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There are so many things I can't even believe about this case. One of them is how many people are willing to believe absurd theories in order to justify this m

There are so many things I can't even believe about this case. One of them is how many people are willing to believe absurd theories in order to justify this murder. Castile was a law-abiding citizen, with a job, a girlfriend, people who cared about him, and no criminal record. Why would anyone believe he would reach for a gun with an officer pointing a gun at his chest? Why is that even a claim that can be taken seriously? So many people say, "We can't know what happened in the car." Unless you believe a rational, by all accounts kind-hearted, adult with no history of violence or crime would suddenly decide to have a shootout with cops with a little girl in the car, we can know what happened in the car. What must you think of black men to believe a story that is so absurd on the face of it? I've heard the argument that it was the gun that made it possible for people to believe the officer's version of events. But, would anyone believe this story if it had been a white man in his 30s in the same situation? And, how horrifying must it be to wake up each day, as a black man in America, knowing that a jury of Castile's peers believes that at any moment any black man could snap and go on a murderous rampage? That's the only thing I can come up with that makes any of this work; that white America still believes black men are inherently dangerous. I'm horrified by every police execution of an innocent person, and one shouldn't have to be a perfect citizen to not be subject to being killed by police. But, this one is the most stark example I can think of where there is no excusing it, and no way to assume the officer had legitimate reason to be afraid (aside from Tamir Rice, a 12 year old with a BB gun, who was given mere seconds from the time of arrival of police on the scene before he was gunned down...by an officer who also faced no consequences). You have to believe black people are inherently dangerous to believe the police officer's story on this. And, a jury did just that.

ekianjo 9y ago
The recent book, The Rise of the Warrior Cop is an excellent read that goes at length to explain how the US police force has become responsible for such acts. The war on drugs is in large part to blame for the problem and the fact that polIcers can kill with complete impunity.
votepaunchy 9y ago
It was a jury of the officer's peers since Castile is dead and it was the officer on trial. And with demographics being what they are and since the defense is permitted to evaluate and whittle down the jury pool ... > There were just two black people on the jury of Castile’s supposed peers. Juror One was a young African American man who “works as a shift manager at Wendy’s and personal care attendant for his mom.” He expressed some lack of faith in the criminal justice system, reportedly expressing a belief that “the wealthy and powerful could get off in the legal system because they could hire better attorneys.” Juror 8 was an 18-year-old Ethiopian American who has lived in the U.S. since age 10. The Tribune notes that “the defense tried to strike her due to unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system, but the judge denied the attempt.” > The rest of those selected for the jury were overwhelmingly middle-aged white Minnesotans, many of whom expressly stated support for police or a belief in the infallibility of the criminal justice system. http://www.salon.com/2017/06/23/the-philando-castile-jury-was-stacked-with-pro-gun-pro-cop-middle-aged-white-people_partner/ http://www.salon.com/2017/06/23/the-philando-castile-jury-wa...
- SwellJoe 9y ago
  You're right, and I shouldn't have phrased it that way. Even with my awareness of my own racism, I used language that put Castile on trial. Anyway, I'm heartbroken and deeply disappointed in America right now. I'm most disappointed in every white American who will defend this officer, and all the others like him, based on a deep-seated belief that black people are always criminals and never to be trusted.
pizza 9y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sacer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sacer
qjdn 9y ago
You write > Castile was a law-abiding citizen, with ... no criminal record I was wondering whether you could explain your definitions of these two terms, "law-abiding" and "criminal record". In another window, I have open information from the Minnesota courts system about a case where Castile was convicted of a misdemeanor. It appears to me that this case (which is just one of many, many cases) directly shows your claims to be evidently false. I was hoping you may clear up my confusion. Thanks.
- SwellJoe 9y ago
  I've gone back and forth on whether to engage with an obvious troll. And, against my better judgment...here we go. Philando Castile had been pulled over 52 times in 14 years for minor traffic violations. So, let's talk about that. Black folks have been saying for years, "We are being unfairly targeted in traffic stops." Now we have a case where it is obvious a black man had been unfairly targeted for traffic stops, and people are using that targeting to justify his murder. So, he was treated unfairly by cops for 14 years, and then he was murdered by a cop, and to make white folks feel better about it, they say, "Well, he was no angel. Look at all these times he was stopped for traffic citations." I'm a white middle-aged man. I travel a lot, all over the country. I've been driving with an expired vehicle registration for nearly a year (mostly because I was out of the state, and not required to re-register until I got back...though I've stretched the bounds of that loophole, and you can be pulled over in many states for having expired registration, even from out of state). I don't have a license plate on the front of my ugly old truck, as required by law in the state where my vehicle is registered. I've probably got other violations going on, too; I'm towing a 34 year old travel trailer. I'm sure it's got something wrong that could be interpreted to be a violation (it passed inspection, but that was nearly two years ago, and a cop that wanted to be an asshole could probably find something questionable). Nonetheless, I don't fear for my life, even with all of these factors. Finally, in most jurisdictions, a traffic citation is not considered a criminal matter. Having traffic tickets is not a criminal record otherwise we'd all be criminals. I've got a dozen traffic stops and speeding tickets in my past...when I drove a shiny new 350Z, I got stopped a half dozen times in three years. Having a concealed carry permit in most states means you have passed a criminal background check. Police officers know this. It should make them more relaxed to know they're interacting with someone who has had safety training, gotten a background check, and qualified for a concealed carry permit. In Texas, having a concealed carry permit allows you to bypass security checkpoints and metal detectors at some government buildings. Regardless of all of that: I don't care if someone has committed crimes. Police cannot execute them. That is not how our justice system works. It is a crime for police officers to execute people, no matter what crimes that person has committed in the past (though, again, it is utter disgusting bullshit to suggest Castile was a criminal). Police officers who cannot keep their cool when interacting with an extremely calm auto driver should not be out there on patrol, putting innocent people at risk. Officers and departments need to be held responsible for putting dangerous, unpredictable, people on the street. So, fuck off with your shitty demeaning racist trolling. (That's what I really wanted to say, but I figured it'd be better to explain why your trolling is dishonest to people who might not immediately grasp the subtleties of the polite racism you're throwing down.)

