One Street Pirate Attack Triggers Three Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Self Defense Awards

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Scroll around the map and look at the proximity of the "Portraits Upon The Wall" that bring pride to the Black Community.

• Morehouse College
• Spelman University
• Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
• Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
• Joseph E Lowery Blvd
• Even the brand new "SNCC Way" - that was affixed about 3 weeks ago (Raymond Way)

With all of this pride in the picture none of this matters to people who "don't give a damn what you think and aren't trying to live up to any particular standard".

Another weekend - another shooting in the West End/Southwest Atlanta.  

An off duty Atlanta policeman decided to poke his nose into other people's business.  It seems that under the guise of purchasing automobile rims from a person a group of Street Pirates decided to rob the person.  Officer Roach of the Atlanta PD saw what was going down and decided to stop the foolishness that was in progress.  

Unfortunately the Street Pirates didn't appreciate Officer Roach an authority figure interrupting their pirate attack.  They decided to shoot the officer.  Whereas the New York Legislature is pondering a regulation that officers of the law must shoot an assailant in the arm or leg rather than other areas of the body which might prove more deadly - a Street Pirate - DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE LAW AND LEGISLATIVE REGULATION!!!  They shot Officer Roach in the arm and in the stomach.  Only his bullet proof vest saved his life.

I have high praise for the citizens who were in the area who saw what was going on and decided to not "mind their own business".  

With more than 10 shots fired and a Street Pirate straddled on top of Officer Roach an upstanding citizen, Donald Melvin, decided to hit the Street Pirate with his passenger vehicle.   Donald Melvin is the first recipient of the "Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Self-Defense Award".   The fact that this citizen put himself at potential risk in order to save the officer's life is indeed "Bishop Henry McNeal Turner" behavior.  Mr Melvin tried to shoot the Street Pirate but there were no bullets left in the Street Pirate's gun.  He then decided to beat the street pirate with the gun.   Thank you Mr Melvin, your efforts are recognized and praised by some of us who realize the mentality of the person you were dealing with.  I am thankful that you were not injured. 

The second recipient of the "Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Self-Defense Award" is Atul Dey, the manager from the Churches Chicken.   He assisted in holding down the Street Pirate.  He took the officer's handcuffs and gave the Street Pirate a new set of stainless steel bracelets that he can add to his "bling" collection.

For all of the attacks that are rained down upon the police as they do their job that is far too often "thankless" I feel proud to see ordinary citizens stepping up and "taking back their communities".  

A fearful populace is the breeding ground for "Street Pirates".

It is a mistake to attempt to offer more benefit of the doubt to a person who has no intention at all to return the favor to you.   A violent Street Pirate only respects violence and countervailing power.