Usually I am not on the black power trip and what not.... Options

[DoubleJ]

but, what happened today in the sean bell case is uncalled for. I mean, I always knew that they were going to have them not guilty, but to see the reaction to it, even makes me a little upset. I still stand by that it isn't a white black thing, but just to see the reaction to it all, makes me really upset. This is really a sad time in the city.

[Comptine]

One of the officers that were charged was black. Among the two that did not get indicted, one of them was black too. I really do not think it was a white cops trying to screw black people thing.

Rev. Al Sharpton is just full of shit. He plays the race card in every issue that involves a black person. A few years ago, he got into really hot water when he accused a white officer of being racist when he shot a black teenager. He failed to mention in press conferences that the teenager was armed and waving the gun and threatening the officer.

I have mixed feelings about the case. A lot of the stories from both sides were very contradicting. It's just sad that he died hours before he was to get married.

[DoubleJ]

I'm not trying to make it a black vs white thing. I mean two cops were black and one was Lebanese. I just think that the frustration comes from, that it has been happening a lot in the city. I mean, it happens everywhere, but cops have been let off the hook a lot up here. I am just listening to the radio, and to hear people react, is just mind boggling.

The judge did make some valid points, but I just find it sad for his family and what not.

[Comptine]

The judge didn't believe the witnesses. Would you? You have an equal number of people on both sides saying opposite things. The judge did a great job I think. He remained as impartial as possible. With the evidence on hand, how would you decide?

Nobody cares if the cops were just trying to do their jobs. Nobody cares that Bell's party were not completely innocent.

All they care about is that the poor man was just hours away from getting married. I think all this boils down to is that fact it was just a horrible night. 50 shots is a lot and I think excessive. I think the cops should've kept a cooler head. I think things would've turned out better if Bell's party hadn't just left a party and had drank some bit.

I still don't understand what happened. But I think most of the public became too biased when bad newspapers were like, 'HOURS AWAY FROM GETTING MARRIED' and constantly plaster the grieving family and friends everywhere.

[DoubleJ]

Exactly, like I think that some of what the judge said was right. The witnesses and stuff like that had to be ultimately looked at. The prosecutors called 50 Witnessesto the stands, and it really couldn't do anything. The 50 shots were too much, but the fact that Joseph Guzman has to live with 4 bullets in his body for the rest of his life, is sad as well.

I am just over Al Sharpton too. I honestly don't like him, and I think that he should just shut up as well. He is constantly crying wolf.

I mean, it kind of hits home for me, because I remember when I was stopped by the cops, and the experience was not so kosher. Knowing what happens over here and actually having to experience it and what not, just makes me somewhat upset.

[Comptine]

I have a deep appreciation for NYPD and FDNY.

It just heartbreaking on multiple levels. Sean Bell's death was just unnecessary and used to further other people's agenda. He family was definitely wronged but there really is no clear way to deal justice. The cops, I'm sure (most of them), will have to live with the mistake for the rest of their lives. Trust for the department definitely has been diminished even more.

There is just no win-win from this.

[DoubleJ]

True. Don't get me wrong now, FDNY is my shit. I think the general sentiment amongst some groups in the city, is that there have been several shootings over the past few years, that have gone with cops getting aquitted. Now for me, I am not with the "oh it's because we are black and what not", but I will say, that I am really upset about what happened.

I mean honestly, I really didn't pay much attention to the Sean Bell case, until last week, because they were hyping the verdict. Just to hear peoples reaction, made me upset. Grown men are on the radio crying.

[DoubleJ]

The history of what happens in this city, is maddening at best.

[*absinthe*]

Wait, what happened in NJ? I`m afraid I don't know the story.

[Teesa]

CLICK.

[DoubleJ]

Wait, what happened in NJ? I`m afraid I don't know the story.

It was in new york. Up here, we call it the city.

[*absinthe*]

Oh, for some reason I thought it was in NJ.

"Fifty shots is murder. I don't care what you say. That's what it is," another woman said.

Wow. No kidding.

[Amaranthus]

"You can't be proud of wearing that hat. You can't be proud of wearing that badge," a black woman shouted at a black police officer. "You must stop working for the masters! Stand down! Stop working for the masters!"

People Still speak like this?

Anyways, How the hell do you fire 50 shots and not get convicted?
Also Considering:
-They didn't acknowledge themselves as police.
-They mention anything about preparing to open fire.
-The Victims didn't open fire upon the police.
-The police put the surrounding area in danger with stray bullets.

[DoubleJ]

Exactly. I think what a lot of people that aren't from NY don't realize, is that the history of cops and I hate to say it, but whites in general killing blacks without getting convicted, is notorious.

[brooklyneast05]

yeah i have no clue how 50 shots are justified.

[Comptine]

People Still speak like this?

Anyways, How the hell do you fire 50 shots and not get convicted?
Also Considering:
-They didn't acknowledge themselves as police.
-They mention anything about preparing to open fire.
-The Victims didn't open fire upon the police.
-The police put the surrounding area in danger with stray bullets.

See that's the problem. You would think with those facts, the conviction would happen.

However,
-Witnesses also claimed that a fourth, unidentified man who was pinpointed as the gun-holding person ran off. This fourth man was who the police claimed started the whole incident.
-Sean Bell behind the wheel. The cops claimed that they did mention that they were cops and asked the party to stay put. I believe Sean Bell got spooked and tried to drive away but crashed into something.

Sean Bell's case... I'm not that angry about. The facts of the case just didn't convince the judge.

It's all the cases BEFORE Sean Bell that really gets me because in all those cases, the cops really did act out of the guidelines.

[DoubleJ]

Actually, cops that were there that night, even said that the officers never identified themselves. The only reason the officers started shooting in the first place, was because bell ran into an officer.

[kryogenix]

The cops are f**ked in the civil suit. Al Sharpton is a pompous windbag.

[DoubleJ]

Yeah, I loathe Sharpton. He is the town crier imho, and he does more to hurt progress for blacks, then to help it.

I think that the cops will get off in the civil suit too, because even though I think that what they did was excessive and wrong, the guys technically started it with the gun talk and the running into cops.