How Often are Unarmed Black Men Shot Down By Police?

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/24/1324132/-How-Often-are-Unarmed-Black-Men-Shot-Down-By-Police

One source, in a report called "Operation Ghetto Storm" says that in 2012 that of the 739 "Justified" shootings shown above from 2012, 313 of them were Black. 44% of them or 136, were unarmed. 27% of them (83) were claimed by Law Enforcement to have Gun at the time of the shooting, but that could not be later confirmed or the "gun" was in fact, a toy or other non-lethal object. 20% of them (62) were confirmed to have been armed with a gun, knife or cutting tool.

This report, which was gathered by searching media reports, obituaries and even facebook pages of deceased persons includes the following table as an example.

?1408899026

91% of the people killed by Police in Chicago in 2012 were Black? 87% in New York? 100% in Saginaw and Rockford? I gotta admit even after focusing on this subject for over 30 years, since Ron Settles was killed, I find that kind of shocking.

The report goes on to say that 47% of these killings (146 cases) occurred not because of the person brandishing a weapon (as noted above less then 30% of them HAD a weapon, or were even thought to have a weapon), it's because the Officer or Citizen - "felt threatened" and were in "fear". In only 8% (25 cases) did the suspect fire or discharge a weapon that wounded or killed Police or others while Officers were on the scene.

Only eight (8) Officers were Charged with Murder, Manslaughter or use of excessive force in these case.

[HereSince1628]

1. Frighteningly, decisions to discharge weapons are justified by fear

yet fear is often misplaced and influenced by mis-perception. Things like prejudicial stereotypes contribute to mis-perception.

The moment when lethal force is applied seems highly likely to be the same moment when decision making will be most at risk of a mistake.

Terrible combination, imo.

Police need other means of controlling and dealing with their fear than weapons strapped on their waists, under their arms or on their ankles.

[bigtree]

2. k&r