I'm going to tell you guys exactly how I feel, straight up, about the officers that were killed this week.

I totally feel like there is a double standard in play here.
Why isn't this being classified as a hate crime?
We have 5 dead white officers killed by two African Americans in the last month. Where is the NAACP on this. Where is Jesse Jackson?

Lets reverse the scenario...What if two white guys had executed 5 Black cops in the last month here in Seattle?
What do you think the response would be by specific communties, or the community as a whole, under those circumstances?

Any of you who know me know I am no racist, so I have no hidden motives by asking these questions. There is a double standard in play that needs to be exposed, because the blind eye's, & the intentional selectivity of our society on what are, and are not, hate crimes pisses me off.

Your thoughts?

One's perp's dead, the other's a Veg and better off dead.

I've already turned the page.

Couldnt agree more_that crossed my mind on the halloween murder_thanks for putting it out there.

Fricken Lame-

I think race could be an underlying issue for the perp; we'll never know. The perp had been in trouble with the law since he was a teen. I'd guess authority and personal responsibility issues supercede any race issues that he might have had. I wouldn't doubt he'd play his race card, as in, "look at me, poor black victim of the Man." However, I speculate that had he walked into the coffee shop and there were four police officers, three white and one black, that he would have spared the black one. It reads like the Man and the justice system had done him wrong, and he had it in for cops, regardless of race. The fact that most copys are white and that blacks are disproportionately represented in crime doesn't help the situation any, but the racial issues are tangential to this event and run a lot deeper in our society, and likely most or all societies.

Sg

Sky-Guy,

I actually thought about that too and ended up with the same conclusion that AM did. It WAS a hate crime but not a racial one. It was hate against cops. Perhaps race played a role but I think the color he hated was blue, not white.

I do think it is a valid question though because who can say it was NOT racially motivated.

Just today I was reminded of the media's desire to make the race connection. They were talking about the "kick a ginger day" (taken from a satirical South Park episode about redheads not having souls) where some kids actually beat up a redhead in their school. The reporters made 3 references to it being a "racist" attack. Are redheads an ethnicity? Obviously not but the report highlighted the pushing of that storyline.

You are correct though if the races were all reversed on these cop killings that Sharpen, Jackson, and the rest would be all over it.

-AP

Uh cuz the victims were white ? DUH !

Jeez, now I've got Aunty analyzing the quality of my internet posts.

I don't know why killing a cop should be viewed as more heinous than hate crimes, or any other murder. Creeps who abduct, abuse, and kill children have always been at the top of my heinous crime list.

Maybe Kaiser summed it up better. It was a hate crime, not a racial crime. Clemmons hated cops. Yet we're probably all safer today.

If I had the time Aunty, I would have my mother and editor pre-read my posts to better asure adherence to strict PP posting standards. 8^)

Sg

I think wear SKy was going is --On the other side of the fence -It would of immediately been called a hate crime and JJ and NAACP would of been more focused on that aspect of this horrific crime.

And that's part of the intent of my post. The double standard that so apparently exists.

Where are these groups who are so quickly to shout and scream when one of their kind is taken down? Where are their statements denouncing these acts? <crickets>



The other part is, when Hate Crimes are perpetrated against other groups, people are typically afraid to come out and say anything because they will be negatively labeled. Basically, if White people came out and called this racially motivated, they would be called racists for saying so.
Therein lies the double standard.

I understand what your saying, and I kind of agree. I dont actually think these were hate crimes but if it was a white guy killing black cops in these two instances there would definately be several groups and people protesting that it was a hate crime. Being of Anglo Saxon background, I do not have any groups that would come to my defense if I was a victim in one of these cases.

Lets hear what you have to say Chuck.

This is a Sensitive topic, with 'PC' written all over it. But I don't think you should be apprehensive to share what you think.

This is the problem with equality through special classes.It is a farce.

Sure it was a hate crime..He hated the police.

The killing most likely wasn't reported on the BET news hour.

Punish people based on their actions. Anybody who kills is hateful.

Hate crime laws only seperate us into different classes of people. And the punishment for hate crimes are only dished out one way. Sky-Guy is right on. It only is dished out one way. We can't get into the minds of criminals and we shouldn't be in that position when is comes to sentencing.

I'm just happy it was a quick trial.

+1

Fish on...

Todd

Personally I'd liked to see this animal on public display, holding his own head....

But that's just my opinion, stright up.

Mf

Ryley~ You can t be a racist for your opinion and you are entitled to your opinion. And you are more than likely right, about how the situation would play out had the racial identities been reversed. Now you could be prejudice because of the social identity label you are suggesting. ie- white cops, black murderer -- heres a little more what if it had been a black murderer and black cops what would your thoughts be then? Just another banger perhaps? Anyhow its a horrible situation and justice was served.
Bryan

Ya' know, that's just about Ziiinnnngggg quality there, in a very positive way of course. Not to make light of the situation, but it's hard to imagine any kind of criminal trial that wouldn't end up being a public embarassment. Another reason to be happy it was a quick trial.

Sg