as the day after quarterback would have us believe. If you believe you are about to be shot at it must be very hard to decide when to shoot back. A half second too late and you will be dead, and a half second too soon and you will be condemned for excessive use of force.
There is no easy answer and when you think about all the calls police handle every day across a country the size of the USA they probably mostly do a pretty good job. The few cases where they mess up make the headlines however.
The essential problem is lack of trust in all directions and too many easily available guns. These problems are not of the police making. They are part of our social history and very sadly race has historically played a terrible part in all this. We may be able to fix this.
Sharon, you are totally right. All persons should listen to the police when asked to do what they are asking. Jeff did not say anything wrong. People need to come together and not be afraid that their every word is taken out of context.
I think what Jeff said was taken totally out of context. Should have listened to his whole comment. In today’s society people should know that if the police stop you, you listen. I don’t care if you are white, black, brown, yellow, red or orange….you listen and do as you are told. Not all people are bad and carrying weapons. Not all cops are bad. If you don’t obey the law, and listen to the officer, that puts thoughts in their head that they are in danger. Do as you are told and you won’t be in this position.