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The Case of Justine Damond

In other news, we have an issue.

 Shaun King says,

"More than 660 people have been killed by American police so far in 2017. This year is on pace to be the deadliest on record for people killed by American police since national databases began keeping track in 2013. No other developed nation in the world has 10% of that number."

In a country that is continually set against itself we see another example of heinous police brutality.  Justine Damond, was shot and killed by those sworn to protect and serve after alerting the Minnesota Police Department of a possible disturbance behind her home.  I grieve for her, her fiancé, her family and the community of people who knew her.  I am sorry for the loss of of this woman who deserves to have the opportunity to decide what she wanted to do with her day today. I am grieved to know that there are those in her native country of Australia who are, perhaps for the first time, experiencing firsthand America's violent historical problem of police brutality.  Those of us in the black community grieve with you because we have undergone this same kind of horrific treatment since the inception of the American police force.  As a human being, a Christian, a son, a brother and minister I grieve with you.

Yet what troubles me is that I believe (to the point of being fully assured) that this woman and her family will see a justice served to her that was denied Philando Castile even in spite of tremendous video and audio evidence that vehemently suggests that he was in compliance with the law and the officers orders.  What troubles me is that a jury can study sufficient video footage showing that an irrational and emotionally charged officer fired seven shots into a vehicle containing an innocent man, a woman and a child but yet still acquit the officer on account of 'fear'. Yet what American juries continue to fail to realize (or perhaps even intentionally ignore in some cases) is that there was a systemic, historical, stereotypical and irrational fear that led this officer to execute Philando Castile even in the presence of other innocent bystanders.  There is, has been and will continue to be (until there is significant and thorough reform that sweeps through the American criminal system) such a thing as 'black fear' that is completely and utterly prejudiced and illogical yet it has caused the very real death of thousands of black American citizens.  I can only hope that those of us in power continue use our voices to bring an end to this malicious form of policing.

#JustineDamond
#PhilandoCastile
#CriminalJusticeSystem
#LordHelpUs

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