Jackson Free Press

I don't know if anyone has seen the videotape of the New Orleans police officers beating a 64 year old man in the street. This article speaks about the incident.

I just saw the tape on the news. (This article contains a video of the beating. Notice its BBC news.)

I watched the tape and THEN realized that I didn't want to see it. I actually burst into tears. For all of them. The cops that are operating in survival mode, the man who grabbed the producer and claimed he had "been there for six weeks trying to stay alive" and the 64-year-old man bleeding and laying on the ground. Obviously horrendously injured.

I really don't know what to say. I think if you watch the tape you might have the same reaction.

UPDATE: I just realized that tape doesn't show one clip at the end that CNN was showing on television. It shows the man lying on the ground, handcuffed, in a pool of blood raising his head to look over his shoulder. Part of his FACE is hanging off...or its a stream of blood coming out of his mouth. As he looks up to turn around a cop takes his boots and pushes his face back into the ground.

Previous Comments

ID

103147

Comment

I think it is sick, sick, sick. They ought to strap these cops to the ocean wall the next time a hurricane hits. There's no excuse for it.

Author

whateveryouwant

Date

2005-10-10T08:25:25-06:00

ID

103148

Comment

Agreed. There is no excuse. Every arrest should be videotaped. Imagine what we don't see.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-10T08:52:56-06:00

ID

103149

Comment

"Every arrest should be videotaped." You know...that sounds like something that should be introduced into legislation. I mean, think of it. It would protect cops in some cases, and it would protect citizens in others, in terms of detering such blatant abuses as this one in New Orleans. But, then again, I'm sure there are some who would feel that police "lapel cams" or other video devices is an invasion of privacy...but I'd be for it.

Author

whateveryouwant

Date

2005-10-10T09:06:30-06:00

ID

103150

Comment

I wish I could find the CNN video. It was clearer and a little longer. I spent 30 minutes this morning crying for him. It just really got to me. I can see the "videotape every arrest" thing. But, I can also see GOOD COPS who do good work complaining because everyone would be second guessing their actions. I don't know. I have a job where I go into people's homes to do therapy. This is both a blessing (to be let into people's lives like that), but a liability. Because if the client ever had a claim against me, it would be my word against theirs. I don't want a camera clipped to ME while I do my job because I just don't see how it couldn't interfere with how I do my job. (Plus it would be illegal...right to privacy and all that. ;) So, I guess I can see both sides of the story. I don't know. I'll have to think about it a little more before my opinion is fully formed. ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-10-10T09:51:11-06:00