[News] The Bullet or the Bullet - Killer Cops make Cop Killers

[Anti-Imperialist News]

THE BULLET OR THE BULLET: KILLER COPS MAKE COP KILLERS

By Paris
<http://www.guerrillafunk.com>http://www.guerrillafunk.com

January 10, 2009


Well, here we are...another new year and another high-profile 
cold-blooded murder of an unarmed black man by racist police. When 
will it stop? And what does our community do in response?

Oscar Grant, R.I.P. Could've been you, could've been me. Or our 
brothers or fathers. Hell, it could've been our wives, sisters and 
mothers too, especially when sexual assault is added to the list of 
offenses pigs perpetrate against us. I've been saying it for years. 
The police do not have our best interest at heart. I've also said for 
years that the only language America speaks and understands is 
violence as it relates to people of color and those on the lower 
rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Maybe it's time we speak back in a 
language they can understand.

I've seen the new efforts by the media to spin this story by 
attempting to create sympathy for Oscar's killer. It won't work...the 
brutality has gone on for too long. Even if the officer wasn't racist 
in this case, the end result is still the same - another black man 
dead at the hands of the police. And I've heard the calls for calm 
after our brother's murder and to stop the violence...and I disagree. 
That's all we ever hear when we respond vocally to brutality 
perpetrated against us. It's now time for people to be held 
responsible for their actions - physically. If an eye for an eye will 
make the the whole world blind, then I guess we'll all be bumpin' 
into shit, 'cause this has to stop now.

Of course, it's also important to analyze the fact that many of us 
have become desensitized to Black Death anyway. It's sad, but true. 
Look at the murder rates among our youth in major cities nationwide - 
the statistics are numbing. Where is the collective sense of outrage 
there? Yeah, we complain and say how sad things are, but we don't 
galvanize our anger into even temporary action when black on black 
violence occurs around us on a daily basis. It's easy to blame those 
who perpetrate the violence, but the reality is that society in 
general, and black elders in particular, have failed our youth. But 
that's another discussion altogether.

In some instances it really is better to be feared than loved, and 
right now, nobody fears black people but other black people. In this 
country, police, corporations and government all do whatever they 
want to do, with no fear of retribution and no accountability to the 
public. They either lawyer up or pay fines when caught doing wrong. 
That's not where the problem started in terms of their collective 
dealings with us, of course (racism set it off), but that's where it 
is now. In many other countries authority figures fear the 
people...not the other way around. We need to be more like them.

I've said for a long time that the only way real change would ever 
occur here is if those in power were concerned about their actual 
well-being when making decisions that affect all of us. As it stands, 
they don't. So I say, let 'em start coming up missing. Let Johannes 
Mehserle come up missing for Oscar Grant. Let Michael Oliver, Gescard 
Isnora and Marc Cooper come up missing for Sean Bell. Let Powell, 
Koon, Wind and Briseno disappear for Rodney King. Hell, while we're 
at it, let the members of congress feel the heat for repeatedly 
funding these racist and illegal wars - wars which result in not only 
profiteering for them and the death of people here and abroad, but in 
economic violence being visited upon those who can least afford the 
hardship here at home by way of budget reductions in social services 
and education to pay for these same wars.

Because the cold, hard reality is this: IN AMERICA, BLACK LIFE MEANS 
NOTHING. Nothing that is, unless you're an entertainer or sports 
figure. But the average brother or sister? Forget about it. Don't the 
"Obama-era" euphoric kool-aid fool you. Racism still exists in the 
country, and the struggle did not magically disappear once he got 
elected. Make no mistake about it: Oscar Grant is us, and his 
situation is a reality shared by far too many.

Hopefully we won't see the same course of events take place that 
always seem to happen - brutality/murder, then outrage, the protest, 
then acquittal, then more outrage...followed by a cooling off period 
and eventually back to business as usual. That's why I don't fuck 
with protests - the powers that be do what they want to do regardless 
of what the people say. They damned sure didn't listen to the 
millions of people who hit the streets in every major city in America 
during our lead up to the Iraq war. Besides, as a Black man and 
someone who's concerned with our condition, I don't advise any of us 
to engage the police unnecessarily. Too many of us are in the system 
as it is, and too many of us get brutalized as it is.

All that aside, the best course of action for most of us is to 
minimize situations that actually call for us to have interaction 
with the police at all. But if you are ever in a situation that calls 
for dealing with law enforcement, it is best to know your rights when 
engaging with police, as well as some common sense solutions:



********************


The following is meant to give a brief overview of law enforcement 
and how to protect yourself from unnecessary legal entanglements. Of 
course, OSCAR GRANT adhered to these principles - which is why we are 
outraged - but it's still good info to pass on. Besides, if it's on, 
it's on...but here's a brief rundown of things everyone should be aware of:

This government's system of laws exists to maintain the dominance of 
those in power, and the police are its armed enforcers. If you doubt 
this for a minute, look at who are the selective targets of local 
laws: The homeless, the young, the poor, dissenters. Globally, look 
at who dies and who gets rich from our wars and other disasters.

