You fucking moron.
The cops shoot an unarmed man in the head, he gets 10 years in jail, the officer doesn’t face a grand jury, and the internal affairs investigation into the officer’s conduct is still incomplete. I don’t care what the guy did, what I care about is the unfairness of the punishment.
Why don’t you?
“The District Attorney would rather see me go convicted than go free,” said Stewart, at this afternoon’s sentencing hearing. “But I feel like the District Attorney is biased. You’ll convict me whether I’m guilty or not, but won’t let an officer who did a wrongful shooting go before a grand jury. That’s biased.”
Here’s my frustration: How do I convince you that this is important? How do I get you to see how awful this is, so that next time the DA is tempted to pull something similar, he thinks, “Oh, shit, last time I tried that, there was outcry.”
Because this story will die without a sound. And that is not okay. That is not good for any of us. And that is your fault, because you don’t care.
MORON.
Also, nobody likes to be called a moron. I know that. But you are! You’re a moron! MORON! Care more, please. PLEASE. PLEASE? Thanks.
I may or may not be a moron.
But I do care in this case.
So… what do I do? What actions can I, as an individual, do that would cause Schrunk to think “Oh, shit, last time I tried that, there was an outcry” the next time a cop shoots someone from behind.
I mean… do public outcrys* actually make the DA think twice?
*Pretty sure this isn’t the right plural but whatever.
I may or may not be a moron.
But I do care in this case.
So… what do I do? What actions can I, as an individual, do that would cause Schrunk to think “Oh, shit, last time I tried that, there was an outcry” the next time a cop shoots someone from behind.
I mean… do public outcrys* actually make the DA think twice?
*Pretty sure this isn’t the right plural but whatever.
Thanks, BrianM, for restoring my faith in the electorate.
I hate to say “write a letter,” but write a letter to the editors of the Oregonian asking why they didn’t cover this story after Schmautz told their reporter it was just a band aid wound.
Then write to my editor at the Merc saying how important the story is. lovenotes@portlandmercury.com
Then write to the mayor, and to the District Attorney, Mike Schrunk, saying how disappointed you are in a system that’s so biased against citizens and so biased in favor of rogue cops.
Then give some money to our film about James Chasse, http://www.alienboy.org
Then call Copwatch and subscribe to their paper.
Then give me a call and hell, why not, let’s go out for a coffee and I can talk to you some more. Because it’s lonely, caring like this, and I like to meet other people who care like I do. But I promise I won’t try to kiss you or anything.
Thanks, BrianM, for restoring my faith in the electorate.
I hate to say “write a letter,” but write a letter to the editors of the Oregonian asking why they didn’t cover this story after Schmautz told their reporter it was just a band aid wound.
Then write to my editor at the Merc saying how important the story is. lovenotes@portlandmercury.com
Then write to the mayor, and to the District Attorney, Mike Schrunk, saying how disappointed you are in a system that’s so biased against citizens and so biased in favor of rogue cops.
Then give some money to our film about James Chasse, http://www.alienboy.org
Then call Copwatch and subscribe to their paper.
Then give me a call and hell, why not, let’s go out for a coffee and I can talk to you some more. Because it’s lonely, caring like this, and I like to meet other people who care like I do. But I promise I won’t try to kiss you or anything.
Also, talk to your friends/co-workers about it. Make sure they know why it’s important. Educate yorself re: James Perez and Jim Chasse
http://wweek.com/story.php?story=5063
http:www.alienboy.org
Let Schrunk know that some of us still give a damn about that pesky old thing called the constitution.
Because our city is so damn image conscious, tell everybody how bad Schrunk is for our image as “most liveable city”.
Make a donation to Copwatch, better yet, join them.
http://www.portlandcopwatch.org/
Ditto NW Constitutional Law Center
http://www.nwcrc.org/index.html
Organize a letter writing campaign. Start a blog. Even…gasp…PROTEST.
Most of all, stay informed, stay pissed-off, stay vocal. Don’t let the bastards sweep it under the rug.
Also, talk to your friends/co-workers about it. Make sure they know why it’s important. Educate yorself re: James Perez and Jim Chasse
http://wweek.com/story.php?story=5063
http:www.alienboy.org
Let Schrunk know that some of us still give a damn about that pesky old thing called the constitution.
Because our city is so damn image conscious, tell everybody how bad Schrunk is for our image as “most liveable city”.
