U.S. report fuels race furor over police killings

The New York protests were triggered by a local grand jury’s decision not to indict a white officer who choked to death an unarmed black father-of-six during his arrest for selling illegal cigarettes.

How can he be considered innocent? Seriously, I'd like to understand.

It is long past time to ask why are so any unarmed nonviolent black people being killed by our white police. This is not nothing new. Walking while black appears to have been a crime of a long time as has driving while black. But killing because being black should be ended once and for all. I have no problem with violent people attacking police being shot when necessary. I am just tired of it almost always being minorities. There is one race human and color should not be factored in.

@Alex80 Probably because a trial for just manslaughter would have set off more riots than there have been already.

It takes two to tango. Police must enforce the law in the spirit of serving community, not above the rest due to having badge and gun. African American communities must show the content of characters and not playing the race card. Togetherness in civilize manner will reduce the evil ignorant of racism, not just through legislation alone. Racism comes in all colors, and we should let them rotten in their own miseries.

Report says the cop was fired in somewhere else with evaluation of details that say he is not fit to police job, etc and then he was hired in Cleveland, Many bad evaluation following employment, Guest commenters from right and from left, both believed murder. Guests were all white and explained why they analyzed murder.

Bgood41,

not playing the race card

Were the victims playing the race card?

According to this news information, Obama said, "It is incumbent upon all of us as Americans. . .that we recognize this is an American problem and not just a black problem or a brown problem." Barack Obama, America's first black president, has done very little, or nothing in fact, for the American Black community. I have expected a lot more from him when he became the president. The America's unique problem IS fundamentally about a black's problem! But, the black's problem was created by the whites who started the system of slavery. He knows that, he just doesn't want to say it! I hope that many Japanese who tend to think that America is the greatest county will look at the core problem of American society: violence and discrimination. Let's not bring them to Japan. Read http://www.mechamechaya.org/ (To know about America is to know about blacks).

How can he be considered innocent? Seriously, I'd like to understand.

Because he didn't actually "choked to death" anyone. He held the guy in a headlock, not a chokehold. The guy died of a heart attack, due to a litany of health issues (morbidly obese, diabetes, asthma). Are police now no longer allowed to use physical force to restrain someone resisting arrest unless they check to make sure the person doesn't have health issues first? Is that what we've really come to?

I watched the video of this, and using physical force definitely seemed unnecessary. Any resisting Garner was doing was verbal, and he was clearly non-violent both at the time and based on his previous history. Part of me wants to give the cop credit for not using a gun, but I think that just shows how out of control things have become. At least this cop seems remorseful unlike the one from Ferguson, but excessive force is still excessive force.

I watched the video of this, and using physical force definitely seemed unnecessary.

I saw the video as well in Italian news, and yeah, force seemed unnecessary, for this I wonder how he can be considered innocent. He killed a father of six kids.

How else could this man be arrested? He was resisting, non-violently but he was certainly not cooperating with the police. That along with the size of the man what options did the officers have?

Where I do have a problem with is after he was down and covered with 3-4 police and a two handed face-plant into the concrete as well as the excessive force while on the ground.

Another problem I have is the efforts of the NYPD are used for such a minor (gulp) crime. This was absurd!

And finally I will add. This case as well as in MO were not due to racially motivated. These guys were not targeted, these guys were intentionally killed.

It is long past time to ask why are so any unarmed nonviolent black people being killed by our white police.

Like the media you fail to acknowledge that unarmed people of all colors are killed by police of all colors - not just blacks. Obama, Holder, Sharpton, and the Left wing media are pushing an agenda to divide Americans by race, as-well-as class, sex, religion, etc. Divide and conquer using the pernicious idea of 'social justice' in order to erode personal liberty. It is disgusting.

Obama, Holder, Sharpton, and the Left wing media are pushing an agenda to divide Americans by race, as-well-as class, sex, religion, etc.

Perhaps you are right. Perhaps we should all just shut up and take it. Blacks need to be extra-careful and learn to lie down at the first command; workers need to learn their lot and not complain at how their wages are skimmed by executives and shareholders; women need to accept that a bunch of white men in Washington will control their reproductive fates; and all non-Christian groups must come to terms with being second-class.

The nerve of some people for rocking the boat!

