Aa
another black death by bad cop
On July 9, 28-year-old Sandra Bland of Naperville, Ill., drove to Texas to start a new job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M. On July 10, police stopped Bland just outside the campus for allegedly failing to signal while changing lanes. Police claim that during the stop she became combative, was thrown to the ground, arrested and charged with "assault on a public servant."
On July 13, around 9 a.m., before her family could bail her out, Bland was found dead inside a Waller County, Texas, jail cell. Police claim she died from "self-inflicted asphyxiation." Her family and friends say that is impossible; that the woman they know, who fought strongly against police brutality and had just gotten a new job, would never have committed suicide.
"I do suspect foul play," a friend, Cheryl Nanton, told ABC 7. "I believe that we are all 100 percent in belief that she did not do harm to herself."
Video obtained by ABC 7 of Bland's arrest doesn't appear to show Bland being combative with officers, but does show two officers on top of Bland, who can be heard questioning the officers' methods of restraint.
"You just slammed my head into the ground," Bland can be heard saying on the recording. "Do you not even care about that? I can't even hear." As she is being escorted to the police car in handcuffs, Bland can be heard yelling, "Slammed me to the ground and everything!"
Shortly afterward, an officer can be heard telling the person recording the incident that he or she needed to leave.
Malcom Jackson, a friend of Bland's who witnessed the encounter, told the news station that the police were forceful during the entirety of the traffic stop.
"After he pulled her out of the car, forced her and tossed her to the ground, knee to the neck, and arrested her," he said.
Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith told ABC 7 that during the traffic stop, Bland became combative with the officer and was arrested and charged with assault.
The news station reports that Smith said "jailers saw Bland at 7 a.m. Monday when they gave her breakfast and again at 8 a.m. when they spoke with her over the jail intercom. Smith says she was found dead an hour later."
In a press release from the sheriff's department viewed by ABC 7, authorities claim that CPR was performed shortly after Bland was found unresponsive in her cell and that she was pronounced dead moments later.
"I do not have any information that would make me think it was anything other than just a suicide," Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis told ABC 7.
Bland's friends told the news station that the woman they know was excited about starting her new job on Wednesday, July 15, and that she would never have taken her own life.
"The Waller County Jail is trying to rule her death a suicide, and Sandy would not have taken her own life," LaNitra Dean told ABC 7. "Sandy was strong. Strong mentally and spiritually."
On Wednesday, several of Bland's friends protested outside the Waller County Jail, which is 50 miles south of Houston. Family members told ABC 7 that Bland's body will be brought back to Illinois for burial as soon as authorities release it.
According to ABC 7, Texas state rangers are investigating Bland's death and have not commented on the video obtained by the news station.
Until the investigation is complete, Bland's friends and family will continue to speak out about the tragic loss they believe is highly suspicious.
"We're very suspicious and we're a very tight community and we're very upset that this has happened, and it seems like there's nothing really being done about it," Bland's friend LaVaughn Mosley told the news station.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/07/sandra_bland_drove_to_texas_to_start_a_new_job_so_how_did_she_end_up_dead.html
Of course....
You are so right, it's the left side of my brain that hits send !
Actually, the above statements you quoted from me came from a radio interview I heard concerning her case. As it quoted some of her family members I should have realized that of course, they were biased but it did make sense to me.
I still say she should never have been hauled off to jail.
Actually, the above statements you quoted from me came from a radio interview I heard concerning her case. As it quoted some of her family members I should have realized that of course, they were biased but it did make sense to me.
I still say she should never have been hauled off to jail.
To OH's credit, she did sheepishly admit that there is more to Ms. Bland's illustrious past, but not before she knocked the source I provided and then had to go find a source that she's used herself, to back up my original source.
it's funny that some people won't hold these "victims" to the same expectations they would have for say, you and me. We have to behave a certain way but these poor victims are dying because of traffic violations.
Jesus.....
it's funny that some people won't hold these "victims" to the same expectations they would have for say, you and me. We have to behave a certain way but these poor victims are dying because of traffic violations.
Jesus.....
hit send-
-a lot -lloy of emotion
-a lot -lloy of emotion
“She did not hang herself. I don't care what some bigoted fiend in that horrible jail says. It's clearly a lie, trying to cover up a lynching~ plain and simple.
