Cenk Uygur gets it ~ the police automatic go-to mindset of "we're justified" sucks BIG time ~ and it only fuels the public distrust ~ nothing will bring these children back, but the total lack of remorse on display is 2d only to the act itself ~ ~ Sooz

Cenk Uygur rails at ‘Orwellian pr*ck’ Cleveland cop: ‘For Christ’s sake, be a human for a second’
Arturo Garcia | 16 Dec 2014 at 22:39 ET

Young Turks host Cenk Uygur blasted Cleveland Patrolmen’s Association head Jeffrey Follmer on Tuesday for his insistence that the shootings of Tamir Rice and John Crawford by local officers were justified.

“Just, for Christ’s sake, be a human for a second,” Uygur said. “And say, ‘We’re so sorry that [a] 12-year-old kid died, man. Obviously we didn’t mean that.’ Is that too hard to say? Is that too hard to say — ‘We didn’t mean to kill your 12-year-old son. We’re so sorry about that.’”

Uygur showed footage of Follmer telling MSNBC host Ari Melber on Monday that Officer Timothy Loehmann was justified in shooting and killing Rice last month, citing footage of the fatal encounter that showed Loehmann killing Rice just two seconds after pulling up near him at a local park.

“The male’s action spoke for itself,” Follmer said. “The video clearly shows, and by the officers’ statement, that they were justified in the deadly force.” Later he added, “This shooting was tragic, but it was justified.”

Follmer also said to Melber, “How about this? Listen to police officers commands, listen to what we tell you, and just stop. I think that eliminates a lot of problems. I have kids too, they know how to respect the law. They know what to do when a police officer comes up to them.”

“You killed him in two seconds — [Rice] didn’t have time to listen to what you said,” Uygur said in response. “This Orwellian prick; we just saw the video, we’ve seen the video a million times. You pull up and you shoot him. You pull up and you shoot him. One-one thousand, two-one thousand and he’s dead.”

Records show that Loehmann joined the Cleveland police force after being declared unfit for duty while working for the department in suburban Independence, Ohio.

His deputy chief there, Jim Polak, described Loehmann as “just not mentally prepared to be doing firearm training” and found that he “could not follow simple directions” after having to be escorted from a live fire area after having an “emotional meltdown.”

Follmer has also criticized Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins for wearing a shirt saying, “Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford” before his game this past Sunday. But WJW-TV reported that Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams distanced the department from those remarks on Tuesday.

“It is important to note that the comments made by Mr. Folmer do not represent the views of the Cleveland Division of Police,” Williams said in a statement. “The Division of Police respects the rights of individuals to peacefully demonstrate their personal views and opinions. Mr. Hawkins was certainly well within his rights to express his views and no apology is necessary.”

Watch Uygur’s commentary, as posted online on Tuesday, below.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/cenk-uygur-rails-at-orwellian-prck-cleveland-cop-for-christs-sake-be-a-human-for-a-second/

Wanna really get to those cops?
Question their "manhood". After all, there's nothing "macho" about killing/maiming/btutalizing those who aren't in a position to resist.

The lack of remorse is appalling. the shooting of Tamir Rice I still in my gut think was wrong and the department because of liability is covering up what really happened. I don't buy the video without audio.

Tamir's killing was first degree murder committed by a screwed up cop. The video clearly shows it even without audio. I think not indicting the cop was criminal on the part of the grand jury in Tamir's case. The video itself was evidence enough for a bill of indictment. it clearly shows what happened. Tamir is the one who everyone should be in outrage about. The shooting was wrong IMO and IMO the actions of the police chief coupled with the non-verdict of the grand jury is indicative of corruption. And I hate corruption with all my heart and soul. Corruption steals from the people. Corruption in Tamir's case stole justice.

Can a grand jury's verdict be investigated by the Feds?

Not sure about the grand jury decision but the grand jury process can and should be investigated, Cannalee ~ and so should the Darren Wilson grand jury process now that the county prosecutor has publicly admitted that he knew a few witnesses favoring Wilson were lying [including a self-admitted white supremacist] ~

Sooz

Eww..hadn't heard that about the Wilson Case but perhaps I have blinders on when it comes to that case-but so far I still think it was a justified shoot but don't know about the grand jury process. Tamir Rice case the video is irrefutable. I am completely convinced the kid was shot in cold blood by a pumped up cop who had already PREMEDITATED to shoot the kid before he (the cop) got out of the car. The premeditation raises the charge to first degree with the shooting being done by a LE officer in theline of duty perhaps being a mitigating circumstance. Could be no lesser charge IMO

Cenk is spot on. they talk about Tamir as if he was 100 lbs of meat. actually, i think they would have felt worse about peppering 100 lbs of meat, so maybe that is not the best analogy.

the complete lack of empathy is appalling. i am kinda with can on this one. the bastard who did this should be put on trial for negligent homicide at BEST, and murder 1 at worst.

Blacks are less useful than meat since one can't own them anymore.

I truly don't think either shooting was racially motivated (which would make it a hate crime) but a case of uncontrolled adrenaline in Tamir's case and fear with testosterone in Brown's case. Have I mentioned studies have shown women make pretty good cops because of their cool level of thinking. IMO the whole Brown thing would not have happened had a female officer been in Wilson's place. But that's another subject.

Funny though, that when a whte cop kills a black person there are rarely, if ever, charges but when it's a black cop there usually are charges.
Not racism, you say? or are there that many incompetent cops in Murrica?

Unfortunately the latter I think

That may well be, Cannalee [altho I have serious doubts] ~ but actions have consequences ... at least for most of us ~ the teens are still dead, but their killers are [currently] not facing any repercussions ~ I see no "justice" in either case ~

Sooz

Doesn't explain the lack of charges against white cops and charges against black cops, though.

Sadly, the only comment that makes any sense to me in reply to oskar's last post is "insidious racism" ~

Sooz

I'll have to think about the insidious racism thing but I have absolutely no doubt that Tamir Rice was shot in cold blood under color (JMO) and I will not be satisfied until the Feds go in there and investigate the police department as well as the grand jury process including the prosecutor et al anyone involved with Tamir's case. That situation stinks like a backed up sewer. That city doesn't want to assume its liability for having a defective cop in its employ much less Tamir's wrongful death. Of course the prosecutor was not going to prosecute the officer fully. Now I see why Sooz was upset with the grand jury in Ferguson. It all smells rotten.