Wolfpack, I think it's a lot more complicated than white cops killing unarmed blacks, but race definitely plays a part. Consciously or unconsciously, there's a general perception that blacks are more dangerous than whites, so cops are quicker to take more aggressive actions against them. Was the cop in Ferguson an overt racist that was out to shoot a black kid? I doubt it. Was he more fearful of Brown than he would of been with a white kid? Probably.

The idea that Obama, Holder, Sharpton, and the Left wing media have an agenda to divide the nation is ridiculous. What's there to gain from that? They see a problem, and are talking about it. The country's already divided by race, class, etc. and talking about it is the first step in finding a solution.

Personally I think this is a gun issue, as much as race and class. Anyone could potentially be carrying a gun in America, so the cops are going to be more on guard. Countries with strict gun laws tend to have fewer incidents of cops shooting civilians. I don't think that's a coincidence.

Left wing media are pushing an agenda to divide Americans by race, as-well-as class, sex, religion, etc.

Pointing out the truth isn't an agenda to divide. Fixing the problem shouldn't happen by suppressing the media from telling the truth (aka burying your head in the sand), it should happen from taking an honest look at the issue and finding solutions.

Personally I think this is a gun issue, as much as race and class.

I agree to an extent, MrBum, just as I sympathize with police to an extent: Guns make policing much more dangerous and complicated.

Still, it seems blacks tend to be targeted for arrests and treated more harshly thereafter - and, should tragedy strike, are left with fewer recourses. As I mentioned yesterday, a Camero-driving 51-year old man who had led LA police on a 90-minute chase was shot probably as the first of the three officers fired a non-lethal projectile without informing the other two, who subsequently panicked and fired off 15 rounds. (The victim was subsequently found to have been on meth.) LA has already agreed to pay the victim's survivors $5 million even while an investigation is pending, and the LAPD chief has come out against the behavior of the officers.

Of course, the victim was white. Had he been black? It is very hard to say, but I'd guess a black man on meth leading LA police on a 90-minute chase, crashing his car, and then attempting to flee would not have left his survivors so wealthy.

Here we go you can be a highly educated black man jogging at night in an all white neighborhood that you live in that a white cop who patrols and don't live in the neighborhood and be stopped for no reason at all. If you ask the cop why he stopped you he gets defensive why because he carries a gun and a badge and he feels he has the right to control you no matter where you are! Its always their story against yours the ignorant racist white people don't understand this Because they expect a free pass no matter where they go. Even in Japan the Nigerians as most European whites called them "touts" are blamed for or called useless with out even know the person they have just as much right as the white touts their do the same kind of crime if any is being committed but because they are black they are already suspect, white guys no matter where they are from they are quick to look down on a Japanese guy in his own country as lessor mind set is this is their world you can say this is racist but call I'm calling it like it is and I will be surprised if the Mor leaves the post!

The New York protests were triggered by a local grand jury’s decision not to indict a white officer who choked to death an unarmed black father-of-six during his arrest for selling illegal cigarettes.

Sounds like third-world country event like Tunis or Thailand

A lot of people are in favor of extremely high cigarette taxes because they discourage smoking. Well, here's the flip side of that: in NYC, where a pack costs $12.50, there's a thriving underground business in both single cigarettes and in packs "smuggled" in from places where taxes are lower.

So now because city tax money is at stake, we have police officers aggressively enforcing something that might normally not even be a crime, or be handled with the cop just telling the guy to shoo.

This is a classic case of the law creating the very crimes that it must then defend society against.

I found the video of the killing of the black dude very disturbing. I mean, if a citizen was on video commiting a misdemenor or felony, he/she is another stat for the prosecutor. Here we have a man being killed, and the person recording cannot even make a citizens arrest, or call the police, as the police are doing the act. The man was not resisting or running, his hands were up. You have an overweight man, with asthma and heart conditions, then a bunch of goofs jump on him and cause him to die. If a citizen were to do that to another citizen, lawsuits would follow as well as criminal charges of manslaughter. Before they jumped him, they could of asked him do you have any medical condition as he was clearly not a threat to anyone at that moment. I dont care about all the "evidence" nonsense, we can see what happened. His daughter was very strong, salutes to her.

Perhaps you are right. Perhaps we should all just shut up and take it. Blacks need to be extra-careful and learn to lie down at the first command;

So then why doesn't the good Rev. hold a protest for the other people that were killed like the Bosnian man that was beaten to death with hammers! Where is the outcry about that? I get so sick and tired of this charlatan, the guy is the worst of the worst. How about Holder seeking to press charges on the New Black Panther Party for plotting to blow up the St. Louis Arch. Not a peep, not a word. Why? Because there's nothing in it for Shapton or Jackson for that matter.