ekianjo 9y ago

The recent book, The Rise of the Warrior Cop is an excellent read that goes at length to explain how the US police force has become responsible for such acts. The war on drugs is in large part to blame for the problem and the fact that polIcers can kill with complete impunity.

votepaunchy 9y ago

It was a jury of the officer's peers since Castile is dead and it was the officer on trial. And with demographics being what they are and since the defense is permitted to evaluate and whittle down the jury pool ... > There were just two black people on the jury of Castile’s supposed peers. Juror One was a young African American man who “works as a shift manager at Wendy’s and personal care attendant for his mom.” He expressed some lack of faith in the criminal justice system, reportedly expressing a belief that “the wealthy and powerful could get off in the legal system because they could hire better attorneys.” Juror 8 was an 18-year-old Ethiopian American who has lived in the U.S. since age 10. The Tribune notes that “the defense tried to strike her due to unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system, but the judge denied the attempt.” > The rest of those selected for the jury were overwhelmingly middle-aged white Minnesotans, many of whom expressly stated support for police or a belief in the infallibility of the criminal justice system. http://www.salon.com/2017/06/23/the-philando-castile-jury-was-stacked-with-pro-gun-pro-cop-middle-aged-white-people_partner/ http://www.salon.com/2017/06/23/the-philando-castile-jury-wa...

SwellJoe 9y ago
You're right, and I shouldn't have phrased it that way. Even with my awareness of my own racism, I used language that put Castile on trial. Anyway, I'm heartbroken and deeply disappointed in America right now. I'm most disappointed in every white American who will defend this officer, and all the others like him, based on a deep-seated belief that black people are always criminals and never to be trusted.

pizza 9y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sacer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sacer

qjdn 9y ago

You write > Castile was a law-abiding citizen, with ... no criminal record I was wondering whether you could explain your definitions of these two terms, "law-abiding" and "criminal record". In another window, I have open information from the Minnesota courts system about a case where Castile was convicted of a misdemeanor. It appears to me that this case (which is just one of many, many cases) directly shows your claims to be evidently false. I was hoping you may clear up my confusion. Thanks.

SwellJoe 9y ago
I've gone back and forth on whether to engage with an obvious troll. And, against my better judgment...here we go. Philando Castile had been pulled over 52 times in 14 years for minor traffic violations. So, let's talk about that. Black folks have been saying for years, "We are being unfairly targeted in traffic stops." Now we have a case where it is obvious a black man had been unfairly targeted for traffic stops, and people are using that targeting to justify his murder. So, he was treated unfairly by cops for 14 years, and then he was murdered by a cop, and to make white folks feel better about it, they say, "Well, he was no angel. Look at all these times he was stopped for traffic citations." I'm a white middle-aged man. I travel a lot, all over the country. I've been driving with an expired vehicle registration for nearly a year (mostly because I was out of the state, and not required to re-register until I got back...though I've stretched the bounds of that loophole, and you can be pulled over in many states for having expired registration, even from out of state). I don't have a license plate on the front of my ugly old truck, as required by law in the state where my vehicle is registered. I've probably got other violations going on, too; I'm towing a 34 year old travel trailer. I'm sure it's got something wrong that could be interpreted to be a violation (it passed inspection, but that was nearly two years ago, and a cop that wanted to be an asshole could probably find something questionable). Nonetheless, I don't fear for my life, even with all of these factors. Finally, in most jurisdictions, a traffic citation is not considered a criminal matter. Having traffic tickets is not a criminal record otherwise we'd all be criminals. I've got a dozen traffic stops and speeding tickets in my past...when I drove a shiny new 350Z, I got stopped a half dozen times in three years. Having a concealed carry permit in most states means you have passed a criminal background check. Police officers know this. It should make them more relaxed to know they're interacting with someone who has had safety training, gotten a background check, and qualified for a concealed carry permit. In Texas, having a concealed carry permit allows you to bypass security checkpoints and metal detectors at some government buildings. Regardless of all of that: I don't care if someone has committed crimes. Police cannot execute them. That is not how our justice system works. It is a crime for police officers to execute people, no matter what crimes that person has committed in the past (though, again, it is utter disgusting bullshit to suggest Castile was a criminal). Police officers who cannot keep their cool when interacting with an extremely calm auto driver should not be out there on patrol, putting innocent people at risk. Officers and departments need to be held responsible for putting dangerous, unpredictable, people on the street. So, fuck off with your shitty demeaning racist trolling. (That's what I really wanted to say, but I figured it'd be better to explain why your trolling is dishonest to people who might not immediately grasp the subtleties of the polite racism you're throwing down.)