Sean Bell Verdict

I must say my friends, that I am both surprised and appalled at the verdict handed down to the 3 Detectives accused of the murder of 23 year old Sean Bell, on the morning of his wedding. 50 shots!!! 50!!! This unarmed man was fired at 50 times to his death, by 3 these Detectives, although no laws had been broken, no complaints or disturbances, not weapon found, no drugs, no crimes!

I said that I was surprised. I guess to some degree, a small portion of optimism still resonated in my sometimes naive heart, that there is still hope for this system. HOPE!!! Maybe it was the Obama campaign that has so many of us excited, for once about politics and unbelievably proud to be Americans. Thanks to the judge today, for bringing me back to reality. For reminding me what country I was in and what color my skin was. Thanks for reminding me, that a black man has no rights that "the system" is bound to respect in this country.

This unjust verdict is just another failure by the criminal justice system and further proof that this system was not established for nor has the best interest in mind of black people. Echoes of Rodney King, Amadou Diallo and the Jena 6 fill my mind and my heart with frustration and anger.

At some point during this 17 month trial, the defendants were given the option to opt for a bench trial or to have a trial by jury. They chose to have a bench trial, which meant that their would be no jury and that they would be given a verdict directly from the Supreme court Judge. Fortunately for them, this worked in their favor. Based on testimony by witnesses the judge was not convinced that any wrong doing occurred by these detectives and that they acted solely within the confines of the law? Since when is shooting at an unarmed man 50 times, using the famous excuse "we thought he had a gun" acting within the confines of the law?

My heart goes out to the family of this young man. I don't know them nor did I know Sean Bell, but I am him and he is me. If this can happen to him, this can happen to any of us.

I imagine myself walking past Sean Bell at the club where he spent his final hours, (a pastime of mine before becoming a Christian)he is at the bar, and I brush by him and knock over his drink inadvertently, both of us intoxicated. This will almost certainly escalate to a conflict between Sean and myself. Maybe we settle it like gentleman and go our separate ways, maybe a verbal conflict, maybe physical. Whoever knows the outcome of such matters? I do know is that an innocent life, that was snuffed out too soon, by those who were sworn to protect and serve, yet all they do is patrol and control!!