You libs constantly, constantly throw race into the mix just like the other race hustlers, this is the reason why there is so much division in his country. Obama boasted that he would heal the country and set race relations straight, what total BS! It's safe to say, he made things a whole lot worse.

workers need to learn their lot and not complain at how their wages are skimmed by executives and shareholders;

If the president were to do his job and concentrate on creating jobs in the private sector, good paying jobs, get a good education, make themselves employable, harness their skills, they don't have to worry about beg skimmed. But you get what you vote for and the majority did twice. But now that Obama has legalized 5 million illegals, many Blacks that have it hard in the lower income bracket will really feel the pain very soon.

women need to accept that a bunch of white men in Washington will control their reproductive fates; and all non-Christian groups must come to terms with being second-class

Seriously, only liberals are listening and believing that rant. That bus left along time ago.

The nerve of some people for rocking the boat!

More like, what on Earth would motivate ANY sane person to want to listen to a bunch of racist agitators that think and claim they are for fighting for the rights of Blacks, but stuffing their pockets with millions, how is that possible. I guess when you don't pay your taxes, it leaves more money in your pocket to splurge.

I love it when Republicans accuse democrats of racism for pointing out the existence of racism.

I guess some people would prefer to bury their head in the sand than accept the truth.

A New York City medical examiner had ruled Garner’s death a homicide caused in part by the chokehold used during the arrest

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NY LEA official was on talk show. He said he is conducting internal investigation. He mentioned chokehods have been prohibited since 1998 *( last digit not sure). and only very special case, it can be used but rare. Asked, he said this is his investigation;

BTW Cleveland LEA is one of worst LEA in USA being investigated. I slept while watching CNN sd reporters had winter caps and clothes in cold weather.

@Laguna

Blacks need to be extra-careful and learn to lie down at the first command;

Not just blacks, everyone should be extra careful when dealing with the police. That means they should obey them and not resist. The only other option is mayhem. It is obvious that Eric Garner was mistreated by the police. But he instigated his own death by resisting and forcing the police to escalate. That does not excuse the actions by the police but it does help to explain what happened.

There is a vicious cycle. Police falsely 'know' that black Americans stereotype all white cops as racist. The police also know that blacks are statistically more likely to commit crimes than any other race. Blacks falsely 'know' that white police hate them and are targeting them for harassment. There are bad white cops just as there are bad black cops. But there is no conspiracy as there was in the Jim Crow days. It does no good to pretend that there is.

If your point is that there are no white victims of bad black cops then you are wrong. Ignoring that fact and excusing the media's selective reporting of the other side of the story serves no useful purpose. In fact it is harmful and will only serve to reinforce the cycle of distrust. American continues to react the same way about race issues. Expecting a different and better result by focusing on the same tired response is the definition of insanity.

@Stranger

I love it when Republicans accuse democrats of racism for pointing out the existence of racism.

I hate it when Democrats accuse Republicans of racism for pointing out the existence of racism - by Democrats.

I love it when Republicans accuse democrats of racism for pointing out the existence of racism.

I love it even more when liberals think that they DON'T have a shred of racism anywhere in their bones.

I guess some people would prefer to bury their head in the sand than accept the truth.

Exactly! and once you libs and the Democratic party deeply and emphatically understand that the race card is totally played out and using it as a crutch to hopefully win votes, that is one strategy plan that won't get them reelected to anything for a very long time.

Pointing out the truth isn't an agenda to divide. Fixing the problem shouldn't happen by suppressing the media from telling the truth (aka burying your head in the sand), it should happen from taking an honest look at the issue and finding solutions.

Well if we're pointing out the truth, let me point out on crime statistic, courtesy of the US Department of Justice:

In the United States in 2005, 37,460 white females were sexually assaulted or raped by a black man, while between zero and ten black females were sexually assaulted or raped by a white man.

In other words, blacks rape white women 2000 (yes 2000) times more than whites rape black women.

Clearly, this is an epidemic that deserves media attention. How do you propose we fix this?

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/labor-force-participation-remains-36-year-low-0

I just hate it when Democrats twist truths beyond acceptance! Kool-Aid anyone?

