When you boil all of this down, this is the crux of the matter – do black and brown people keep getting killed disproportionately by police because of an underlying or covert (systemic) racism, or is it happening because the people killed are a threat to police and all the killings are justified.
There is a lot of data that points to disproportionate use of force and death by police against minorities. The correlation is powerful evidence. But most people need to see it clearly to believe and understand.
I believe 72 hours in Kenosha shows us exactly what it looks like.
Jacob Blake, according to preliminary reports from the Kenosha police, had a warrant out for sexual assault when they were called to a domestic disturbance that involved him. He resisted arrest and was tased by police. He then walked around his vehicle, opened the door and leaned in to where it was known he had a knife. The man who shot the video most of us have seen said he heard the police yell, “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” before firing seven times into Blake’s back.
Let’s summarize that – a black man accused of sexual assault, at the scene of a minor crime, reached for a knife and with his back still turned to the police, was shot 7 times in the back.
A couple of days later, Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17 year old with an assault rifle gathered with others in front of someone else’s commercial property and told cops he was there to protect the property. They did not ask his age, as it is illegal for a 17 year old to own an assault weapon. They did tell him “we appreciate you. We really do,” and gave him some water to drink. Later, after having shot two people, as the police were moving towards an active shooter situation, Rittenhouse walked directly towards the police with his hand on an assault weapon, as people on the street were screaming that Rittenhouse was the one who had shot people. Rittenhouse waved at the police and they let him walk past without even a question.
Let’s summarize that – a white man accused of shooting multiple people, at the scene of the crime he is accused of committing, walked towards police officers while holding an assault weapon, and they waved him past.
Why?
One had his back to them while reaching for a knife at the scene of a domestic dispute and was seen as an imminent threat. One was facing them with his hand on an assault weapon at the scene of an active shooting and was not seen as any sort of threat at all. The only immediate and clear difference, other than that the man with the assault weapon actually facing the police is clearly more of a threat, is that he is also white and the other guy black.
THAT is what systemic racism looks like.
THAT is what exists in police departments all over the country. And it exists in schools, malls, office buildings, parks, and anywhere black, brown and white people mingle.
THAT is at least partially why black and brown people get killed disproportionately by police.
THAT is what Trump, the GOP and conservative media says does not exist.
What then also becomes crystal clear is that the only way we have a chance to end all of this – the violence and death and protests and property damage – is to elect the folks who see the problem and are committed to fix the problem. Vote.
Patrick On Politics 