This month caregiver Charles Kinsey was shot by a Miami police officer after a call that led police to believe Kinsey’s autistic patient had a weapon. Kinsey was captured in a cell phone video, lying on the pavement with his hands in the air, clearly unarmed. Kinsey survived three police bullet wounds. Other unarmed American black men have not been so fortunate.
In the past month alone there have been four high profile shootings of unarmed black men by police in the United States. These incidents have again brought up the fierce debate of Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter, and most recently, Blue Lives Matter. The issue, in regards to violence against people of colour, has also been brought to centre stage by many political candidates in the United States.
In the case of Kinsey, the officer was attempting to “disarm” the autistic patient, and accidently shot Kinsey. The officer said: “I took this job to save lives and help people. I did what I had to do in a split second to accomplish that and hate to hear others paint me as something I'm not."
The officer’s intentions may not have been malicious. However, the frequency of these shootings speak volumes to how police are trained to approach people – especially men of colour.
Police officers in the United States have a dangerous job because a high number of citizens have access to weapons. I have an enormous respect for the risks police men and women take everyday to protect and serve people. That being said, to be a “blue life” is a choice. Officers make the decision to put their lives at risk everyday. To be a “black life,” or any racial minority, is not a choice. Statistically, black men are killed by police officers at a rate that is much higher than that of white men.
Police officers have been able to successfully disarm and control countless white men – men who have murdered several people. James Holmes, who was guilty of mass murder at a screening of Batman in Aurora Colorado, for example, was never shot at by police. So why is it that an unarmed, innocent black man is shot and killed when stopped for something as minor as an alleged broken tail light?
If you value the lives of black people, it does not mean you are anti-police. It is time we stop pitting groups against each other, and create a healthy dialogue about proper training and investigation. This will benefit both police officers, and all citizens regardless of the colour of their skin.
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