For 250 years in this country, the government and their enforcers 
have consistently fought against people working for liberation: 
Indigenous resistance, land reformers, slave revolts, abolitionists, 
labor organizers & workers, free-speech advocates, women's and civil 
rights workers, anti-war and anti-globalization protesters, and 
recently, animal rights and environmental activists.

Your relationship with the police is at heart adversarial. While 
there may be cops with hearts of gold, the job of all police is to 
arrest and prosecute you. As such, it is almost never in your best 
interest to cooperate with them.

Keeping yourself safe and resisting the police state comes down to 
these simple principles:

    * Non-cooperation: If you talk with the police, you could 
unintentionally hurt yourself, your friends, or others.
    * Do not consent to searches: Never give law enforcement the okay 
to examine your pockets, car, backpack, or home.
    * Remain silent: Say nothing except "I'm going to remain silent, 
and I would like to see a lawyer."
    * Talk to a lawyer: Never take advice from the police, they may 
try to trick and mislead you.
    * Use trust and intuition: Work only with people with whom you 
have a history of trust. Without being paranoid, trust your intuition.

RIGHTS DURING A POLICE ENCOUNTER


In a police encounter these rules will help protect your civil rights 
and improve your chances of driving or walking away safely. From here 
on out, we are talking about your legal "rights" guaranteed by law. 
Though in our view, what you can do and what you can do legally are 
two different things. All of these rights also apply to minors and 
non-citizens.

KEEP PRIVATE ITEMS OUT OF VIEW


This is common sense: Always keep any private items that you don't 
want others to see out of sight. Legally speaking, police do not need 
a search warrant in order to confiscate any illegal items that are in 
plain view.

STAY COOL & POLITELY ASSERTIVE


Police are well armed and often unpredictable, so remaining cool and 
calm will keep you safe. Treat them with the caution you would treat 
a dangerous, wild animal.

Be polite and yet assertive to ensure that your rights aren't 
trampled on. Some officers may come on heavy if you are not 
absolutely submissive, but standing up for your rights will keep you 
safe in the long run, in court when it really matters.

Determine If You Can Leave

You don't have to talk to the police. As soon as an officer 
approaches you, ask the officer, "Am I free to go?" If you get an 
answer other than a definitive "No," gather your stuff and leave 
without another word.

You have the right to end an encounter with a police officer unless 
you are being detained or arrested. Don't waste time trying to 
determine your status. Test if you are free to go, and then go. If 
you aren't free to go, the officer will make it perfectly clear.

USE THE MAGIC WORDS


If you are detained or arrested, use the magic words:

"I'm going to remain silent. I would like to see a lawyer."

Do not talk to police. Wait to talk to a lawyer representing you. 
Even casual small talk can come back to haunt you. Anything you say 
can, and will, be used against you.

Cops have numerous tricks to get you to talk. They can and do use 
fear, solitude, isolation, lies, advice, playing you against others, 
and even kindness to get you to cooperate. Don't be fooled. If you 
need to say anything, repeat the magic words.

Keep in mind the credo: If no one talks, everyone walks. Regardless 
of what you are told by an investigating officer, you have nothing to 
gain by talking to the police...and everything to lose.

REFUSE TO CONSENT TO SEARCHES


Officers seeking evidence will often try to get you to allow them to 
search your belongings, your car, or your home. Refuse to consent to 
a search, with the phrase:

    * "I do not consent to a search."

Usually, a search request will come in the form of an ambiguous 
statement, such as, "I'm going to ask you to empty your pockets." 
Answer such requests unambiguously. Repeat as many times as necessary.

You are under no obligation to allow a search. The only reason an 
officer asks your permission is because he doesn't have enough 
evidence to search without your consent.

Police officers are not required to inform you of your rights before 
asking you to consent to a search. If the officer searches you in 
spite of your objection, do not resist. Your attorney can argue that 
any evidence found during the search was discovered through an 
illegal search and should be thrown out of court.

DO NOT TRY TO BARGAIN


Police officers will often tell you that your cooperation will make 
things easier for you, and many people hope to be let off easy if 
they are honest and direct with the police. The only thing it makes 
easier is the officer's job. Do not let the threat of arrest scare 
you into admitting guilt. Better to spend a night in jail, than years 
in prison. Ask to speak with a lawyer, and remain silent.

WHERE TO GO FOR MORE HELP


If you feel your rights are being violated, hold tight until you can 
talk to a lawyer. If you don't have your own lawyer the court will 
appoint the public defender to defend you. For more information about 
your rights, law education, and what to do if your rights were 
violated, check out:

Midnight Special Law Collective 
<http://www.midnightspecial.net>http://www.midnightspecial.net 510-261-4843
ACLU of Northern California 
<http://www.aclunc.org>http://www.aclunc.org 415-621-2493
National Lawyers Guild <http://www.nlg.org>http://www.nlg.org 415-285-5067


There may also be legal help in your community that will specifically 
help you if you are a senior, low-income, homeless, or an 
non-citizen. Ask around in your community.

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Distributed By:
THE PAN-AFRICAN RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTER
50 SCB BOX 47, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
DETROIT, MI 48202
E MAIL: ac6123 at wayne.edu





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