She had come to Texas to start a new job which she was excited about, and was waiting on bail which she'd been told would be posted. “
At what point are we to start taking your posts serious? I think you’re hi t send before your right side of your brain has time to process it. That is why I think you post alloy of emotion with little logic
She had come to Texas to start a new job which she was excited about, and was waiting on bail which she'd been told would be posted. “
At what point are we to start taking your posts serious? I think you’re hi t send before your right side of your brain has time to process it. That is why I think you post alloy of emotion with little logic
Sorry it took so long to respond,
"Glass, I'm just can't get past someone winding up dead because they didn't use their turn signal. What do you think of that? Is that not suspicious at all to you? "
I
No I don’t find it suspicious at all, She wasn’t arrested because of a simple traffic violation. She was arrested for assault. Same old story, a black person does not comply and a white cop did the same thing he would have done to you or me if we behaved like that. Why can’t people accept that this woman brought this upon herself? I mean really, just go back and read some of these ridiculous posts.
Let’s see, we have a racist State Trooper that pulled her over and arrested her. She was brought to the County Jail that is run by the racist Sheriff Department where she was beaten and hanged. The racist Coroner covered it up by stating there was no evidence that indicated any thing other than she hung herself and the racist place in Illinois that the body was sent to have made no allegations. Yep, it was The Racist; they should make a movie out of this. I’m sure Spike Lee and Whoopi will jump on this.
"Glass, I'm just can't get past someone winding up dead because they didn't use their turn signal. What do you think of that? Is that not suspicious at all to you? "
I
No I don’t find it suspicious at all, She wasn’t arrested because of a simple traffic violation. She was arrested for assault. Same old story, a black person does not comply and a white cop did the same thing he would have done to you or me if we behaved like that. Why can’t people accept that this woman brought this upon herself? I mean really, just go back and read some of these ridiculous posts.
Let’s see, we have a racist State Trooper that pulled her over and arrested her. She was brought to the County Jail that is run by the racist Sheriff Department where she was beaten and hanged. The racist Coroner covered it up by stating there was no evidence that indicated any thing other than she hung herself and the racist place in Illinois that the body was sent to have made no allegations. Yep, it was The Racist; they should make a movie out of this. I’m sure Spike Lee and Whoopi will jump on this.
LOL, nope you didn't see the cop ask for those things. Why? (Edited) She was not imprisoned for a traffic infraction but she did break the law right in front of a cop. What's he supposed to do, ignore it?
She went to jail for other things. You know this....
As for your anecdote, did you in any way act defiant towards the cop?
See the difference?
She went to jail for other things. You know this....
As for your anecdote, did you in any way act defiant towards the cop?
See the difference?
Okay, let's say that she really did have some kind of mental problem suddenly crop up. Does that mean that she should have been imprisoned for a driving infraction ? Should she have been beaten because of a driving infraction ?
When I was stopped years ago for speeding, I was asked for my driver's license and registration. I never saw that cop ask her for those things.
When I was stopped years ago for speeding, I was asked for my driver's license and registration. I never saw that cop ask her for those things.
What we cannot see here in any of the "proof" is what her personal life really looked like. We have no idea what she was and was not into. We have no idea of her health/mental health. Why did she move? What did she leave behind? None of that has come out and I think it has a lot to do with the bigger picture.
I know a few people who committed suicide and you know the one common denominator? The amount of people who thought that person had such a bright future.... The other common but less mentioned denominator is their mental health.... The people closest to these individuals all believe this person had such a bright future this person had.
they say that without knowing what demons and dragons this person has to slay on a daily basis just in order to seem okay.
Were not getting any of that information. A lot of people with severe mental illnesses never, ever see a physician and these things just get swept under the rug.
And that's okay... it's tragic that we don't pay it the attention I think it deserves, but its okay if you want to do things that way. I prefer we dig a little deeper and look a little harder.
I know a few people who committed suicide and you know the one common denominator? The amount of people who thought that person had such a bright future.... The other common but less mentioned denominator is their mental health.... The people closest to these individuals all believe this person had such a bright future this person had.
they say that without knowing what demons and dragons this person has to slay on a daily basis just in order to seem okay.
Were not getting any of that information. A lot of people with severe mental illnesses never, ever see a physician and these things just get swept under the rug.
