Whatever happened to defending the helpless?!

[olde_fashioned]

This just makes me angry:

17 Year Old Disabled Boy Brutalized By 20 Cops For "Disrespect"

Yet another feather in the cap of police brutality. Why isn't this on national news? Why isn't there public outcry? Why aren't those responsible being thrown in the slammer and suspended without pay (or better yet, FIRED??)? Oh wait--cops get to do whatever the heck they want. This is America. I forgot.

The best part? They charged the kid with assault.

What is happening to this country? Forget rolling over; our Founding Fathers would be weeping and sobbing in their graves if they knew what we'd come to.

Better watch your mouths, peeps. Apparently any misconstrued utterance coming from your mouth overheard by a "peace officer" can get the crap beat out of you.

Comments

[greeneyedmissy.livejournal.com]

That's my greatest fear with Matthew or Adam. Both of them speak relatively well and otherwise look as other typically developing kids, but things they say can be misinterpreted, especially with Matt. Plus, if he gets upset with himself, he can have a meltdown. I fear that cops would have the same, stupid reaction. The very thought of Matt being tased, beaten, hogtied and arrested, especially in front of me as this poor family experienced, I'd be frantic and hysterical...and probably so angry that I'd end up arrested myself. Even with Adam, he is so shy that if questioned by a police officer, would probably clam up, and who knows what that might make a cop do then.

These officers should not only be fired, but I hope that they get jail time and have to pay serious restitution to the family. ESPECIALLY the one who KNEW the boy was disabled and STILL incited all this madness. But like you said, Lauren, this is America and they'll only get off with a slap on the wrist....while this poor child suffers the rest of his life.

BTW, if you don't mind, I'm going to post this at Facebook. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Yeah I was thinking while reading that article that if I was a member of that boy's family, I would not have been able to stand by and watch that, and subsequently would most likely have gotten arrested, myself.

That's the worst bit--the man KNEW the boy, and KNEW he had a condition, and still went ahead with the beating. That, to me, indicates some form of personal dislike.

By all means, pass the word and post it!! Part of the reason i blogged it here was so that you could see it; I thought you'd want to know.