Did you see this in the news?
This was in the New York Times:
"Caron Nazario, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, was driving to Petersburg, Va., from a drill weekend the night of Dec. 5 when he saw police lights flashing behind him.
Too nervous to stop on a darkened road, Lieutenant Nazario, who is Black and Latino, drove about a mile to a gas station, pulled over and placed his cellphone on his dashboard, according to a lawsuit and video footage of the encounter."
No, he wasn't killed. But he was pepper sprayed point blank, kicked, forced on the ground and handcuffed despite the fact that he wasn't fighting or being violent.
I watched this on the news this past Friday evening and it flabbergasted me. I know about the problems African Americans keep suffering at the hands of law enforcement, but this really hit me with visceral punch.
This is what is happening in America. This is what has been happening. Yes, racism is thriving.
What we're all learning from this is to be sure you video record whenever you see something happening that is criminal either by criminals or police.
It seems to be almost the only protection you can have and that is frightening.
Perhaps it's hitting me extra hard because I've just heard from a friend traveling to the mainland that her daughter-in-law who lives there is afraid to venture out very much because of the incidences of Asian hate crimes.
I know they say racial prejudice has always been there... but it really does sound much worse now.
I worry.
I can only say that people seem to forget that racism is everywhere, even in Hawaii. At my last job, I was the only white person out of seventy. My boss kept using the “F” word on me. One day I could not take it anymore and told home to stop. He did, but I was on my way out. Eventually I quit, citing it a toxic work environment. I was able to collect my unemployment, but not a pension. I had to collect social security much earlier than expected. My story is but one of many in Hawaii. Look at chief Ballard. Is she being forced out because she is white. Why did Kealoha, the local last so long with a terrible work record. Whites are treated in Hawaii like Asians on the mainland. I may be bitter, but I understand
ReplyDeleteFrom the Honolulu Police Commission evaluation: In the evaluation itself, the commission said Ballard “had a tendency to be dismissive and did not accept responsibility for concerns raised against the Department. At times, Chief Ballard did not accept constructive criticism and, within the Department, berated others in front of their peers.”
DeleteMorale among rank-and-file officers was compromised, it said.
The evaluation also berated the chief for an inability to take responsibility for problems, citing the overtime abuse within HPD’s COVID-19 enforcement teams.
“When problems arise, Chief Ballard must take responsibility and avoid laying any blame at the feet of any of the command staff,” Alivado said during the commission meeting. The commission said it wants to see “substantial improvement” in HPD’s “culture of blame.”
In five of the seven categories, the commission said Ballard had met expectations, but even in some of those, it said she had faltered somewhat.
It found there to be “poor communication” within the department and noted Ballard’s deteriorating relationship with news organizations.
It also said Ballard is sometimes dismissive of even the police commission.
It wasn’t all bad news, as the police commission commended Ballard for some of HPD’s homeless outreach programs and appreciated Ballard’s cooperation as the commission reviewed the city budget. It also said she was “resourceful” in initiating online training to address problems like implicit bias.
Ummmm... I've not heard of elderly white people being thrown to the ground (like the mainland) or white people in general being attacked without reason here in Hawaii. We have lots of white tourists everywhere and I haven't heard complaints (except when they insist on not wearing masks). As for local white people, we do have Rick Blandiardi who is our current mayor and Kirk Caldwell was our previous mayor. Before David Ige, our governor was Neil Abercrombie.
DeleteI was hoping things would get better in the police department after Kealoha and his attorney wife. I was excited about having a woman lead the force, but there were problems as Margaret wrote. I was disappointed that Chief Ballard chose to quit instead of working toward remedying the shortcomings.
I'm not saying there isn't some racism in Hawaii. I suspect some latent feelings could be due to past history of white privilege, but that's just a guess. My brother is married to an Irish-American and their kids pull very much to the white side in looks. I haven't heard them complain of racism against them. I'll have to ask.
I was not shoved to the ground, but a racist employee, who was a convicted felon tried to punch me out. I would have received a severe beating if the operations manager had not intervened. I put up with this for almost 20 years before I finally quit in disgust.
DeleteThank goodness you had an operations manager who did the right thing. A convicted felon? That’s terrible! I’m glad we don’t run into violent convicted felons very often.
DeleteThe rump years have unleashed overt racism. Do police in the USA just walk off the street and pick up a badge? It seems that so many are looking so an excuse to abuse citizens.
ReplyDeletePretty much, AC. In USA, in some places people train for 6 weeks and are 'trained' police officers. The ease of the process allows authoritarian despots an opportunity to wield power and a gun.
DeleteThat is why stuff like this happens.
I know there is a real shortage of police officers in Hawaii and not enough good recruits. I wonder if that's why unqualified or unacceptable people are being allowed into the police force.
