What do these protesters want, anyways??? — Page 2

It doesn't really matter what the racial breakdown of a community is when the average black person is still stopped by the police more often than the average white person. This is the case even in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Even when whites end up more likely to have something illegal on them in random stops. And those are all just stats from NYC's Stop and Frisk.

People also love to talk about how crime rates are higher in black communities, which clearly justifies police focus on them, ignoring the fact that this crime isn't a racial problem, it's an ECONOMIC one. Because for SOME REASON, these communities also tend to be poorer and more disadvantaged, which is the real issue. America has spent hundreds of years enslaving and disenfranchising an entire population of people, and then turns around now to go, "What's your ****ing problem?"

HorseTears, special prosecutors are nothing new. They are appointed on certain cases where there is a conflict with the local d.a.. (or similar prosecutorial agency). Often times the attorney appointed is not currently working in prosecution but often he or she has had prosecutorial or at least highly related experience. At other times they are attorneys who currently work as prosecutors in another jurisdiction.

Ken Starr was an independent prosecutor appointed to investigate various concerns around Bill Clinton because, obviously, Janet Reno would have had a conflict of interest, her being Clinton's Attorney General. Similarly, Patrick Fitzgerald investigated the government in the Valerie Plame cia-outing case and Archibald Cox investigated Richard Nixon in Watergate.

In the instance of complaints against cops, there would not nec. need to be ad hoc appointments of independent prosecutors; rather each state could have a permanent prosecutorial agency assigned to investigate criminal complaints against the police (in addition to already existing internal affairs bureaus, civil complaint review boards, etc. which are of civil investigating agencies rather than criminal (although what's being investigated might also be criminal)), thus removing the agency from the appearance of a conflict of interest that would attend a local prosecution by the District Attorney.

Updated On: 12/8/14 at 06:31 PM

All you guys have valid points. Taryn really resonated. Right now I think the police are getting an unwarranted bad name, however, it's easy to see that racial profiling happens. I don't know if matching the police forces make up to coincide with the community is the answer, but I think it's worth a try.

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I can't breathe 11 times, and 4 cops around to be there in case he was lying, you're right horse tears, it breaks the heart, but a justice department can only look into if it was racial. I hope civil court finds some justice. But once again, the legal system and who goes to jail, so tainted against the poor it hurts.

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However, cops are very used to hearing the "I can't breathe" complaint, but when there are 5 around how can you not let up. Bummer.

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I wasn't able to participate, but the march actually got all the way out to Crown Heights, which I was thrilled by. I was shocked to hear it that evening when I was home.

"Sometimes the best thing that we can do is stay home."??

How cool is it that if you're white you can just sit home and still count it as supporting the black community. They really make being white so easy sometimes...

I saw a video of some white people protesting with the black community. That's actually touching in a way...

^Ugh. I really, really hated The Blind Side too.

Yeah, it is surprising someone would only quote the passage they were mentioning, and not the entire blogpost...

I think the "but you don't mean ME" response is a very common one. I can't BELIEVE they don't realize I'm a very special exception to the generalities! Some of my best friends are… ! We white people have a hard time hearing that some of our actions can be unhelpful.

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