In Atlanta, there was another police shooting of a black man on Friday, June 12, more blaming of the police, and more lawlessness justified by community leaders, liberal politicians, and the news media. Monday morning quarterbacking is easy when objectivity doesn’t matter, and when emotional responses fit the political narrative.
The facts are these. The man was drunk in public, and he was driving intoxicated, and he fell asleep and obstructed a fast-food drive-through disrupting a private business. Then he resisted arrest and fought with the police, he tried to take their weapons, and he tried to flee. Other than that, he was not doing anything wrong.
The community response has been to say he is innocent and blame the police for racism. They also burnt downed the fast-food restaurant where the incident occurred.
The politicians’ and news media’s responses are to criticize and blame the police. The officers involved in the shooting have been suspended, and the Atlanta police chief has resigned.
This shooting is a tragedy, but what community leaders, politicians, and the news media refuse to discuss is the culture and behavior of black men. While police shot this one man in Atlanta on Friday, how many blacks were shot, stabbed, or beaten by other blacks that same night?
The incident could have been avoided had the man not been drunk in public and driving; had he not obstructed the business; had he cooperated with the police. Unfortunately, the culture among many black men is to dislike and disrespect the police. Even public schools in the black community have had to employ police because of the disruptive behavior of students.
While the blame continues to be directed at only the police, crime and violence in black neighborhoods continue and spill over into other communities. An honest discussion about police/black relations cannot happen without talking about fixing (not excusing and justifying) black anti-social attitudes and behavior.
As Benito Juarez once said, "Respect for the rights of others means peace." If community leaders want to end the violence in their neighborhoods, young men must be taught to respect one another and others' property.
It has become unpopular, even dangerous, to defend the police, but we must stop blaming only the police. The problems of fatherless-broken families, the “gangsta” attitude among young men, teen pregnancy, and the disregard for academic achievement in the black community must be addressed.
Stop blaming ONLY the police.