Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley spotlight Sandra Bland arrest video

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, the three top candidates running for the Democratic nomination in 2016, called for police reform and more conversation about race in light of the newly released video of Sandra Bland's arrest in Texas.

"My heart breaks at seeing another young African American life lost too soon," Clinton said in a statement on Wednesday. "Sandra Bland had a bright future ahead of her and it is particularly tragic that she lost her life just as she was to start her new career."

Clinton added, "From what I've seen, the circumstances of this case are incredibly disturbing. I hope and expect that there will be a full investigation into this situation. It is also a tragic reminder of the ongoing systemic issues of race and justice in America that we must address with urgency, and we have to do more than talk—we have to take action."

Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, two 2016 Democrats who were confronted by Black Lives Matters protestors on Saturday, called for police reform in light of newly released video of Sandra Bland's arrest in Texas.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/politics/sandra-bland-hillary-clinton-democrats-2016/index.html

[JI7]

1. have any republicans said anything ?

[riversedge]

16. I believe Gov Abbot just today acknowledged it. I saw a

tweet about it today.

[geek tragedy]

2. I'm sure all three would have jumped on this had BLM sat on their hands

and been content to discuss the TPP and Edward Snowden.

[brooklynite]

4. Considering Clinton's first policy position was on criminal justice reform...

...I'll disagree with your perspective.

[peacebird]

6. Agree with you Brooklynite.

You are correct

[geek tragedy]

7. the same Clinton who said "all lives matter" in response

to violence against black folks?

[Fred Sanders]

5. That exact, now crystal moment in the video when the cop "lost it" without cause was not so clear days ago.

It was clear enough to me a few days ago.....but then I have some privileges also.

[PatrickforO]

3. A good first step.

Ending institutional racism will be a very heavy lift and we will all be needed to help make it happen. We've got to stop thinking of this as being only a 'black issue.' It is a moral issue, a quality of life issue for all Americans.

[heaven05]

11. really, "a quality of life issue for all americans"??

Last edited Wed Jul 22, 2015, 05:02 PM - Edit history (1)

explain please?

[Fred Sanders]

17. The issue is some like thinking that the passive-aggressive voice will distract from real ssues raised by BLM.

You are unlikely to get a response from the poster you asked.

[PatrickforO]

20. Who are you to say anything about me?

I'm offended as an American this is happening. I want it to stop.

[PatrickforO]

19. I have experienced unearned white privilege all my life.

The current horror that's happening diminishes all of us. If there is a movement for black lives mattering, then I'm part of it. Because I don't want to live in an America where some have to live in fear of the cops and others don't. Cops killing black people while not killing others is an offense to everything I want my country to stand for.

So don't get all offended. There's a black movement. I'm on board. That's all.

[PatrickforO]

21. One other thing.

I think you might be suggesting what other BLM people have - that saying all lives matter is a diminishment of the problem, and an attempt to not acknowledge that the problem is worse for blacks than anyone else. I hear that.

It's just that SOLVING the problem is going to need ALL of us because ending institutional racism is a heavy lift. Blacks will need support across the board in doing that. That's all.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

8. "it is particularly tragic that she lost her life just as she was to start her new career."

No, it's particularly tragic that she was murdered.

Lost her life? Well, why don't we send out a search party.

[cosmicone]

9. We need a PAID citizens' committee in every jurisdiction

reviewing every arrest and encounter every time.

The committee should have 3 african americans, 3 whites and 3 hispanic/asians on it. This committee should review and report directly to the FBI any time a wrongdoing is seen, bypassing the local police and local governments.

A few years of this and the BS will be reduced substantially.

What is very clear is that Obama winning the presidency has increased violence against African Americans substantially.

[n8dogg83]

15. I disagree with your last sentence.....

This violence against blacks and other minorities has been going on for centuries. I dont think it has increased under Obama, rather that activists bringing these murders to light and people using their camera phones to record police encounters (which weren't in as much widespread use when Obama was first running for office) makes it seem like the violence has increased. I think the only thing that has changed since Obama's election is that the latent racism in this country has become more overt.

[katmondoo]

10. I am a white woman and when I ever get pulled over

for any reason by a policeman I am excessively polite, sit with my hands folded and quietly ask what I have done. I do have a safe drivers record so it does not happen often. It is easier to just say nothing and I have no wish to aggravate any policeman. I think being Black they feel targeted and wish to fight back. They may feel by saying nothing they are agreeing to being harassed. I am not black so I really don't know. I wish Sandra were still alive and played it safe even if she was angry inside. Sometimes it is not worth the effort to fight.

[jeff47]

13. You are blaming a dead woman for her death. (nt)

[restorefreedom]

14. i usually say

"why was i pulled over?" rather than asking what i did. it is a subtle difference, but it implies that you might have done something and perhaps you didn't. asking why being pulled over does not agree to the assumption that anything was "done" and forces them to explain what their reason was. the conversation can still be polite. sometimes they stop for things like a broken light that they have an excuse to run your license to see if there any warrants. In that case, you clearly wouldn't have done anything wrong other than driving with a broken taillight.

i am white and am terrified of being stopped. can't imagine being a poc in this country.

[Fred Sanders]

18. If you are not black and admit you "really don't know", then why bother speculating?

[oasis]

12. The GOP bigwigs are silent on this. Fox's Hannity, who backs renegade cops

In cases such as Bland's, has his behind the scenes crew working on her history with police.

[christx30]

22. It's not looking good for that cop

in this case. Most of the posts I've read on the right wing site are calling the cop a power hungry thug and he should have just given the warning and been on his way.
Even on the cop website, I'm seeing cops post the same thing. And "Why are you making our jobs harder?!" kind of posts. They are also saying that it's obvious he was just pissed she wasn't bowing and scraping to him and wanted to get something, anything on her, to justify an arrest. So if those cop loving sycophants are saying that, it's pretty much it for that guy. Any investigation that doesn't not give him the latex glove treatment is going to look like a total whitewash.