DeleteI believe racism has been a part of the fabric of this country. Trump's popularity and support seems to come largely from the fact that he gave permission to those whose lives are mean and fearful to express openly and without counterbalance their base wells of hatred. We need a fresh fresh breeze of goodness.
ReplyDeleteand last night cops shot and killed a 20 year old black kid in minneapolis on a traffic stop. it was blocks away from where they murdered george floyd.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the Virginia incident play out on 'Morning Joe', and shouldn't be shocked but I am. I think what Will Smith said is true: "It's not getting worse, it's just getting filmed more." I think that the Police force attracts racists like the priesthood attracts pedophiles. There needs to better screening from the onset. As for the recent increase in hatred towards Asians, that was Trump's doing, 100%. He needs to be thrown down an active volcano. I'm serious, he's beyond rehabilitation as are most Trumpers. They should all be given First Class tickets to Hawaii, then led up a volcano and pushed in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others. The racism has always been here but Trump made it acceptable and even fashionable. It is so open and out of control now and I worry how much farther it will go. Those of us who do care must quit just shaking our heads and do something, if only in the voting booth.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there supposed to be some way we can signal to the police that we will pull over at the least dangerous place and that we see them? I would not want to pull over on a dark road either.
ReplyDeleteHow awful
ReplyDeleteWhat I see is a video where someone was asked to get out of the car over ten times and kept ignoring the command. While I understand why he was confused and probably didn't know why he was being pulled over (illegal window tinting) can you imagine if everyone had the right to ignore police orders to question them until their hearts content? It would make policing impossible.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't condone the police actions that resulted from the man's inability to follow orders with weapons pointed at him, I think he does share some of the blame for turning a minor incident into a major one. Had he just got out of the vehicle and talked to the officers, none of what followed would have happened. But instead he set up his phone and deliberately disobeyed commands making a mountain out of a molehill.
Perhaps the police officers were racist. I don't know based upon the video clips I have seen. But I do know if a police officer asked for me to exit my vehicle with a gun pointed at me, I would do so post haste. If I refused and kept interrogating the officers, I would fully expect to get maced or worse.
Ed, he was getting conflicting orders (to both show his hands, get out). He kept telling them he was buckled in and was afraid to put his hands inside the car to unbuckle his belt.
DeleteBut Ed, you’re White. I’m sure you’d follow orders and not be afraid. He was black and had every reason to be afraid because he KNOWS what happens to black people with the police. And why did he make sure it was all recorded? Because you have to if you’re black. I had black friends in Illinois and I’ve heard the stories.
DeleteApache Dug - I hadn't heard that about the seatbelt.
DeleteKay - I am white for sure and so the media portrayal of rampant racism in the police doesn't affect me and I certainly understand how it might affect someone of a different color, especially blacks. The numbers show that it isn't rampant and you are more likely to die a multitude of ways that are mundane compared to being shot by police. As ApacheDug theorized above, it is just being filmed and publicized more. According to one site, the odds of a black man dying by police is 2 times greater than white with lifetime odds of 1 in 1000. The lifetime odds of dying by a fall are 1 in 106, suicide 1 in 88, and a host of other diseases. The same site says 1 in 2000 white people will die by the hands of the police in their lifetimes. I can't recall the last time I've seen the news report an incident like that. Why? It doesn't trigger people's emotions. It doesn't sell. Yet it still happens.
My working theory is the increased deaths might be a direct result of this media portrayal. People are led to believe as if this is rampant so go into any situation with police involved loaded for bear. Whites as you said, have nothing to worry about and so we tend to trust and be respectful to the police when stopped and perhaps are less likely to die.
But I have no doubt that there are some racists in the police force, perhaps more than other professions. I think it is the type of profession that attracts them. We certainly need a way to weed those folks out and not hire them to start with. But if we now tell every police officer that they must ignore someone asking repeatedly why they are being stopped and that even if they don't follow basic commands that the police can't take action, innocent non-racist police offers of every color are going to be dying. Likewise, if we as a society go into every traffic stop preparing for the worst, things like what happened to the Virginia guy are going to happen more often.
Thank you, Ed. I always appreciate your point of view.
DeleteI heard last night on the news that the lawyer for the man said the police officers threatened him if word of this incident got out. If this is true, my opinion of the entire incident would definitely change.
DeleteI've seen this news article and be aghast at the treatment of the driver. We all know that if that had been a white driver, it would have played out differently.
ReplyDeleteAs a woman who knows many, msny, manywomen snd people of color who will not stop anywhere but a well lit place, period, these officers should have realized what was happening and understood while he waited to pull over. He was doing what almost all of us would tell a relative to do. As far as the recording, of course he should have recorded. The police officer used racial names and asked if he wanted to be executed there.....racism has a long history and was always there. No we simply see it more. One cop was fired soon after the indicent.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if the police do those awful things just to see if they can get away with it.
