Tuesday, November 25, 2014

On Ferguson

Everything that needs to be said about the Ferguson verdict has already been said in the hours since it was announced. My hope for Plainfield is that the Human Relations Commission and our many clergy leaders will help people here work out their feelings about the verdict. It certainly brings up a lot of bad memories for Plainfielders and a feeling that justice has yet to be served in too many cases.

I'm sure we will hear both prayers and protest in coming days. Hurt must heal, if possible, without further hurt.

22 comments:

  1. People on the commission have no ties to the community therefore no respect from the community in regards to leadership.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Typical response, why is it every time a black man is innocently murdered by the hand of a white man, the typical response is for us to protest and take time to reflect and heal. The definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing expecting different results. We need to take a different approach, we need to register to vote and then actually go out and vote. We need to stop killing and disrespecting each order. We should not expect the white man to respect and value our lives when we don’t respect and value ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We don't respect ourselves or value ourselves? Your delusional.

      Delete
    2. I certainly hope the residents of Ferguson elect new political leaders in the coming years. Criticism is focused on police behavior, but that behavior is enabled by politicians who support the policies and procedures that justify it. However, people don't give up power easily, so there will be a lot of subterfuge and manipulation that will require dedication and commitment to overcome.

      Delete
  3. Hi Bernice,

    I'm on the Human Relations Commission and would appreciate any suggestions on how we could address this issue. I understand the anger, but I hope that people here would not destroy other people's property and lives who were not involved in the shooting, as the rioters in Ferguson are doing. I don't buy into the idea that you being upset allows you to destroy your neighbor's property and perhaps their lives. Any suggestions would be helpful and can be emailed to me at rbob536@gmail.com.

    Thanks,

    Bob Bolmer

    ReplyDelete
  4. This did not have to happen. If Michael Brown hadn't stolen from the bodega, got his physical description out on the police radio and then spotlighted himself by walking down the middle of the street and refusing to get out of the roadway this would not have happened. And then he punched the cop. People need to respect the laws of the land and there would be a lot less trouble. Here we had theft, pedestrian safety violation and assault in the space of a few minutes. A horrible outcome that DID NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah and slavery didn't need to happen either. Mr. X

      Delete
  5. People kill people. There are all sorts of reasons, none of them good.

    I believe the media puts a special focus on whites killing blacks. You don't hear the huge outcry in the media when the crime is blacks killing blacks, whites or other races. The focus seems to always be white killing blacks. I believe that is due to a political agenda in the media, which is not right.

    Our legal system favors people with money. If you are poor -- black or white -- you are screwed. There are blacks that have gotten away with murder because they had the money to defend themselves (OJ Simpson).

    Murder has many motives -- race, gang territory, greed, lust, hate, fear -- name any of the sins of mankind -- none of them are right.

    Our legal system is not equal or fair -- that's been clear for a long time. I believe money and "connections' is the basis of the inequality in our country, not race.

    Look in Plainfield. There are people who are "in" with Green -- they get preferential treatment. There are people at city hall who get clocked out by relatives and management KNOWS about it -- but does nothing, because of the Green connection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. O.J. was found not guilty by a jury of his peers. Why would you think he got away with murder, we're you there? And as a point of clarification, blacks killing blacks is always a source of concern in the black community.
      RB.

      Delete
  6. First, there was no verdict. There was a no bill. Second, don't try to take a gun away from a police officer. The officer did what he had to do.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear 5:06 - It happened and was abolished more than 150 hundred years ago. It is time to get over it and make the best of your life VS carrying a grudge through multiple generations. And this history had nothing to do with Michael Brown robbing and man-handling the store & clerk, disregarding police request to get out of the street and assaulting the cop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just get over it? Do you say that to your Zionist friends in regards to the holocaust I don't think so !

      Delete
  8. Hey Bernice have Mapp or Green made a official statement in regards to ferguson ?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Olive Lynch I cannot believe your ignorant racist comments, wow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You better believe it because she does .

      Delete
  10. Hey Bernice we had stop the violence march and conference this summer in plfd . And with over 100 cities having protest how can our local reps not offer at least a statement in regards to a news event like ferguson.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am not ignorant nor a racist. I made the comment that people kill each other for a number of reasons -- race, greed, hate, fear, religion. Race is not the only motivation for murder, but it can be.

    We all are "profiled" and judged for our "appearance." It's wrong. It's bad. But, it seems to be part of the human condition.

    We ALL DO IT. However you were raised, what ever your experience has taught you, or what you have learned -- we all instantly judge each other on appearance -- clothes, height, weight, skin color, way of speaking.

    There are murders of all kinds that go on all over the world that our media ignores. It seems to me the media gives special attention to whites murdering blacks. I wasn't saying the Ferguson murder was right by any means, and I don't disagree that race had a part of it. I do believe black men are profiled -- which is not right.

    I am concerned about the powers that the police have, as well as the powers of our government and government officials.

    Our city council can order people out, denying them freedom of speech. A cop can decide you are a threat, and shoot you. It's a concern for EVERYONE.

    I wish people could talk about the issues facing all of us as human beings. The issues of people losing freedoms, of being oppressed are playing out all over the globe.

    Personally, I believe OJ did get away with murder. Like many wealthy white males who have done wrong and gotten off free, he had money to hire lawyers to get the best outcome. Our legal system is broken. There is only justice if you have money.

    What I see is the government setting us to become a police state, equipped for war against us, the civilians. I see a government grabbing more and more power.

    The media doesn't talk about the dollar devaluing, so what money you earn buys you less. That is the government manipulating the system. Our government charges people high interest for student loans. Working hard and not getting much -- sounds like slavery to me. Being depend on government handouts, at the government's mercy -- that's slavery as well.

    This country was about people working hard and getting the rewards of that hard work. I see a government systematically stripping that away. I see a government arming itself against it's people -- for when civil unrest will eventually come when the people realize they've been systematically lied to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Question ms lynch,you say you believe o.j got away with murder. Did Darrin Wilson get away with murder also ?

      Delete
    2. Hey it's a new world order get use to it !

      Delete
  12. @Anon 3:04pm. Yes, I believe Mr. Wilson should not have shot and killed Mike Brown. He and many officers when they feel "threatened" appear quick to shoot.

    The police are afraid. Just talk to our Plainfield police. I know a whole neighborhood on 6th street that went again and again to Plainfield police to stop a gang of young men who were hanging out on a porch and dealing drugs. Everyone in our 6th street neighborhood is afraid. I'm sure many neighborhoods where there is crime, gangs and drugs -- everyone is afraid, including the police.

    If you are afraid, you are quick to shoot. It doesn't make it right. But, fear is human. Whatever really happened -- Brown didn't have a weapon, the officer should not have used deadly force. But, Wilson felt threatened, and shot him. The grand jury let him off because they believed that he was afraid.

    The verdict does not make Wilson's actions right by any means; but yes, he "got away with it."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why did he get away with it ?is the issue and problem . Mr.X

      Delete