by Matthew Bright
I want to start by saying there's so many layers to this Justine Damond shooting. The politicized nature of it, the real issues surrounding it, and how this perfect shit storm dispels things for some and frustrates others. There's another story on my mind as well that happened in Indianapolis about another shooting. First Justine Damond. My thoughts go out to her family.
Justine Damond is the most recent police shooting (Chicago Tribune), there's a lot to go over:
A woman, a white woman was shot by a police officer, in most people's minds that officer will only get the distinction of being black. He was Somali and that's okay just like the victim being white is okay. Racism is a reality. Unfortunately because such a tragedy, the characterization of it ,and these narratives we prescribe It's problematic but you knew that already if you're reading this, I think.
She was Justine Damond and the officer's name is Mohamed Noor. However she'll be known forever as the Australian White Lady (In some cases just a white lady, cause Merica.) that was killed by a black cop for some #AllLivesMatter Pion to use as a way to "intelligently" have a discussion about race. Digressing...
There's no video of the encounter because Police officers did not have their body cams on. No video evidence and with what is known so far about the latest police killing one lawyer claims Justine Damond was "the most innocent victim."
THE. MOST. INNOCENT. Not even seeing the video, this ordeal could of went down like those fights that Peter Griffin had with The Giant Chicken, or the fight Peter Griffin had with Homer Simpson, or the time Peter shot Lois by accident.
First thing, Peter Griffin has a history of violence that gets laughed at or not seen as a big deal which is also not surprising because well, he's a cartoon and seeing white guys injure people on camera isn't new.
Second, reports say that Officer Noor did shoot her by accident. He was startled by something and he ended up shooting her. He's a police officer and I've seen Walter Scott have a weapon planted on his dead body after being shot in the back, so I don't know how much I'd trust that. How's that song go? Something about no justice no peace, I think that's the chorus or the coup...it might be both. It's important either way. Digressing...
Political narratives by some were drawn immediately cause what else are human lives used for in a 24 hour news cycle amirite?
"Where's #BlackLivesMatter on this shooting?"
"Why aren't they condemning this shooting?"
"Where's Jesse Jackson?"
(Maybe this last question is early generation 24 hour news cycle shit when code words like "thug"worked.)
As far as the official Minnesota chapter of #BlackLivesMatter is concerned; it's present, in support, and having mixed emotions. (Mic.com)
Imagine talking to your neighbor for the first time about the ills of public education and they've been a teacher in the public school system for 20 years. They remind you they've had this conversation with you before at dinner, in your own home, and all you had to say then was: "really, what a shame." The teacher of 20 years listens anyway so that your onboard and maybe together you can change the way at least your public school functions, but that teacher rolls her eyes when your back is turned. That's the Minnesota chapter.
It's odd as always that Blue and All lives matter groups proclaiming equality are nowhere to be found. All lives matter doesn't even have a representative or website for comment on this killing. The group only exist in ideology and hashtag only. Mostly like Jesus, without a book written by his homies.
The Blue Lives Matter site (Justine Damond Thread), well....reading through some of the posts about other shootings and then reading about this one, the tone is much different than the others and the comments, oh man, the comments. The shooting becomes an afterthought at one point. It's YouTube comment section PD.
I have nothing but empathy for this killing as I do for the ones caught on video. This is a travesty and an absolute failure to the citizens in Minnesota and another chapter in the ongoing saga of much needed police reform. Still...
She is THE. MOST. INNOCENT?
What is so frustrating is the public acknowledges her humanity because she fits the stereotypical description of innocent, hopeful, and happy. Her look and smile is familiar to you, that you're thinking now that maybe, just maybe it could be me. How much can a movement count on someone if they only see flagrant injustice when it meets the necessary pigment requirements? How can anyone count on that? Stop skipping the important parts of the book just because they're words you don't understand like "#BlackLivesMatter" or "I can't breathe."
Now I want to talk a little bit about another story and the narrative and the depiction of one Jason Brown by local Indianapolis media and national media (The New York Times) not by just the reporting of Fox 59 but The witnesses and the police department.
“I don’t think he had any idea what he was getting into and didn’t have a chance to defend himself. It was a cold blooded murder. It’s a shame that it happened,” said Cocke. Here's Jason Brown's Photo:
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| Picture chosen for actual killer of cops and shitty piercings, Jason Brown Credit FOX 59 Indianapolis |
Other examples like the article about marijuana using Moms can be a good parent and Philando Castille is demonized for marijuana use around his child and used as reason to why he couldn't even be trusted during a traffic stop. His blackness received aggression and whiteness gets you benefit of the doubt, respect for your life after you have taken one even when it's people of high regard, and overall humanity.
The New York Times doesn't even make mention of a white male shooting a police officer in the headline. However "White Cop shoots" or "Black man shoots" in a google search you'll get plenty of results from large news organizations but if you directly search "Jason Brown Indiana" it's the FOURTH result!
A white male that shot a police officer 14 times in America is a fourth search result on google, and no, the other hits are not ad hits either.
I'm illustrating something here for you, when you're white being the victim is justified and being the assailant is of little consequence no matter if you have little evidence or overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
In the case of Justine Damond, The same lawyer that defended Philando Castille in the same state was the one that said Justine Damond was the most innocent. He goes on further to say so was Mr. Castille. It was too late by then and it was plastered on every medium. What makes her the most innocent? The language we use to explain this is drastically different from the descriptions of other victims.
More innocent than these people doing normal everyday things that didn't even call the cops. The cops came to them? The Memes below show what was reported, what the victims said in their last moments, or what the officer said. Below is the
"Most Innocent Victim." Scroll through these and see why it's easy to understand the characterization of one and the other.
A 12 yr. old boy in a park alone with a toy gun. Shot two seconds within police arriving on the scene. The quote from the shooting officer. #TamirRice

A 22 year old man in Wal-Mart killed for holding an air soft rifle, a product the store carries, that he was leaning on at the time. The 911 call description: #JohnCrawford

A Minnesota resident reaching for his ID after notifying the officer of his permit to carry. A quote from the defense lawyer. #PhilandoCastille

Chicago woman asked to step out of her car was then arrested and later committed suicide according to reports. This is the quote from #SandraBland.

You can visit https://www.blacklivesmatter.com and see for yourself what type of organization they are, what they stand for, and how an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. #LetsMaash
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