ReplyDeleteI shudder to think of what went on in the years before cell phone filming. If we find it awful now, I'm sure it was much, much worse in the past. I am appalled, saddened and discouraged by the continuing abuses of power in these positions of authority. The poor guy kept saying that he was afraid to get out of the car, and the one police officer agreed with him that he should be afraid. :(
ReplyDeleteThat was a new vehicle without plates. The windows were darkened too. Despite those things, there was no reason to stop that new Tahoe. He did everything they wanted, and they still sprayed him. I understand the one officer has been fired.
ReplyDeleteIt had the usual temporary plate which was visible several times in the police body cam footage. (from what I've read) So, there seemed to be no legitimate reason for them to stop the Tahoe or to go to those extremes with the driver.
DeleteMage - "He did everything they wanted" except obey the command to exit the car at least ten times (by my count) to exit the vehicle before being sprayed.
DeleteMargaret - I heard they stopped him for illegal tinting which seems sort of weak to me. It used to be here that they couldn't stop you for that unless there were other reasons for the stop. Perhaps that isn't the case in Virginia. Perhaps they stopped him because they thought he was a gang banger, but then that does start getting into racism. These stories always have two sides and thus far, we've only heard one side. Who knows, he may have been known to authorities beforehand and then perhaps a thin excuse was warranted. These things are why I like to wait before passing judgment.
It is a very difficult time in the US to be watching all this, and wishing we could learn from our mistakes, instead of doubling down when we are wrong. I'm glad the officer who sprayed him was fired, and wish he would be punished appropriately. But that is not likely to happen. For some, he is now a hero. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to even watch the news but that officer did get fired from the situation you described...maybe it will bring awareness up and change will come?
ReplyDeleteI am beyond disgusted with this! When when will we hire the right police and train them properly!?
ReplyDeleteRacism has always been with us - we white folks seem to want to "otherize" everyone of color or other ethnicity, and blame them for all of our woes - but the former president gave all the haters permission to act on that hate. As a result, racism is worse than ever, in my opinion. We have much work to do.
ReplyDeleteI've worked with my local police, and I like most of them. And I know any one of them is now trained to behave like that. There are no more good cops.
ReplyDeleteI don’t want to believe that. I’ve seen stories of kindness and understanding from the police department in the news also. I want to believe that more officers are like that. I want to believe.
DeleteInteresting to see how racists explain things away. They are quick to bring up inaccurate information to support their case. Reason has left the building.
ReplyDeleteI think racism is worse nowadays, but then I watch movies such as "The Help" and cannot believe how Blacks were treated like dirt back in the 60's and no one lifted a finger. So perhaps it isn't worse now but it has bigger media coverage. People want to see and watch disasters, injustices, and terrible things. Terrorism thrives on news coverage. One of the reasons why I don't watch the news.
ReplyDeleteI was always so amazed when black teacher friends would tell me in Illinois what they had to go through. The “talks” they had to give their kids were so sad.
DeleteI’d been afraid to stop on a dark road too.
ReplyDeleteIt is so shocking. It seems normal. I've been following the Chauvin trial. I cannot understand the racism, that some people are lesser and should be dominated.
ReplyDeleteI thought if we were being pulled over we were allowed to drive to a lightened area if it was dark. This keeps happening over and over again. It is outrageous!
ReplyDeleteRevolting.
ReplyDeleteI popped on over to see what Kay was up to. I'm not a regular reader, just lurk now and then. It's very interesting to read these opinions and I feel compelled to weigh in. Ed, you're breaking my heart.
ReplyDeleteThe only way reason the Lieutenant is alive today is because he kept his hands raised. He didn't even lower his hands when sprayed in the face with pepper spray. The Lieutenant knew, had he lowered his hands to unbuckle the seat belt, Gutierrez would have used that movement as an excuse to shoot. Like what was done a few years back to Philando Castile.
Philando was just a passenger, disclosed he had a license to carry and, when he reached for license and registration ─ as requested even though he wasn't driving and shouldn't have even been asked, the cops murdered him, with his girlfriend in the driver's seat, child in the back.
Thank you so much for your comment, Shirley. You're absolutely right, of course. I hope to see you "lurking" about more often.
DeleteI think racism has always been present. What's different now is that racists were made to feel openly expressing being one was acceptable. Before, the minority in number racist peoples mostly stayed under the radar with their attitudes because they knew it was unacceptable by the majority of Americans just as did some of our racist leaders. That all changed with the previous government administration I observed. Also, there are forces, including foreign, who have an agenda to undermine our democracy and they exploit the divisions racism brings in order to incite dissension and violence.
ReplyDelete