Marvan Buren
Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2016
- Messages
- 79
- Reaction score
- 31
- Location
- New Jersey
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Slightly Liberal
It was not surprising when the assembled delegates at the Republican convention cheered enthusiastically when one of the speakers announced that another police officer in Baltimore had been acquitted of any crimes in the death of Freddie Gray.
The Baltimore Sun reported the decision by Judge Barry G. Williams as follows:
"Based on the law, he (Williams) said, the prosecution did not show that Rice (the policeman) acted in a "grossly negligent manner," required for a manslaughter conviction. It also did not show that Rice acted in an unreasonable way or was aware of and chose to ignore the substantial risk by placing Gray in a police van without a seat belt, which is required for reckless endangerment, he said. And, it did not show that Rice acted "corruptly," which is required for misconduct in office, he said.
Williams said a "mistake" or an "error in judgment" by Rice was not enough to prove the crimes alleged."
There is little doubt that Black Lives Matter was infuriated by this decision and considered it to be just one more example of a corrupt system that allows police officers to avoid the consequences of their actions. The acquittal did nothing to change their view that the officer was guilty and should have been sent to prison.
And yet, these same Republican delegates who cheered this verdict, employed BLM logic with their incessant "Lock Her Up" chants regarding Hillary Clinton. Their view is that the fact Clinton has never been charged with a crime is proof not of her innocence but that the justice system is corrupt.
I see it as a dangerous precedent that political leaders are now encouraging people to substitute their own opinions for a those of a carefully crafted professional criminal justice system. My position is that Republicans chanting "Lock Her Up" sacrifice their moral standing to criticize BLM and are essentially giving encouragement to every vigilante group that wishes to substitute their own idea of justice for what is decided in court.
The Baltimore Sun reported the decision by Judge Barry G. Williams as follows:
"Based on the law, he (Williams) said, the prosecution did not show that Rice (the policeman) acted in a "grossly negligent manner," required for a manslaughter conviction. It also did not show that Rice acted in an unreasonable way or was aware of and chose to ignore the substantial risk by placing Gray in a police van without a seat belt, which is required for reckless endangerment, he said. And, it did not show that Rice acted "corruptly," which is required for misconduct in office, he said.
Williams said a "mistake" or an "error in judgment" by Rice was not enough to prove the crimes alleged."
There is little doubt that Black Lives Matter was infuriated by this decision and considered it to be just one more example of a corrupt system that allows police officers to avoid the consequences of their actions. The acquittal did nothing to change their view that the officer was guilty and should have been sent to prison.
And yet, these same Republican delegates who cheered this verdict, employed BLM logic with their incessant "Lock Her Up" chants regarding Hillary Clinton. Their view is that the fact Clinton has never been charged with a crime is proof not of her innocence but that the justice system is corrupt.
I see it as a dangerous precedent that political leaders are now encouraging people to substitute their own opinions for a those of a carefully crafted professional criminal justice system. My position is that Republicans chanting "Lock Her Up" sacrifice their moral standing to criticize BLM and are essentially giving encouragement to every vigilante group that wishes to substitute their own idea of justice for what is decided in court.