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Title: Whitewashing Sandra Bland's Murder
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Published: Jul 24, 2015
Author: Stephen Lendman
Post Date: 2015-07-24 06:17:40 by Stephen Lendman
Keywords: None
Views: 438
Comments: 23
Whitewashing Sandra Bland's Murder by Stephen Lendman Every 28 hours on average, a Black man, woman or child is murdered by killer cops in America. Sandra Black is one of their victims - a high-profile one, unlike countless nameless, faceless, unreported victims of US police brutality, at times resulting in unaccountable murders routinely whitewashed when investigations are conducted. Police traffic stops, even violent ones, followed by wrongful short-term detentions, aren't reasons for suicides - unless perhaps victims are so mentally ill and unstable their behavior is unpredictable. Bland was a young Black civil rights activist - a vocal Black Lives Matter movement exponent, outspoken against police brutality in America. Was she targeted for this reason? Was she violently assaulted by a cop on assignment to get her arrested on false charges - then murdered in custody to silence her? She was eagerly looking forward to her new job at Prairie View A&M, her alma mater. She had every reason to live, not die. Media reports on her case are scandalous - ignoring the most important issues needing exploring and explaining. Instead, largely regurgitating official accounts about her death. The New York Times, America's leading broadsheet, is typical - On July 23 headlining "Autopsy of Sandra Bland Finds Injuries Consistent With Suicide, Prosecutor Says." A proper headline should read: Coverup in Texas: County Autopsy Findings Whitewash Sandra Bland's Likely Murder. Instead of questioning dubious autopsy findings (conducted by local authorities, not an independent forensic pathologist), The Times regurgitated the official conclusion saying "her injuries were consistent with suicide, not homicide, a finding that underscored growing doubts that the jail did enough to monitor her." No independently verifiable evidence suggests Bland was unstable or suicidal. Saying she was depressed over losing her baby is how virtually every woman would feel. The Times repeated the official lie suggesting she should have been placed on suicide watch. It quoted Texas Waller County first assistant district attorney Warren Diepraam reciting pre-scripted (unchallenged) claims about no signs of violent struggle and neck markings consistent with suicide. "I have not seen any evidence that this is a homicide," he said. Did he look for any, the Times should have asked - as well as explaining an activist woman against police brutality with every reason to live, not die. On July 9, Bland drove from Chicago to Texas, was interviewed for a job at her alma mater Prairie View A&M, was ecstatic on learning she got it - then "committed suicide," according to official reports. No legitimate Hollywood producer would accept a script with this storyline. Who would believe something this implausible? Bland's friends suspect foul play. Some angrily reject official suicide claims for good reason. Bland's mother quoted her daughter's recent comments saying: "Mom, now I know what my purpose is. My purpose is to go back to Texas. My purpose is to stop all social injustice." It's to live, not die. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 19.
#1. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
According to autopsy reports, the lady had scabbed over cut marks on her inner forearms indicating a habit of self-mutilation. IOW, the woman had serious mental issues.
#BlackLivesAreAMess multiple failure to appear for driving on suspended license in MD plastic bag hanging
It would seem so from what jailhouse footage that's been released. But all of this is going nowhere. You got a dope-addled racial activist incapable of reasonably restraining her emotions who, by all accounts, kicked a law officer in the shins and inflicted several cuts on his hands. The DPS officer is insulated from whatever happened in the Waller County jail. However, it was clearly the trooper's attitude and behavior, coupled with the raw nerves on the part of the arrestee that set this whole series of events in motion. His problem is that he arrested her before the assault took place. So far, I haven't seen any evidence that there were grounds for an arrest in the first place. Bland refused to extinguish a cigarette and exit the car on the officer's command. (I'd like to know how that is an offence that warrants arrest.) Bland was starting a new job at Prairie View A&M. I would imagine an arrest and legal problems might have put a cloud on her new hire. This probably increased her panic at being arrested. The DPS trooper in question did nothing to de-escalate the situation, and he is going to hang for that. I note that the trooper's surname - Encina - is Hispanic, and as this story recedes into the background (there are currently other tragedies dominating the "news cycle") mentions of his name in the mainstream become more and more muted. If the officer had a more Anglo sounding name, this story would have better fit the bad-Texas-white man-cop narrative that a HuffPo scribbler can really get his teeth into. As it is, the deceased has a troubled past, and some drifter has shot up a theater in Lafayette. Waller County ain't Ferguson and the news trucks will drift off elsewhere.
I haven't a clue what she did to get arrested, or why a cop today would even bother stopping a Negress for a vehicle infraction. My advice to White cops is to do nothing but to pull down your check. Let cops be fired for non-performance, but better that that face a jury on a media/racial fueled bogus charge. It's clear the worm has turned; just as Blacks have pulled down the rebel flag they have won public sympathy on matters like this. Where this will end isn't going to be pretty but it's inevitable nevertheless so I'm not going to fret about it.
The stop was for failure to signal a lane change, the arrest was for a chimp-out. Her death, still a real mystery to me.
This cop was an asshole. I drove cab once and got a ticket this way. Cop car comes up on my tail-- tailgaiting me causing me to speed up and get a ten-over citation. I'll warrant something similar happened here. Watch the whole thing. This ain't law enforcement the way it's meant to be.
Agree. I watched the video until I gave up; it was too lame for me to determine what happened. Dash cams generally suck for interactions like this; body cams (I guess) are what we all need to be wearing. Sick effin' society...sorry, I'm olde and tired and hot as hell here.
You're right, Lod. I should have just left the thing go. I'm feeling just as burned out on everything as you seem to be. Everything is just spiraling down the crapper in this country.
Everything is just spiraling down the crapper in this country. That you, I, and we, cannot do one damned thing about the situation is what really wears me out and sours my spirit.
#20. To: Lod (#19)
I'm with you 100%! Activism brings results, but most people aren't wired for it.
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#2. To: Obnoxicated (#1)
She was nuts, not to mention her toxicology report indicates the presence of marijuana. This is a copy of her MD driving record. She owed more than $7k in fines at the time she killed herself.
#3. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
plastic bag hanging
#6. To: randge, 4 (#3)
However, it was clearly the trooper's attitude and behavior, coupled with the raw nerves on the part of the arrestee that set this whole series of events in motion. His problem is that he arrested her before the assault took place. So far, I haven't seen any evidence that there were grounds for an arrest in the first place.
#9. To: Jethro Tull (#6)
I haven't a clue what she did to get arrested...
#10. To: Lod (#9)
#11. To: randge (#10)
#14. To: Lod (#11)
Sick effin' society...sorry, I'm olde and tired and hot as hell here.
#19. To: randge, 4 (#14)
I'm feeling just as burned out on everything as you seem to be.
Replies to Comment # 19.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 19.