Beto O’Rourke, the outspoken Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful, suggested at a rally on Friday that Amber Guyger should be fired from the Dallas Police Force.
He also questioned why a black Dallas resident was shot by a police officer while in his apartment. The speech, a rousing, provocative indictment on our justice system or lack there of, humbly stated: “How can it be, in this day and age, in this very year, in this community, that a young man, African-American, in his own apartment, is shot and killed by a police officer”
O’Rourke also told the crowd, who congregated at the Good Street Baptist Church in Dallas: “And when we all want justice and the facts and the information to make an informed decision, what’s released to the public That he had a small amount of marijuana in his kitchen.”
Well alright, O’Rourke! Finally, a politician who gets it.
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He received a standing ovation for his remarks and said the focus should not be on whether Botham Jean had marijuana in his apartment when he was fatally shot by Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger. The focus needs to shift to ending unarmed black residents being shot by white police officers.
“That is not justice. That is not us. That can and must change,” O’Rourke said.
Guyger is already facing a manslaughter charge. At this stage of the investigation, officers usually don’t lose their jobs unless there are blatant details of inappropriate action. Police departments often “struggle to balance” giving a fair review of an officer’s actions and making sure the officer is held accountable after a seemingly-unjustified shooting or incident. While there have been cases, including some in Dallas, where officers are fired quickly after a shooting, the process usually takes time.
And sure, Guyger’s story has more holes than Swiss cheese. But in America, white cops with guns are presumed innocent even when they look guilty as hell.
Hopefully, the Jean family will receive justice for their beloved’s murder.
