More Police Shootings, Beatings Who's Next

By Eddie D. Gillis

Two more shootings involving white police officers and Black men will no doubt ignite more tensions between the Black community and police departments across the nation. A shooting occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin where a Black man was shot in the back and one even closer to home happened in Lafayette, LA over the weekend, has Black residents upset over how police officers respond when Black people are involved. Lafayette resident Trayford Pellerin was shot multiple times Saturday (Aug.22) by several police officers after initial media reports said that Pellerin was armed with a knife. According to media reports, Pellerin was involved in an altercation that led to a pursuit by police officers, that seconds later resulted in Pellerin's death. The shooting involving Jacob Blake in Wisconsin as of press time, has not resulted in a death, but a video on social media appears to show the depth that some white police officers will take when it comes to Black men. The video appears to show Jacob walking away from a police officer unarmed to his vehicle when he is grabbed from behind. Jacobs appears not to break free as the officer holds on to Jacob's shirt from behind with his gun in his right hand and in the next instance, fires several rounds into Blake's back. Reports say that officers were called because of an unexplained alleged domestic disturbance call and as of press time no new information has been released in either incident. Blakes' shooting is even more catastrophic because his three sons were in the vehicle. As of Monday (Aug.24) Blake is in critical condition following surgery and investigations are underway in Kenosha and Lafayette.

Also, in Mississippi, two police officers were involved in an incident with George Robinson, a 62-year-old Black man, who was allegedly thrown to the ground where he was beaten by the officers. A case that is similar to what happened to Timothy Williams here in Monroe where an officer involved has been fired as a lawsuit filed against the city continues. In Robinson's case, three officers forcibly removed him from his vehicle and following an alleged beating, Robinson died later from his injuries. Two of the officers have pleaded "not guilty", while the third officer is expected to be arraigned in a few days.

There is something very wrong in a nation that boasts of its law enforcement system where the incidents of violence continue against people of color and yet there are those who "claim" that they don't understand the protests. Last week this reporter wrote an article where Sen. John Kennedy tried to draw a parallel between peaceful protests and church attendance. Kennedy wants restrictions removed when it comes to church attendance because there is no limit as to how many people can attend a protest. That is a case that perhaps a judge can mediate. However, in mentioning protests, Kennedy didn't mention why protests are going on now, even though the world knows why there are constant protests in the streets of America. Mr. Kennedy knows why there are protests in Lafayette and he has been silent, which is why organizations like the NAACP will continue to protest until civic minded political leaders take a stronger stand. This reporter also said that "defining moments" that can save a nation from itself from imploding, are becoming less and less. A house divided cannot stand. As long as minds/hearts don't change, as long as it is a "us versus them" mindset, this nation will go the way of the dinosaur. Look at the history of other nations that thought that they couldn't fall. Justice seems to be blind when it comes to some because they are those who refuse to see. In Monroe LA Errol Johnson was shot by police in a standoff at a Monroe Motel where he could have been taken into custody.

Photo Police Shootings/Beatings-George Robinson

Photo Police Shootings/Beatings-Jacob Blake

Trayford Pellerin

Photo Police Shootings/Beatings-Trayford Pellerin

Photo Police Shooting -Errol Johnson