Photos Of Memorial for Gary King, Killed By Oakland Police September 20th

My one comment is that at the time Gary King was shot (4:45 pm) it was rush hour down on MLK. Potentially there could be a whole lot of witnesses to whatever happened. Somebody should dig for the truth, whatever that may be.

Wasn't a gun found next to King's body??

The mainstream coverage of this horriffic act seems limited to reporters who came to the scene but sat in their vans and got their "story" from the police alone. For an excellent and thorough piece on this event by someone who talked to dozens of eye-witnesses, please read this:

http://counterpunch.org/maher09242007.html

It is important to remember the value of personal responsibility. There are too many guns in the African-American community, and no 20-year-old kid should be roaming the streets with a gun in his/her pocket. For those young people who feel there is a need for these types of weapons to be a casual part of their attire, like a belt or Nike sneakers, then the community must address the problems that are creating the feeling that this is acceptable and responsible behavior. I say this, because I understand that the parents’ response to the revelation that Gary King had a gun was, that he may have had a gun, but this is not something he would necessary share with his parents, but he was a good boy. Anytime you have a gun, adult or child, there is the potential for this type of outcome is increased. No one carries a gun without the intention of using it. While I extend my sympathy to the family and friends of this young man, I must say we must all take personal responsibility for our actions and inactions.

Guns do tend to escalate the tension in a situation and I am awfully sorry for the man and his friends and family and community and all the folks that will now be even more scared and demoralized as they walk around in their neighborhoods. The accountability I want to hear more about is the accountability of the officer for the death of this young Black man. Before we psychologize the man or his family, lets talk about what was the damage done, by whom, and to whom. Police consistently kill people in communities of color around this country. Let's also talk about the taser that was used. Let's talk about whether that cop has killed anyone before and how many compaints he has against him during his career. Let's talk about what the man was trying to defend himself from. Let's ask why the second ammendment is respected for whites and not blacks. Let's talk about why someone would get shot in the back running away.