December. 20th, 2011,
marked the day Anthony Lamar Smith became a fatal victim to police brutality. A
white St. Luis police officer, Jason stockley and his partner Brian Bianchi
pursed to stop Smith at 80mph in a police chase after suspecting Smith partaking
in a drug transaction. The police
vehicle eventually crashed into Smith’s car, post crash Stockley approached
Smith’s vehicle. Stockley said in the internal report “he ordered Smith to show
his hands and believed Smith was reaching for a handgun. In fear of my safety and
that of my partner, I discharged my department-issued firearm at the subject
striking him in the chest.” Later stockley removed ammunition from the interior
of Smith’s car. The outcome of Stockley’s action resulted in him being fired
for violating law enforcement department policies, and him being prosecuted.
October 15th, 2017 Stockley received a non-guilty verdict, the
acquittal of ex- police officer Stockley sparked protests throughout St. Luis.
On Friday,
Saturday, Sunday and Monday protest started out as peaceful, protesters locked
arms and prayed to end police brutality and have justice for black citizens. But
as time progressed each peaceful protest turned hostile. Majority of the
protesters remained non violent, but as nightfall erupted so did a group of agitators
who vandalized property, threw bricks, water bottles and chemicals at law
enforcement. This resulted in a mass arrest of over 120 protesters.
This
article was written Monday September 18th, 2017, by Eliott C. McLaughlin and Susannah Cullinane. The article
was biased and focused more on the stance of police brutality victims and
didn’t fully address the black lives matter issue from the police’s perspective.
I believe the author’s did this to emphasize the immoral, unlawful and fatal
police misconduct enforced upon Anthony Lamar Smith. The purpose of the article was to update
readers on the protests occurring in St. Luis and shed light on the issue of
police brutality that has been occurring for decades, yet still hasn’t properly
been addressed by our Country.
I believe that the
violent protests that occurred won’t bring justice for Anthony Lamar Smith.
This is because violence tends to be a reoccurring reaction from some individuals
after revealing injustice for police brutality victims. It’s ironic because
were fighting against the undue violence of Law enforcement with violence,
which will only add fuel to the fire. For example Nelson Mandela founded the
ANC originally as an armed resistance movement, initially they sought to
overthrow the apartheid government using violence. This strategy resulted in
Nelson Mandela being imprisoned for 27 years. Later in 1985 Mandela wrote the
white supremacist government, initiating peace talks. Gradually he negotiated a
peaceful end to the apartheid without using violence. This is an example on how violence doesn’t
bring justice to the table and how there are alternative non-violent strategies
to resolving injustice, which could be applied to putting an end to police
brutality once and for all.
I think police officers should have harder, more mental training and learn that NOT ALL black people or people of color are a threat to them.
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