Blame only the man who tragically decided to resist

NY Post ^ | December 4, 2014 | Bob McManus

[QT3.14]

Eric Garner and Michael Brown had much in common, not the least of which was this: On the last day of their lives, they made bad decisions. Epically bad decisions.

Each broke the law — petty offenses, to be sure, but sufficient to attract the attention of the police.

And then — tragically, stupidly, fatally, inexplicably — each fought the law.

The law won, of course, as it almost always does.

This was underscored yet again Wednesday when a Staten Island grand jury chose not to indict any of the arresting officers in the death in police custody of Garner last July.

[vette6387]

“How about we eliminate “Tax infractions” as something rising to the level to allow an arrest?”

From what I have seen and read, the cops were there at the request of the local businesses because Garner was a disturbing influence. The cigarette tax infraction was the pretext to arrest and remove him from the area. He had had multiple arrests for the same violation which were among the lesser of the criminal acts for which he had previously been arrested and in some cases served time. All this “happy baloney about being a good father of six” misrepresents who he really was, a petty criminal. That said, he didn’t need to die as a result, but I seriously doubt if he was dealt with differently because of his skin color. Cops today seem to have one speed, get em’ no matter what. It’s like when they chase a speeder and someone else gets killed by a speeding car. They can’t seem to grasp the idea that all they need to do is get the license number. Same story here. Give the guy a citation and walk away.

[chris37]

Yeah, I heard that, I believe he may have been reading from a Newsmax article at the time.

I also originally heard the information of Rush’s show this morning.

However, looking at the video, my own eyes tell me he had died already or was very close to death, or was clearly suffering some sort of major event.

I don’t know whyy they didn’t administer first aid.

I understand why the police were there, why they took him down for arrest. I don’t believe the cop intended to kill the man, I don’t believe that any of them intended to kill the man. I don’t believe this has to do with racism in any way at all.

But at the same time, truth matters to me. I think from what I saw he died on the sidewalk there with no help given, and that is troubling.

Unless he came back into consciousness in the ambulance and then suffered a heart attack, it seems to me he died on scene.

[chris37]

I mean, let me link you the video I saw that has me concerned about that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYSnp1UGVGc

I’m looking for signs of seeing his stomach and chest move in the action of breathing, and I’m just not seeing it.

I would assume that after a struggle, a man his size would be breathing hard, and I’m not seeing it.

Then when they do move him to the stretcher, his eyes roll open, and he does not appear responsive or conscious to me.

I just want to know what the truth is about when he actually died, because really, they should have helped the man, especially the EMTs. I just want to know what the truth is. If he died at the hospital or in the ambulance, then ok, but if he died on the sidewalk, I want to know the actual facts.

[Pirate Ragnar]

The “choke hold” killed him?

1. He resisted
2. He allegedly had heart and severe asthma
3. They didn’t choke him, they took him down.
4. The supervisor on scene was a female black.
6. You don’t know what evidence the Grand Jury heard
7. Are you pretending the police tried to kill him?

[Pirate Ragnar]

The police responded to a call from the owner of the business. Should they just walk away? Granted the cig tax is oppressive and punitive, however all he had to do was go along with the program and beat it in court.

[wardaddy]

Bttt

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

No. The only thing I know is what was reported. It was a black area and local business men complained about the turkey.

[HamiltonJay]

Yes, pulling your arm away and saying don’t touch me is actions deserving of being jumped on and choked. Seriously, what lunatics live in this world where they think jack booted thuggery by police is justified?

This man was not threating to anyone, he was not being violent to anyone... he could have and should have been arrested without any incident. If you think after watching the video tape that this guy was a threat to anyone or resisting in a way that warranted violence you are just a full on idiot and there is no point even trying to talk to you because your world view is one where police have abject authority...

They demand your papers you better damned well offer them up or its your fault they club you about the head and neck.

What absolute idiotic drivel is being espoused by some here, the stand they are taking belongs at Democratic Underground. The US of A is NOT a police state, at least its not supposed to be, and its disturbing as hell to watch people trying to argue that this guys resisting warranted the reaction from the cops.