Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- It appears that police take complaints about Black men as orders to arrest! I expect that the police should validate the accuracy of the call and the level of threat prior to arresting or shooting!
Did the police in Sacramento check the validity of the phone call about someone breaking car windows prior to responding and chasing someone to the area of Stephon Clark’s Grandmother’s backyard, where upon seeing Stephon with his cell phone in his hand? They screamed “gun” and shot him 8 times, killing him. Six shots of which were in the back! Were the police sure that the person they had been chasing was the person standing in the yard? Were they sure that the person they were chasing had broken any car windows?
When the police responded to a call from the Starbucks store about trespassers that had not yet made a purchase, did they investigate the validity of the call? Did they question and determine if there was a threat that required or justified the arrest of the two Black men? How many people have the police removed, in handcuffs, from a Starbucks because of their slow order or for waiting to meet someone that completes their party?
Starbucks, you and I have the ability to call the police for any reason; however, it is up to the police to validate the reason prior to taking action!
We will discuss this subject further and “What happens when we choose to not vote” during this Sunday’s edition of “Empire Talks Back” at 10 a.m. on KCAA1050 AM, 102.3 and 106.5 FM. There is also a live video stream via www.kcaaradio.com and you can listen on your phone by dialing (701) 801-4444.
