"Kill the Police!"

Thanks to the lovelies at PWO for giving me this one.

Since the acquittal of the three NYPD officers accused of killing Sean Bell on April 25, there has been an uproar in the city with accusations of racism and favoritism towards officers.

And what do you get when you have unorganized, irrational mad people? That's right, someone who can step in, organize them, and make them more mad - namely Al Sharpton.

From Police Link: "The rally at Sharpton’s office was followed by a 20-block march down Malcolm X Boulevard and then across 125th Street, Harlem’s main business thoroughfare, where some bystanders yelled out 'Kill the police!' [...] Sharpton urged people to return for a meeting this coming week 'to plan the day that we will close this city down' with the kind of 'massive civil disobedience' once led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr."
Full article here.

A letter has turned up, from an alleged NYPD source, titled "An Open Letter to the Media."

It begins:
"To Whom This May Concern, Your coverage of the Sean Bell incident from beginning to end has been absolutely horrible, irresponsible and criminal. Not only have you chosen to selectively cover bits and pieces in the case, but you have also fanned the flames of racial tensions that are undeniably alive in New York City, partially created by your irresponsible and sensational reporting."

It goes on to describe the past of Sean Bell as well as those of his friends, wonders why this is a racist case considering the ethnicities of the officers involved (none were white), and poses the inevitable "well what if the police had done differently?" conundrum that faces all law enforcement at some point or another:
"So if I can build a time machine and tell my brothers what will happen if they decide to take focus of their case and try to save a possible homicide from happening in front of their eyes, what would the headlines say the next day? I’ll tell you: 'Past criminal kills family of four in drunken accident after Cops ignore man going to his car in a drunken stupor, focusing on sting operation instead' or 'Cops sitting inside club, doing sting operation, ignore talk of gunplay as violence erupts outside , three dead, one wounded….Where were the Police?' Either way, in the eyes of the media, we cannot win."

The officer ends with what needs to be said to everyone in NYC: "Next time you are the victim of a crime, why don’t you call Guzman or Benefield for help, because according to you, they are the heroes and we are the villains."

This is exactly what kills me about people. The first ones to call the police and criticize "What is taking so long!" "Why can't you do something about this!" "Discipline my child for me because I don't want to!" - well okay, maybe they don't actually say that last one, but that's exactly what they are doing - these are the same people who want to scream the first time the cops do something that they don't like.

But apparently the NY madness is going to be corrected by Al Sharpton instigating good ol' fashion violence and police killing.

Note to Self: Say some prayers for NYC tonight - they have a long road ahead.

**Knowing what I do now about law enforcement, my heart breaks for the NYPD wives who are dealing with their husbands inevitably long hours for the next few weeks. I pray you can find some solace in the fact that there are many of us thinking of you. I can only hope that after this "protest" is over, your families will be whole again - fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters - the badge does not discriminate. Stay strong.**

[Pictures on this post are t-shirt designs that can be found at The Police Shop.]