No witnesses left behind

Beating people with their baton, gasing a group of peaceful protestors, tasering an already handcuffed person would be classified as police brutality and excessive use of force. Firing 14 rounds on a person is not just a lapse of judgement. It’s intentional murder. It doesn’t take 20 rounds of shots to disable a person that is only a few feet away from you. If the cop’s aim is so bad that after 20 rounds they would have missed the person, then they shouldn’t be a cop.

These killings are intentional. Cops know that leaving the victim alive is a threat to their freedom. Rotting in a prison cell can easily turn from a nightmare into a reality. So they do what they know best. Plant evidence, create a story that makes them the victims of the scenario in imminent danger, and keep their head down. Aaron Dean, the officer who murdered Atatiana Jefferson in her home in 2019 has refused to speak to investigators. He was allowed to resigned and was later charged with her murder. He was a given the opportunity to resign despite footage that shows that he did not identify himself before shooting into Jefferson’s home. Due to COVID19 his trial has been delayed. He’s out on bail living a quiet life in Texas.

Everything trickles down. Corrupt Captains, Chiefs of Police, Lieutenants, judges and so on. They’re all to blame for the pain and fear in our communities. Even after these officers are arrested, and indicted with murder or homicide, the system will not change unless we remove the officers on top allowing people of color to be murdered like they are disposable.

Officers don’t empty their gun on someone unless if they feel they’ll be protected by the same system that put them in the street. The same system that hides evidence from the defense attorneys and victim’s family. These are the people that have a prepared speech ready because they know another case will make headlines and someone has to show their face to the public. This is the system that believes that paying millions of dollars to the family is enough restitution for the loss of their loved one. This is the system that needs to be dismantled for people of color to feel safe calling the police when they have an emergency.