Black Lives Matter, Where Are You?

Phoenix, suspect “allegedly” attempts to run down 3 police officers. http://abcnews.go.com/US/surveillance-video-shows-moment-suspect-run-phoenix-police/story?id=42068647

Philadelphia, suspect goes on deadly shooting spree, first ambushing an officer and then killing one person and wounding 5 others. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/17/anti-cop-note-found-at-scene-deadly-philly-rampage-gunman-identified.html

Where is Black Lives Matter group?

Why are they not out protesting Phoenix? Is it because the suspect is black? Is it because the police officers are white?

Why are they not out protesting in Philadelphia? Again, is it because the suspect is black? Or is it because the ambushed officer is black and so was the shooter?

These are both excellent opportunities for the Black Lives Matter organization to speak up.  Why? Because it was a black officer that was shot!  It should not matter the color of the suspect (or the officer for that matter but to prove a point), but Black Lives Matter should be standing up and protesting the violence against the black officer.

I find it interesting (in a reverse discrimination sort of way) a black man shoots a black officer and there is no protest.  The reverse of an incident in Milwaukee that lead to civil unrest when it was first reported the shooting involved a white officer shooting a black suspect. Shortly (a couple of days later) it was confirmed the black suspect was actually shot buy a black officer.

Black Lives Matters should also be standing up and protesting FOR the officers.  This is a prime opportunity to protest against violence against police officers and ANY person by black people or any person for that matter.

Black Lives Matters seeks headlines promotes them only if it fits their “cause”.  Even though, according to Black Lives Matter website, the organization is promoting the end to violence against blacks. Well, the officer shot in Philly, is black! So protest!! I mean it!  If Black Lives Matter wants the country to get behind their cause, they should be protesting at every turn when violence is involved with a black person whether they are the victim or the suspect.

Unfortunately, there is no sensational headlines to be made from a black person shooting a black officer.  It does not draw in as many readers, therefore, not as much advertising dollars and that is why most major news media offered little to no news reporting.  It is also the same reason Black Lives Matters did not protest, there would be few from the public to get “mad” and protest and there would not be as much media attention to further their cause.

All lives matter!

R martin

Black Lives Matter! Don’t all lives matter?

In 2013 a group was formed called Black Lives Matter. Via media outlets there have been an increasing number of stories regarding the deaths of blacks. I understand the premise; a group to bring attention to the deaths of black individuals in hopes of finding ways to reduce the violence and longevity of black people.

 

Keeping in mind news outlets are selling the news. Whether it is newspapers, on television or on the web, it is their job to bring you the news and the more of you that tune in, means more views, higher ratings; all of which equal advertising dollars.  That is how news media makes their money. The more sensational the story, the more viewers and more advertising dollars.

Has there been a sudden rash of law enforcement killing black people? You would think so with all the news coverage these events receive. More views, more dollars.

What about law enforcement killing white people? The news stories of these of events are of greatly lower percentage.  However, the actual events involving law enforcement involved in the deaths of white people are more common than black people.

If a white persons is killed by law enforcement little to no media attention is brought forth because it does not bring in viewers. Now a black person being shot (no matter the circumstances surrounding the event) brings in viewers, it brings people to the streets, arms raised, chanting, screaming for justice all of which is promoted by most media outlets.

Most media outlets fuel the fire.

It is standard practice in most law enforcement agencies to restrict an officer to administrative duties when the officer is involved in a shooting. Does the media inform the viewers of this? Most don’t and some will state the regulations of administrative duties but only once or twice. NOT six or seven or twenty times the same media outlet will tell you a black person has been shot by an officer.

Most media will state they are unsure of what exactly happened and the circumstances surrounding it, however they are happy to show the viewers the 100 plus “friends” of the “victim” all saying he/she was a perfect, law abiding citizen with a grieving mother and now fatherless or motherless children.  For days the headlines are filled with additional stories/comments regarding the person who died. Stories of protesters, riots, marches, pictures of signs demanding justice for days and days.

Weeks or months later when the whole story comes out, if the officer was justified, he/she is condemned at the very least by not receiving the coverage the incident and condemnation of the office originally received during the onset.

People, everyone matters!  Black, brown, green, white, all people, all races, all colors, all religions; LIFE MATTERS!

R martin