Black men used as target practice
When does it end? Why did they use a lineup of only Black men in a target practice session? Did they not understand the predisposition that would have on their officers?
Police officers from the North Miami Beach police were using pictures exclusively of Black men for target practice at the Medley Police Firearms Training Center gun range. They left the pictures with bullet holes throughout the range.
The targets were discovered by a Florida National Guard sergeant who went to the shooting range for training. As poetic justice would have it, she recognized one of the photos as a 15 year old booking photo of her brother.
The North Miami Beach police chief, Scott Dennis, defends the departments use of the photos with the unbelievable claim that they also use arrays of other races as well. “Our policies were not violated,” the chief said. “There is no discipline that is forthcoming for the individuals regarding this.”
Maybe it is the chief who needs both discipline and sensitivity training. Just like there is muscle memory there is a sort of ‘mental memory’ as well. If officers are trained with the predisposition that Black men are the targets then as in real life they always become the target. That is America’s reality demonstrated by the last few months where we all witnessed the execution by cop of several innocent Black men.
Many are tired of the seemingly incessant discussion of race, prejudice, bigotry, and racism. But for those who must live through the constant snubs, disrespect, and worse, the subtle form that goes under the radar it can be stressful.
Jon Stewart did a skit that places much into context that everyone should watch.
Stewart attempts to school on a few realities.
“Do you not understand that life in this country is inherently different for White people and Black people,” Jon Stewart said. “… Here is the problem with everything that is going on in this conversation. This isn’t all about just one man killed in one town. It is about how people of color no matter their socio-economic standing face obstacles in this country with surprising grace.”
The ending of the Jon Stewart piece was the coup de grace. He got to the issue in a necessarily serious manner.
“Imagine that instead of that on a pretty consistent basis,” Jon Stewart said. “You can’t get a fucking cab even though you are a neurosurgeon because you’re Black. I guarantee you that every person of color in this country has faced an indignity from the ridiculous to the grotesque to the sometimes fatal at some point in there, I am going to say last couple of hours because of their skin color. … Race is there and it is a constant. You are tired of hearing about it? Imagine how fucking exhausting it is living it.”
All Americans should be appalled. All Americans should want to ensure that this scourge is eliminated.