I really don’t care about the extenuating circumstances that resulted in Officer Casebolt throwing Dajerria Becton to the ground, pinning her there as though she were a violent criminal or an out-of-control animal, and then pulling his gun on the teens who rushed to her aid. The 14-year old girl was *obviously* unarmed and posed no imminent threat to Officer Casebolt. Jon Stewart’s reaction sort of mirrored my own, though his thoughts are both serious and humorous (“How do you go from a pool party to this?!”) while mine are just sad. Yes, I know Officer Casebolt has resigned, and personally I am glad for that. (Parental caveat: video below contains violence and language your nine-year-old probably heard at the bus stop.)
I also don’t know all of the details that precipitated Kalief Browder’s incarceration at Rikers Island for three years, and his subsequent suicide at his parent’s home this week. But, Kalief was imprisoned with no trial. He was never convicted of any crime.
This is the United States of America and it is 2015, and yet I feel as heartbroken and confused as Jem Finch after the trial of Tom Robinson. All I can think is…it ain’t right.
Clik here to view.
“Atticus-” said Jem bleakly.
He turned in the doorway. “What, son?”
“How could they do it, how could they?”
“I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again and when they do it—seems that only children weep.”
