Sean Bell - An Issue of Injustice Or A Ruling That You Did Not Agree With?

Justice Arthur J. Cooperman of the New York State Supreme Court


Let me start out by saying that I respect the anguish that the Bell family is facing regarding the loss of their loved one and the judicial ruling that was counter to all that they believe should have happened regarding the excessive police actions that lead up to his death. I am not attempting to make light of this situation or tweak the noses of those who have experienced great loss and are rightfully upset about the verdict.

I do want to talk about the language that is used as this issue is brewing on the minds of many angry activists.

Detective Marc Cooper; Detective Gescard Isnora; Detective Michael Oliver






Can we claim that the system of justice that heard the question of guilt or innocence regarding the actions of the three officers was UNJUST or that the verdict that was rendered was Not one that followed the popular sentiments?

Indeed the people who were on trial were the 3 police detectives who were indicted on the question of their culpability in the unjustified death of Mr. Bell and the shooting of his 2 friends. These 3 cops are the defendants in the case. Indeed when this is the case those who express unboundless sympathies for criminal defendants who stand accused by the government of charges that will add to our growing prison population are expressing their other face with regard to defendants not that police officers are on trial.

Was it injustice or just a ruling that is strongly unpopular? Mavericks are typically praised for their courage to go against the grain.



Here in lies the problem.
The activists referenced 4 Black men killed by the policy over the past 10 years......but they can't bring themselves to talk about the thousands who have been killed on the street during this same time interval.

NYC 5 Borough Homicide Map - 2003 thru 2005

Murder in New York: Killers and Their Victims in the Five Boroughs

Between 2003 and 2005, 1,662 murders were committed in New York. Men and boys were responsible for 93 percent of the murders; their victims tended to be other men and boys; and in more than half the cases, the killer and victim knew each other.

NYTimes: New York Killers and Those They Killed, By The Numbers

Now let's be clear - I will no doubt be attacked for what I am doing.
Just as Reverend Jeremiah Wright decided to talk about the subject when the subject was on the mind of everyone - and he is being DEFENDED by certain people for having a relevant conversation....these same "certain people" will no doubt respond like the Conservatives who thought Rev Wright's "Chickens Coming Home To Roost" comments untimely and exploitative.

Let us inspect this claim then.