It seems after five weeks since Tommy McClain was killed, not because he threatened or brought violence to anyone, but because he was violently assaulted by Eureka City Police officers for doing what everyone in Eureka has the legal right to do, someone in this community decided to speak up for him. I guess that is something in light of the fact that all everyone wants to talk about are the elections and the imposition on property owners to pay more taxes and eat GMOs. Yet, I don't see anything about the McClain killing from those running for office. Checked the local blogs, other than what's posted below, and the newspapers. Not even one letter - nothing. Not about the police, the killing of Tommy McClain or the demonstration about police brutality.
There was this disgusting diatribe from John Chiv: "Protest at the Courthouse, maybe this election distraction will work?" where he denigrates the the protesters and their protest of police brutality. Which clearly identifies him, his priorities and his position in the matter of police criminality. We wouldn't want anything like a police killing to interfere with the election of more gutless corrupt politicians and the smooth running of the money flow that props up his friends and their strongarm enforcers. So much for his lawful, moral and ethical pseudo standards he holds before this community like a trophy.
But for a small group of courageous people, the conduct of the majority of people in this community is a living indictment of irresponsibility and corruption. Impunity grants a sure judgment: "You reap what you sow" Eureka. Live and learn. Everyone that votes is responsible and ultimately accountable for the crimes committed in their names. Most people seem to believe, at least that is how they act, that "Good" will triumph over "Evil." Most everyone carries on like they have no say in that outcome. Personally, I don't think the good people, what few there are, will prevail. They've clearly abdicated that right. Not until they start enforcing law, which I don't see happening. Tragically it looks like Tommy McClain will end up just another casualty of a losing war.
This is the News Headline from Democracy Now:
"O22" Protests Against Police Brutality Held in Over 80 Cities
Protests against police brutality were held Wednesday in Ferguson, Missouri, and more than 80 other cities across the country. New York City residents joined the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation.
Danette Chavis: "My name is Danette Chavis. I’m the mother of Gregory Chavis, who lost his life at the hands of NYPD in October 2004. I am convinced that nothing will change concerning this action until it is bought to the highest levels in government. We need nationwide action. We need the U.S. attorney general of the Department of Justice to deal with the issue of police brutality once and for all. Thousands of people are being murdered whose cases we know nothing about because they don’t have the ability to have their tragedy highlighted in the media." [Emphasis mine.]
EUREKA - Every October, protests are held nationwide to end police brutality. For 19 years, the annual event has taken place on October 22. But for protestors on the North Coast, one day is not enough. They continued their march through the night on October 22 and into the 23.
“If a civilian accidentally kills someone, they're first arrested. And we're seeing this across America now, that when it's an officer that kills someone, even when it's an accident, there's no arrest,” one protestor said.
The rain didn’t stop this local group from joining the national effort against police brutality and bringing justice on a local level.
“Yesterday was the national days of protest and today we also protest in Eureka on October 23 because on October 23, 2006, Christopher Burgess, a 16 year old person in our community was shot and killed,” another protestor said.
They protest for Burgess and also for Tommy McClain, another victim in an officer involved shooting in September.
“We have to change this. We have to start holding the police accountable so that in the future, they will show restraint when dealing with members of the community rather than treating people like they're in a combat zone,” the protestor added.
The protestors are carrying their message on posters starting in Arcata Wednesday morning, with an all night vigil at Cesar Chavez Park over the night, and finishing in Highland Park Thursday evening.
“Living here long enough, I’ve seen this happen again and again and it keeps happening and keeps being perpetuated because there's no recourse. There's no accountability for the officers,” the protestor said.
And they march with a mission. One stop along their way was at the coroner’s office to petition an inquest into the death of Tommy McClain.
“We just want the judicial system to treat the police like they treat anyone else who was accused of a murder, especially if there is evidence proving that that person did murder someone,” the protestor said.
eureka
exclamation
a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.
Eureka effect
From Wikipedia
The eureka effect, also known as the aha! moment, refers to the common human experience of suddenly understanding a previously incomprehensible problem or concept.
--Joe
