Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Note what I wrote to The Baltimore Sun, and what was published.

June 28, 2016 --Friends,

Note what I wrote to The Baltimore Sun, and what was published.

Kagiso,

Max

THE SUN

Dear friend:

I am trying to understand the situation [NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS, The Baltimore Sun, June 24, 2016].  There was no probable cause, but a black man is arrested for running.  I have never been arrested for running.  I guess it was the “neighborhood.”

Then the prisoner is shackled and thrown on the floor of a police van.  As a peace and justice activist, I have been handcuffed and placed on the floor of a police van.  To say the least, I was in a dangerous and vulnerable position.

Back to the Sandtown-Winchester arrest, when asked in court why the prisoner was not seat-belted, an officer said he didn’t see the email memo.  The excuses kept coming--I was afraid to seat-belt him.  I couldn’t fit in the “cramped” space.

  We all have seen the images of an officer on top of the prisoner and how two of them had to drag him to the van.  Angelique Herbert, a medic who treated the arrested at the Western District Police Station was stunned to see that the prisoner was unconscious.  But why should police be responsible for a prisoner in an obvious life-threatening situation?  They are to arrest and transport.  Based on the decisions reached at trial, the police have no responsibility to ensure that the prisoner is not injured.  But, of course, a police officer can’t tell if a prisoner needs medical assistance.  There is no reason to err on the side of caution.

  Defense attorney Matthew Fraling, of course, blamed the prisoner for his own death. I think Mr. Fraling should be shackled and placed in the police van.  He could then demonstrate how the prisoner got up and broke his neck.

  If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit. So the prisoner is dead, and the police can’t be held responsible as they did “all they could.”  So life or death on the streets of Baltimore goes on. 

  The sun did come up this morning. However, if nothing is done about police misconduct in Baltimore, then we have another travesty of justice.
Peace,

Max Obuszewski is with the Baltimore Nonviolence Center

No accountability in Freddie Gray's death?
Will anyone be held accountable for an unnecessary death in police custody?
I am trying to understand the situation with the Caesar Goodson acquittal ("Not guilty on all counts," June 24). There was no probable cause, but a black man is arrested for running. I have never been arrested for running. I guess it was the "neighborhood."
Then the prisoner is shackled and thrown on the floor of a police van. As a peace and justice activist, I have been handcuffed and placed on the floor of a police van. To say the least, I was in a dangerous and vulnerable position.
We all have seen the images of an officer on top of the prisoner and how two of them had to drag him to the van. Angelique Herbert, a medic who treated the arrested at the Western District Baltimore Police Station was stunned to see that the prisoner was unconscious. But why should police be responsible for a prisoner in an obvious life-threatening situation? They are to arrest and transport. Based on the decisions reached at trial, the police have no responsibility to ensure that the prisoner is not injured. But, of course, a police officer can't tell if a prisoner needs medical assistance. There is no reason to err on the side of caution.
If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit. So the prisoner is dead and the police can't be held responsible, as they did "all they could." So life or death on the streets of Baltimore goes on. The sun did come up Friday morning. However, if nothing is done about police misconduct in Baltimore, then we have another travesty of justice.
Max Obuszewski, Baltimore
Copyright © 2016, The Baltimore Sun

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs


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