“What kind of a human being kicks a pregnant woman? I mean, forget whether or not it is a police officer that is supposedly protecting people,” Dozier’s attorney Mark Bullman said.
When Dekalb County, Ga., police officer Jerad Wheeler tased her brother, Raven Dozier started crying and demanding to know why. Wheeler kicked the heavily-pregnant woman in the stomach. then charged her with obstruction of justice.
While he is now under criminal investigation, his superiors on the force were quick to explicitly approve of his conduct.
“At the time of the altercation it was very dark and Ms. Dozier had a larger shirt on,” Wheeler wrote in his report. “I could not tell by the sight of her at the time that she was pregnant.”
Wheeler placed Dozier in the back seat of his vehicle and brought her to the police station. Authorities gave her a choice.
“They asked me did I want to go to jail or to the hospital,” Dozier later wrote in a complaint filed with the DeKalb County Police. “I said I wanted to go to the hospital.”
Doctors could already see contusions and spotting, according to Bullman. The attorney says that the infant became ill within the womb as a result of defecation from the impact.
Dozier’s son, Levi, was born prematurely by emergency C-section 2 weeks later.
The Hypocrisy of our Police State
“They put their club upside your head, then turn around and accuse you of attacking them. Every case of police brutality against a negro follows the same pattern, they attack you and then take you to court and charge you with assuault…what kind of freedom is that? Brothers and sisters, we have to put a stop to this, and it wont stop until we stop it ourselves.” – Malcolm X
Nearly two months ago, we also reported on Kendrec McDade, who was killed by Pasadena cops while they were responding to a robbery. McDade’s autopsy revealed some particularly brutal and disturbing details:
- McDade was shot seven times at close range and handcuffed AFTERWARDS
- McDade was shot in the back at least four times. “No matter how you want to twist it there were one, two, three and a possible fourth shot” to the back, the attorney for the family said.
- Some of the bullets had a downward trajectory, indicating that he was either falling or on the ground when he was shot.
- According to the lawsuit filed by McDade’s parents,”…McDade was shot multiple times in the chest but did not die immediately. McDade tried to speak with the officer but was handcuffed and started to “twitch” and was left on the street for a prolonged period without receiving first aid.”
Both Newlen and Griffin- the officers who shot young McDade went on record, stating that they realized McDade was unarmed after they had already shot him. Of course, Pasadena Lt. Phlunte Riddle quickly defended the officers’ actions of handcuffing the teen after he had already been shot.
On March 24th, Carillo lied to 911 call dispatchers, telling them that two armed Black males had robbed him. Carrillo allegedly lied about the robbery because he thought it would encourage a speedier response. It worked, and resulted in the death of another one of our Black children.
Gay Marriage is a Non-Issue. Talk to Me About Stopping Police-On-Black Crime
The big news for everyone last week was Obama’s support of gay marriage. Personally, I still dont understand why this issue is getting so much play. Gay marriage is a non-issue, its a distraction – and not a very good one – when every day, a Black man or woman is tased or shot to death by police officers.
In our article entitled The Mental Disease of White Supremacy, I wrote:
Trayvon was the victim of white supremacy, plain and simple. He is one of hundreds of millions whose blood was spilled as a result of the mental sickness that this country and the world is infected with. Unfortunately, until we stop participating in the system of white supremacy that is destroying us, there will be hundreds more Trayvon Martins.
Whether you are a Jew, Christian, Muslim, or whether you live in the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, or Africa – remember, that if you are Black then you too could be Trayvon Martin. And until we build, love, unify, and take care of our own, we will continue to see our destruction at the hands of white supremacy.
Gay marriage is a non-issue in a day and age where our children, our children for God’s sake!, are being gunned down in the streets by police. The real issue is the fact that we still have not effectively brought an end to the legal, wholesale slaughter of innocent Black men and women.
When faced with these same threats from the government that is supposed to protect us, we formed the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. Today, we would rather turn the other cheek and act as if there is nothing that can be done.
What Can We Do?
Rather than asking the question “what can we do?”, perhaps the correct question is “What should we do?” Here are some answers:
1. Put pressure on the system
Police brutality against Blacks is a NATIONAL EPIDEMIC. However, the numerous incidents are hidden in local news reports. Two of the highest offices in this country are held by Black men, and yet incidents of police-on-Black murder are skyrocketing.
Help us publicize these attacks and use them to put pressure on President Obama and Attorney General Holder, as well as your locally elected officials. Retweet this article, share this information and join or create movements in your area. What they attempt to hide in the dark must be brought to light.
A new effort on our part includes exposing what is going on in America to foreign news agencies, including Al-Jazeera. Why? America is all about keeping up appearances, and this type of coverage will increase the amount of pressure on lawmakers to address and solve the issue.
2. Revive the neighborhood watch.
It is perfectly legal to watch and record the activities of police in your neighborhood. On August 26, 2011, the First Circuit Court of Appeals–the highest federal court below the U.S. Supreme Court–handed down a ruling that defends our right to videotape the police and other public officials as they engage in their official duties.
Our organization has issued a press release to local police departments informing them of this law, and of the fact that they are being watched. In addition, these videos will be released to the public prior to filing complaints with the police department.
3. Join or create local movements.
Have the courage to stand up, recruit, occupy, and create a local movement. The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, United Black America, and the Occupy the Hood movement are all examples of organizations started by individuals who give a damned.
Things wont change unless you change them yourself.
You are Malcolm X. You are Angela Davis. You are Nelson Mandela.
Fucking act like it.
Peace.
Have You Read These Yet?
