My position on shooting of un-armed young man, Michael Brown (may his soul rest in peace) in Ferguson, Missouri:
To state that all the American citizens in Ferguson, Missouri who are suffering their First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and petition their government for redress are looters and are violent is not only flat out wrong but illustrates the very example of a multi-cultural America that is increasingly becoming more and more at odds with itself due to: 1.) Miscommunication 2.) in-equality and 3.) The re-emergence of racism.
The answer to why these three factors are happening today in21st-century America is in all of us… Our hearts, minds, and spirits.
Brothers and sisters, I am not for either extreme. That is, I am not for the one extreme that says all police are bad and that violence and looting are justified. And, I am not for the other extreme which says that: all police are perfect and that there is no militarization of police taking place, and finally, that there should be no trial for Michael Brown and that officers names should not be released in shootings.
I am with those only seeking justice and demanding answers by having a fair federal trial for the officer. And, I along with many others in the United States of America are for: 1.) De-militarization of police, use of S.W.A.T.teams and military type responses for only a narrow set of individuals,organizations and scenarios that are clearly written down and clearly interpreted with no ambiguity when they are used. 2.) All police departments having civilian police boards. 3.) police departments having special response teams for mental health calls. 4.) police department vehicles and non-undercover officers while on patrol having cameras at all times. 5.) all officers being identified in officer involved shootings. 6.) And having special congressional, federal and judicially authorized commissions being held on the federal state and local level regarding: racial/multicultural sensitivity issues that are affecting the United States of America today. And, 7.) NEVER shooting an unarmed human being with his or her hands in the air surrendering !
I am still for:
1.) Police officers following the Constitution and laws of our nation. 2.) Police officers serving and protecting our communities. 3.) Police officers apprehending criminal suspects in a constitutional and lawful manner while doing the best they can to lawfully protect their own lives in doing so. 4.) And, After successfully apprehending these criminal suspects to present them to the judicial branch for justice in a fair court of law.
Sincerely,
Leonard Clark,
17 August, 2014