Justice In America

I debated back in forth in my mind as to whether I should address this topic or not, but I decided that it's important and I want everyone to be educated on what's going on. The trial of police officer Johannes Mehserle is in deliberation in a Los Angeles court right now. Mehserle is a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police officer who is on trial for the murder of Oscar Grant, an unarmed 22-year-old African American man from Oakland, California. The shooting occurred in a crowded transit station on New Year's Eve 2009. Mehserle was caught on camera shooting Grant in the back and killing him while attempting to arrest him. He maintains that he meant to shoot Grant with his Taser because he was resisting arrest. The jury is deliberating about whether Mehserle is guilty of first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, or if he should be acquitted.

I might have thought Mehserle's story was legitimate... Hey, maybe he did mean to shoot Grant with his Taser. Maybe it was just an honest mistake. Hmmm.... but then again, I can't recall ever hearing about a police officer mistakenly shooting a white person with a gun instead of a Taser. Listen, I'm not into bickering and fighting over race. At the end of the day I want justice to be served in all instances. But really???

Of course, Oakland doesn't have a history of police brutality... The blacks and the police officers get along just fine there... This is just a random mishap... NO WAY!! The trial is being held in Los Angeles because the city of Oakland fears a riot will break out once the verdict is reached. For anyone who is reading this in Oakland, PLEASE DO NOT RIOT!!! We definitely have to find more constructive ways to channel our anger and frustrations with the police. However, the jury needs to make the right decision and justice needs to be served. They need to prove that they don't see blacks as just second-class citizens in this country. I saw the video, but I did not see a man resisting arrest and I definitely did not see a reason for a man to die on New Year's Eve.

I've seen way to many cases of police brutality in 2010 alone. It's out of control, and if blacks do not represent themselves and make a stand (in a constructive way)it's going to keep happening. The police forces of America need to be responsible and need to be held accountable for their actions. They need to understand that beating and murdering people of color is not going to be tolerated in this country. As I await the verdict in the Johannes Mehserle trial I just sit and wonder... Will justice finally be served?


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