quote:
The problem is that right now, at least among the mainstream, the only complaint coming from the black community is finger pointing at everyone else (i.e. white cops) doing their community wrong. I haven't seen anything to legitimate address on a large scale the issues that are fostering the attitude that it's ok to gun down police officers in NYC because of a young black man killed by a cop in Ferguson.

The problem is both sides are in an "us vs them" mentality, IMO.

quote:
Vilifying? The protesters in Ferguson burned down their own community. The protesters here are committing an illegal act by obstructing traffic (and that could be a safety issue in that area as well). Facts aren't vilifying anything. And it absolutely feeds into stereotypes that the black community should be fighting against that devalues their complaints.

Yeah the Ferguson protests were stupid, and they should have gotten a permit to protest in your city. I think their problem is their methods, not their message. I think their message is misguided, but not invalid. I think you're invalidating their message for unfair reasons.

quote:
So the man that was choked in NYC didn't resist arrest?

I think he was to an extent, I also think he was resisting getting choked to death, which is why that arresting method was excessive. I've seen the video and I can't justify the police officers use of force in that scenario. Maybe you can, and I'm not saying your opinion is any better or worse than mine. I think that was an example of little man syndrome police culture that baits people in order to use excessive force. There are plenty of drunk kids on spring break that I have personally witnessed resisting arrest. They were being violent and dangerous to themselves and others and the cops were doing their job. They didn't need to choke anyone in that scenario and they didn't need to choke this guy for selling illegal cigarettes. That's my opinion.