And that's okay... it's tragic that we don't pay it the attention I think it deserves, but its okay if you want to do things that way. I prefer we dig a little deeper and look a little harder.
Your version of reality is a falsehood to me.
I do indeed think this site in this instance is fair and unbiased though as with all news sources, it is not always so.
There is no white guilt in feeling compassion towards people in difficult circumstances, it's called compassion and empathy !
I do indeed think this site in this instance is fair and unbiased though as with all news sources, it is not always so.
There is no white guilt in feeling compassion towards people in difficult circumstances, it's called compassion and empathy !
The website you reference is an ultra liberal site that is about white guilt and not about reality or fairness.
And mental disease can happen to anyone. Some people so no signs of being depressed and never get the treatment they need. So it doesn't matter what things "looked like".
And mental disease can happen to anyone. Some people so no signs of being depressed and never get the treatment they need. So it doesn't matter what things "looked like".
Sigh~ I am not one to usually make generalized statements. Of course nobody can say a whole town is racist but the policies of this particular county's police and justice system point towards bigotry.
It just doesn't make sense that this woman, who had a bright future in front of her, would hang herself. It also makes no sense that anyone would go to jail for a traffic violation.
Did you bother to listen to this at all ??
Did you see why the first black judge in Waller county demands that the sheriff resign over this case and why ?
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/7/27/sandra_bland_laid_to_rest_first
It just doesn't make sense that this woman, who had a bright future in front of her, would hang herself. It also makes no sense that anyone would go to jail for a traffic violation.
Did you bother to listen to this at all ??
Did you see why the first black judge in Waller county demands that the sheriff resign over this case and why ?
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/7/27/sandra_bland_laid_to_rest_first
"She hung herself..." (A quote from above.)
You made it personal and that is something I am pointing out to discontinue doing. We all need to stay on topic and not make posts about our perception of other posters. It causes bad feelings when there doesn't have to be that way. If you would like to continue this discussion with me, you can private message me. I don't think asking to get back to the original post is too much to ask. :)
I made an observation about the white guilt they have. It has always been ok to have a discussion back and forth on here.
Sorry for typos. On mobile! Between autocorrect and fat fingers. . . Ugh.
Vance. You seem yo hyper focus on oh. This began because you tried to dismiss mike summon and oh because of what you say is white guilt. Stick to the post subject and away from critiquing members. Okay?
When someone directs a comment at me directly they will get a comment back. And my point is valid based on what she believes.
That really doesn't make sense Vance. Please focus on the post rather than orphanedhawk.
Oh the history of a county in Texas, right I see. Have you looked at the history in America as a whole then? How can you not say America as a whole is racist? And every misfortune that has happened to blacks is because of racism? So that makes you a racist if you apply your own thinking to this.
I am really wondering about the constant need to express one's intelligence over others. You don't see a lot of confident and truly intelligent people do that.
Oh, I totally agree that we have our life experience and perspective to help create our opinion. I think it is really important for all to have tolerance and understanding that people can have different opinions without someone having to insult someone or discount the otherwise person's ideas whether by claiming something like white guilt or lack of intelligence.
Oh, I totally agree that we have our life experience and perspective to help create our opinion. I think it is really important for all to have tolerance and understanding that people can have different opinions without someone having to insult someone or discount the otherwise person's ideas whether by claiming something like white guilt or lack of intelligence.
Everybody knows that everybody in that town is a racist and they hang black folks for traffic infractions. It's a known fact. You heard it ^ up there somewhere.
And our respective intelligence.
Thank you for beling so clear headed.
Vance, you actually have me laughing. I am so far from a person filled with guilt about race, or most anything, that the very idea makes me laugh.
We all have our own personal experiences as well as our own opinions. You don't see this bizarre situation as being about race yet, when I learned of the history of this county in Texas, I don't see how it can be about anything else.
Our differing views have nothing to do with guilt it only has to do with our perspective.
Vance, you actually have me laughing. I am so far from a person filled with guilt about race, or most anything, that the very idea makes me laugh.
We all have our own personal experiences as well as our own opinions. You don't see this bizarre situation as being about race yet, when I learned of the history of this county in Texas, I don't see how it can be about anything else.
Our differing views have nothing to do with guilt it only has to do with our perspective.
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