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Editorials/Columns
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Watch Out Tampa
y now everybody in the
country knows about what happened in North Charleston, South Carolina. A city policeman did what white rouge policemen do. They shoot a Black man to death and blame it on the dead man. In every case, there is no evidence and Black witnesses don’t matter.
There has been no rioting or major protesting in the city. The reasons being there was unsuspected filming of the murder by a bystander and the quick action of the city. I can go on and on about the senseless killing in South Carolina, but this column isn’t about that. This article is about Tampa.
This city has laid back and
played its smudge as if we don’t have any rouge cops who are raring to do some fatal harm to Black men. This city has lived as if there exists no problem between the po- lice department and the Black community. Let us fur- ther keep pretending that we have a sure-fire plan should a Ferguson, Missouri-like dis- order in Tampa.
In past articles I have warned Black men of this im- pending danger and ask them to avoid it. Now I am asking cities to avoid these unnecessary slayings and the disorder that follows.
I want to say loud and clear, ‘Watch Out Tampa.’ If the city is prepared for any such crisis, congratulations.
But before the talk of the South Carolina shooting dies down, another Black man was shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You guessed it, the shooter was a white po- liceman. I want to say again, Watch Out Tampa.
A look at what is happen- ing on the horizon is a good sign that our city had better be on the lookout. On the watch means to be able to prevent this from happening and to control it should it happen.
We need to look at our community policing program to make sure they are work- ing as best they can. I would recommend that more time is spent, especially in high crime communities. This will allow for plenty of reaction and a chance to really know each other.
Tampa may be as ready as can be, but it doesn’t hurt for Tampa to be on the watch and have a plan to insure im- mediate justice.
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Policy Transparency Perhaps Too Good To Be True
n Dallas, a quiet backlash has begun by Republican leg-
islators who believe the filming of police officers in the carrying out of their duty could (in legislators’ words) “be- come an illegal act.” Hence, Texas House Bill 2918 is now on the docket; its purpose is to amend a current “INTERFER- ENCE WITH PUBLIC DUTIES statute, which when changed would read, “Only the news media” would be able, by law, to film police in the execution of their duty, whether right or suspicious.
Texas rights-activists are understandably up in arms. And we certainly support their objections. However, here in Florida, we have our own sharks to fight, as Republican leg- islators just recently revealed a bill-in-the-works, which would disallow records of police body cameras from being shared with the public. Its creators’ reasons are simple: Sharing police-cam information with the public might sim- ply get in the way of police-work.
Throughout America, complaints are popping up like toadstools. The culprit, so say certain police lobbyists and Conservative politicians, is what’s being called “police trans- parency”: what one transparency-activist explains as the whole purpose of police cameras: “To reassure the public and also to protect officers from unwarranted accusations.” But not everyone sees it that way. A fear that the wrong eyes will see the right situation and democracy will be doomed continues to grow in the backrooms of political power. So, supporters of police transparency are put on the defensive where here, in Florida, a police-transparency activist warns, “We’re going to put it in a dark closet, and then you have to go to court to get the key.”
And just when we thought the light of common sense was breaking through, and that police-community accord was coming clear, the darkness once again cleared its throat.
The Season
ears ago, I remember
watching a 60 Min- utes expose' on radical mili- tia groups. During the episode the program showed footage from inside a rally, sponsored by one of these groups, that was taken by a reporter who infiltrated the organization.
One of the most indelible images I remember from the secretly recorded video was the sight of a few attendees of the rally (some of whom ap- peared to be wearing authen- tic ATF windbreakers) standing underneath the ef- figy of a Black figure hanging from a noose while laughing at a sign placed on a tree that read: N---ER HUNTING LI- CENSES AVAILABLE.
Back then I recall looking at the television screen in dis- belief and wondering how much hatred went into the making of such a sick and racist joke about purchasing a permit to kill Black people?
But recently, as I've no- ticed the Black body-count rising and their murders being deemed justifiable, it occurred to me that the sign offering a legal avenue to kill melanin enriched people may not have been created in jest.
The memory of that par- ticular news special came rushing back to me when I began hearing the details sur- rounding the shooting death of Eric Harris by a Sheriff’s Deputy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That is mainly because, un- like the Eric Garners, Michael Browns, Tamir Rice's or Walter Scott's of the world, Harris wasn't ac- tually killed by a cop. He lost his life to someone who paid for the right to pretend to be one.
According to news reports, Robert Bates, the 73-year- old man who claims to have accidently shot Harris after allegedly mistaking his re- volver for a taser during Har- ris' arrest, is a wealthy entrepreneur who contributes significant amounts of money to the Tulsa Sheriff's Office. And, apparently, that kind of generosity affords individuals like Bates the opportunity to don a police uniform and do all of the fun things cops usu- ally engage in, including the killing of unarmed Black men.
The story is as unbeliev- able to conceive as it is sad. The outrageousness of a reg- ular citizen actually being al-
lowed to participate in a high risk sting operation, like the one in which Harris was tar- geted, is only surpassed by the fact that a man lost his life because someone thought it was a good idea to let Bates live out his cops and robbers fantasy.
I mean it's already bad enough that some trained law enforcement officers can't seem to control their actions on the street. Now they're giv- ing guns and badges to any- body who can afford to pay for extra handcuffs and doughnuts?
It makes you wonder how many other municipalities across the country are engag- ing in the same practice? And, if they are, what's the real agenda here?
Have Black lives been re- duced to the point where rich folks can just pay to hunt us down? A practice similar to the way hunters go to those places where they can kill an assortment of exotic animals as if they've been on a safari.
While I imagine it's not as bad as issuing an actual "N--- er killing license," for those who can afford the opportu- nity to get away with taking a Black life with a simple slap on the wrist and an "I'm sorry," it works just the same.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. Anyone wishing to contact Clarence Barr can email him at: reality- onice@yahoo.com.
Making A Difference Against Child Abuse
pril is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which
brings to light a subject that breeds darkness in our nation that is impossible to ignore.
It confronts us whenever we turn on our televisions, lis- ten to our radios, read our newspapers, or simply pass the time of day with neighbors, family, or friends.
Consider, the healthy growth and development of our children today determines the future prosperity and health of our society. Because of this disease, children who grow up experiencing neglect and abuse will be the Frankensteins of tomorrow, abusing, and committing domestic violence as was once visited upon them as helpless innocents.
So, what can we do about it? Here are some answers from the American Humane Association: Adults can help family members by supporting them in finding at least 15 to 20 minutes a day to play one-on-one with their children, by teaching children their cultural and family history, by telling the children how much they (adults) care for and appreciate them, or by babysitting for beleaguered parents for several hours each week in order to reduce stress.
Think about it. If you have friends or neighbors who have
children (especially single parents) compliment them on something positive you see them do with their children; offer your time to babysit for a few hours each month; mentor a young mother or father; encourage single mothers to support the involvement of the children’s fa- ther in their lives, or offer assistance to help them with job searches.
Most importantly, if you have reason to believe a child may be at risk of harm in his or her home, call the local Child Abuse Hotline. But the bottom line is this: NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE CHILDREN!
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