The Missing Part of the Video

I happen to be watching NBC's Today Show this morning. Rev. Al Sharpton was on discussing this video (above). There are so many conversations about this today on Facebook. In summary, the facts being reported are: a black female "teenager" age 19 is stopped for jaywalking. The white police officer allegedly reported that they resisted arrest. Now add in said video where the cousin/friend of the offending appears to be grabbing at or pulling at the police officer. Officer defends himself by closing his fist, winding it back and punching said offender right in the face. In the background, we can hear the cameraman and other by standers making grunts on how terrible that this "teenager" was hit.

This bothers me on so many levels. Before WE decide to get together a whole caravan of supporters to go march in Seattle, Washington to protest this event of brutality from the police department, let's dissect this from the viewpoint of public opinion since the average civilian such as myself does not know the law in great detail.

1) When you break the law, there are consequences. We are governed by the law in our various states. Some offenses are more serious than others, TRUE. Does the offense of jaywalking warrant a ticket or warning or even being locked up. No really, but it is still an offense that has consequences.

2) I want to see the missing part of the altercation that the video does not show. The video shown all across America shows a 19 year old "teenager" either shoving or grabbing the police officer. That is this new generation of young folk. They do not respect anybody: their parents, their elders, there teachers, law authority or even themselves. They think the world owes them EVERYTHING. What was being said between the two of them. Why did the 19 year old "teenager" get in the middle of her cousin/friend's discretion? We the Public Opinion Jury, do not know that at this point. Clearly there seemed to be a lack of respect toward the officer. Since when do you reach out and grab a police officer if your life is not truly in danger. Seriously?

3) Now this is what disturbs me most about the incident. I may even start to contradict myself. The 19 year old "teenager" gets punched and yet no one does anything. Maybe I am living in fairytale land. I truly believe all those people around could have talked calmly to the officer and the "teenager" to try to diffuse the situation. I would like to have this whole conversation about how the Black men standing around did nothing but then I do have to remember that Black males are always fighting with law enforcement in one way or another. There were women standing still too. WWSD? (What Would She Do?) Scream STOP IT. I would have organized a positive chat. , I don't know what I would have done but what I know for sure is I would have been standing there like a statue.

I am sure there will be more developments as time goes on in later weeks. Today a punch, tomorrow it could another fatal gun shot.

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