This is a reality. We've lost jobs and diversionary tactics seem to work very well with the less informed populous. Racism, Sexism, and whatever else can divide the nation is working. THank you current administration! Kool-Aid anyone?

How can he be considered innocent? Seriously, I'd like to understand.

Because everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Meaning: cops cannot kill you because they think you committed a crime.

Do you understand now?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_perception#Social_amplification_of_risk_framework

Social amplification of risk framework

The Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF), combines research in psychology, sociology, anthropology, and communications theory. SARF outlines how communications of risk events pass from the sender through intermediate stations to a receiver and in the process serve to amplify or attenuate perceptions of risk. All links in the communication chain, individuals, groups, media, etc., contain filters through which information is sorted and understood.

The framework attempts to explain the process by which risks are amplified, receiving public attention, or attenuated, receiving less public attention. The framework may be used to compare responses from different groups in a single event, or analyze the same risk issue in multiple events. In a single risk event, some groups may amplify their perception of risks while other groups may attenuate, or decrease, their perceptions of risk.

The main thesis of SARF states that risk events interact with individual psychological, social and other cultural factors in ways that either increase or decrease public perceptions of risk. Behaviors of individuals and groups then generate secondary social or economic impacts while also increasing or decreasing the physical risk itself.

These ripple effects caused by the amplification of risk include enduring mental perceptions, impacts on business sales, and change in residential property values, changes in training and education, or social disorder. These secondary changes are perceived and reacted to by individuals and groups resulting in third-order impacts. As each higher-order impacts are reacted to, they may ripple to other parties and locations. Traditional risk analyses neglect these ripple effect impacts and thus greatly underestimate the adverse effects from certain risk events. Public distortion of risk signals provides a corrective mechanism by which society assesses a fuller determination of the risk and its impacts to such things not traditionally factored into a risk analysis.

He should at least face discipline by the NYPD for using a banned restraining technique.

@IIIyas

In the United States in 2005, 37,460 white females were sexually assaulted or raped by a black man, while between zero and ten black females were sexually assaulted or raped by a white man.

I've also heard this statistic. But don't hold your breath waiting for Eric Holder to discuss this inconvenient truth. The Left emphasizes the issue of rampant rape in America as part of their 'war on women' campaign. The fact that there is an epidemic of black men targeting white women for rape puts the Left in a politically correct bind. So they completely ignore the issue. You can see that the media ignores it as well.

Rape is a serious issue. But like race, the facts must be ignored and blame must be laid only on 'the other' (ie white men). All others are presumed innocent because in their minds only white men are truly capable of evil. It is an idiotic world view but it is the logical end point for adherents of the political correctness dogma.

@bass funk

Simply put in and accept it! Eyes don't lie this guy was MURDERED Its funny the media is making this a black white issue and in orang racist azz holes are eating it up. it has nothing to do with democrat or republican its simply Murder and their are people of all races out protesting against THIS MURDER! Its funny the US tries to go after other countries Human Rights issues but they need to clean up their shit first. Those who talk about it are the ones who commit the most violations just as those who can't see that this was plain murder with racism are just part of feeding the problem and are in total denial.

I love it when Republicans accuse democrats of racism for pointing out the existence of racism.

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Whixh media reported republican blamed Democrat???

Only I got from news is People blamed Cop killing unarmed people and chokehold. Nobody waid Democrat killed unarmed person or /Democrat chokeholded.

"The case is the latest in a series of racially-charged incidents..."

Bb-b-b-b-but I thought bass4funk and MarkG said this has nothing to do with race! It's all the fault of democrats if you believe any misdirection and fobbing off of blame they are doing in order to backtrack on comments on previous threads.

bass4funk: "I love it even more when liberals think that they DON'T have a shred of racism anywhere in their bones."

Who says there is no racism with Democrats? This is just you trying to fob off any criticism of your comments that none of this is race driven. As for your 'charlatan' comments about the Reverend, is this like when you beloved FOX racist station demanded to know why he was not covering the deaths of blacks in Chicago AFTER a convention led by him in Chicago had already been held?? hahaha... that was SO classic and typical of FOX and its blind followers such as yourself. But, no doubt you'll just ignore that, too, and blame it on something else.

"and once you libs and the Democratic party..."

You see? You can't even comment on the thread at all but launch off into political and bias rants that only prove to undermine your comments. Good job! No wonder you're so defensive! Just keep in mind, it's not 'libs' or anyone else completely proving your arguments wrong, it's you yourself.