A friend of mine recently posted a link to an article about a young man who was gunned down by police on New Year’s Day. In addition to the link was the following comment:
“What happened in Oakland was way worse than what happened to Rodney King”.
What Happened in Oakland:
A Bay Area Rapid Transit officer shot 22 year old Oscar Grant in the back. He was unarmed and laying prone on the ground with an officer’s knee in his back when he was fatally wounded. Grant had been pulled off of the train, along with a few other gentlemen, following an altercation in one of the cars.
What Happened to Rodney King:
Four Los Angeles Police officers viciously beat 25 year old Rodney King. He was unarmed and had been tasered multiple times before the beating commenced. King had been pulled over for driving recklessly and for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. King did not immediately pull over when he was instructed to and he also resisted arrest initially.
There is absolutely no need to compare two instances of excessive violence. I understand a life was lost in the shooting of an unarmed man who was face down and visibly subdued by officers, BUT four officers beating one man over 50 times with heavy duty weaponry AFTER said man has been tasered isn't anything to sniff at either. Excessive force by the police is reprehensible and obviously has not been dealt with strongly enough in the past and I am of the opinion that you belittle the experiences of others with statements like the one my friend posted. Police brutality is sickening period point blank.
to read a more detailed report about Grant's murder go here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/06/BART.shooting/
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