A Life Worth Nothing
The policemen who shot Sean Bell a total of 50 times in the early hours of the morning on what would have been his wedding day, have all been acquitted. Of all charges.
There was no jury. Reports coming out right now say that the judge told the prosecution that they didn't meet the burden of proof. And that he cited the criminal records of the witnesses, and that they weren't credible.
50 shots? 50 shots doesn't clearly indicate "reckless endangerment?" 50 shots.
They say Nicole, his common-law wife and the mother of his children, the woman he was going to marry just cried.
And I'm crying, too.
Sean Bell is gone, and nothing can bring him back and now nothing will give peace to his memory. But Nicole must go on and raise her children and live with this. For the rest of her life. Knowing that the man she loved... who stuck by her and worked and tried to be a good father and was going to marry her... in the eyes of the judge and the cops and now the rest of the world, his life was worth nothing. They thought he had a gun, no wait, they thought he was going to go get a gun... and for that he was shot at 50 times.
My tears are for Nicole. May the Higher Power give her the strength to carry on, because she must.
Comments
What saddens me so much is that I think that so many (most) of us just wouldn't expect any different. The justice system is such a farce.
But, I won't say his was a life worth nothing, even if the judge and the prosecutors couldn't do their jobs in providing justice.
I think what stands out most about Bell is that he was a man trying to do the right thing. And we need to see more men like that. I just wish it didn't take a tragedy to bring him to our attention.
I rode the subway from uptown to bklyn and back right after they announced the verdict. On the way to bklyn nothing was unusual - but on the way back - the police presence was extensive. They were in the train, on the platforms and when I came up out of the subway, they were standing at the entrace.
Two rather boisterous young ladies came up out of the subway ahead of me and asked the cops standing at the top of the stairs why they were there. One of replied, "Why not? It's a beautiful day to be here." And the girl muttered, as she walked away - "We know why you're here."
I can't help but think that we always know why they're there.
50 rounds. How many more were needed to meet the burden of proof? 51?
{{{Strength}}} to Nicole and her children. They most certainly need it right now. And Peace in their lives. Peace.
And TPTB wonder why people don't trust or respect the police. Why should they?