Make a donation to Copwatch, better yet, join them.
http://www.portlandcopwatch.org/
Ditto NW Constitutional Law Center
http://www.nwcrc.org/index.html
Organize a letter writing campaign. Start a blog. Even…gasp…PROTEST.
Most of all, stay informed, stay pissed-off, stay vocal. Don’t let the bastards sweep it under the rug.
“I don’t care what the guy did”…
I do. He admitted to trying to get officers to shoot him by acting like he had a gun. Now you’re outraged that the cops believed him?
He kidnapped and terrorized a woman and her son while already on parole for attempted murder. 10 years seems like about the right sentence for that crime. Matt, you’re getting suckered by a bad dude who thinks you’re his way out of a guilty plea and long prison term.
The sad part is that the question of the unfinished shooting investigation is a legitimate story. Another legitimate story: it wouldn’t make a bit of difference even if the case was reviewed by a grand jury, because Schrunk doesn’t give grand juries enough evidence to indict cops, even in far worse cases than this one.
But you’re killing any chance that legitimate story has of getting broader coverage by tying it to a run-of-the-mill gangbanger who somehow convinced you he’s a victim.
Also — let go of the “shot in the back of the head” line. It’s just misleading hyperbole that doesn’t help your case. The guy was grazed by a piece of shrapnel, which is a far cry from getting shot.
“I don’t care what the guy did”…
I do. He admitted to trying to get officers to shoot him by acting like he had a gun. Now you’re outraged that the cops believed him?
He kidnapped and terrorized a woman and her son while already on parole for attempted murder. 10 years seems like about the right sentence for that crime. Matt, you’re getting suckered by a bad dude who thinks you’re his way out of a guilty plea and long prison term.
The sad part is that the question of the unfinished shooting investigation is a legitimate story. Another legitimate story: it wouldn’t make a bit of difference even if the case was reviewed by a grand jury, because Schrunk doesn’t give grand juries enough evidence to indict cops, even in far worse cases than this one.
But you’re killing any chance that legitimate story has of getting broader coverage by tying it to a run-of-the-mill gangbanger who somehow convinced you he’s a victim.
Also — let go of the “shot in the back of the head” line. It’s just misleading hyperbole that doesn’t help your case. The guy was grazed by a piece of shrapnel, which is a far cry from getting shot.
There’s no denying Stewart is a bad and dangerous man. The question is, whether “justice” was pursued more aggressively against him than it was against the officer who pulled the trigger.
I’m a sucker, you’re right. But you’re being suckered by the “grazed by a piece of shrapnel” line. He suffered a gunshot wound. He was shot in the back of the head.
Hyperbole points noted, I’m writing the story now.
There’s no denying Stewart is a bad and dangerous man. The question is, whether “justice” was pursued more aggressively against him than it was against the officer who pulled the trigger.
I’m a sucker, you’re right. But you’re being suckered by the “grazed by a piece of shrapnel” line. He suffered a gunshot wound. He was shot in the back of the head.
Hyperbole points noted, I’m writing the story now.
Eh. I really don’t see what makes this story unique. Cop-abuses-power is the new Dog-bites-man. No one gives a fuck. Most Americans have already decided that a fascist police state is good–anything less, and we’ll all be overrun by niggers, terrorists, and meth addicts.
I care about the overall state of things as much as you–more so, perhaps–but I don’t think a story about a violent criminal catchin’ one is ever going to be a catalyst for change, and I know that even if charges were brought against the cop, she’d still walk. So tell me, why should my jaded ass care about this?
Eh. I really don’t see what makes this story unique. Cop-abuses-power is the new Dog-bites-man. No one gives a fuck. Most Americans have already decided that a fascist police state is good–anything less, and we’ll all be overrun by niggers, terrorists, and meth addicts.
I care about the overall state of things as much as you–more so, perhaps–but I don’t think a story about a violent criminal catchin’ one is ever going to be a catalyst for change, and I know that even if charges were brought against the cop, she’d still walk. So tell me, why should my jaded ass care about this?
Because…because…because it’s your only hope at being human, Kyle…ah, forget it. I think I prefer you jaded, anyway.
Your first paragraph reminds me of a voicemail I was left today, describing the bigendered person from last week’s newslede: “She’s not an activist, she’s…she’s a terrorist.”
Because…because…because it’s your only hope at being human, Kyle…ah, forget it. I think I prefer you jaded, anyway.
Your first paragraph reminds me of a voicemail I was left today, describing the bigendered person from last week’s newslede: “She’s not an activist, she’s…she’s a terrorist.”