America=s ethnic cleansing

 

They were described at the time as sometime akin to the Ashots heard around the world@ - 41 of them to be exact.  Then came the shocking indignation, the protests, the explanations (Awe feared for our lives@), then the change of venue to Albany and fears of another Rodney King verdict.  And another Rodney King verdict it was, as the jurors (a mixed race group - as if that ever makes a difference) read off their Anot guilty@ verdicts 24 times.  Then came the predictable (and fully understandable) protests from the African-American community and others sympathetic to their justifiable fears of the police.  And there were the usual Athe system works@ cries from supporters of the status quo, like New York=s Mayor who proclaimed that the verdict followed Aan eminently fair trial.@  Let us hope that when cooler heads prevail, we will begin to look a little deeper into this case and go beyond the usual blaming.

As the testimony in this case - and literally hundreds before it - revealed, the police officers Afear for their lives@ as they were convinced that the Asuspect@ - an African immigrant living in a Ahigh crime@ area where a series of rapes had recently occurred.  Mr. Diallo apparently made a Asuspicious@ move, or otherwise did not act according to the Alawful@ commands of the police officers (which raises the immediate question, Awhose law@?), like Adon=t move@ and Ashow some ID@ (how can you not move and show ID at the same time?).  He pulled out his wallet to do just that and this was immediately seen as a gun.  You know the rest.

Whether the police were guilty of murder or some other crime is not the issue I would like to raise here (I think they were guilty of at least second degree murder, in case you are wondering).  The issue I think needs to be raised is the social context within which this case arose.  The context of our incessant Awar on crime,@ which, given the stereotypes that abound, really means a Awar on racial minorities.@  America really loves its wars, as we always seem to want to solve a problem by declaring a Awar@ on it: poverty, crime, drugs, gangs, etc. (how many of these have we won by the way?)   Of course the politicians (including many police officials, who are also politicians) help perpetuate the war metaphor by always wanting to sound Atough on crime.@ After all, the important thing is to get elected.

Once we have declared a Awar@ this immediately sets up the Awe@ versus Athem@ and a sort of Asiege@ mentality - as in the erroneous, but ever-popular belief that criminals/gangs/drug dealers are Ataking over.@  Then the politicians order the chiefs or sheriffs to Asend in the troops@ - which usually means Aspecial units@ like Agang units@ or Aelite forces@ or whatever.  So those who have been entrusted with the not so honorary duty to Aserve and protect@ (a similar question arises: serve and protect whom?) are thus sent out to engage in this war.

The trouble immediately begins because of what those in law enforcement circles call Aproactive policing@ (or other equally nebulous terms like Acommunity policing@ or the more forceful - and more honest term - Aaggressive patrol@).  After all, the Aenemy@ is out there somewhere and we have to identify and eliminate him.  And remember, this is a Awar@ so don=t worry that we may have innocent casualties.  And since we are patrolling a Awar zone@ those who are in it, even if innocent, should know the rules - like know exactly what to do when an officer says Afreeze@ or just Astop.@  Several times during the past year someone said something to the effect that Aif Diallo had just done what he was suppose to do this would have never happened.@  That=s called blaming the victim. (Sort of like they do with women who are raped - AYou should have known better than to wear that kind of clothing.@)