Young
Brazilian
Murdered By UK Cops'
Shoot To Kill Mania
By Judith Moriarty
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
7-24-5
- Jean Charles de Menezer, a young Brazilian, was shot
dead by police in London in the ongoing hysteria of a 'shoot to kill'
policy, which targets those who appear out of place in dress or
behavior.
-
- Police announced July, 22, 05, "We are now satisfied
that he was NOT connected with the incidents of Thursday July 21, 2005".
The news of Jean's senseless death was met with a hardly a murmur
amongst the citizens of London/or elsewhere.
-
- Jean was followed from the apartment building where he
resided, to a subway station, where he was then accosted by 'plain
clothes officers' who chased him down to the train, tripped him, jumped
on him, and then shot him five times in the torso. Jean's crime was that
he did not appear British; absent a monocle, tweed attire, complete with
bowler head wear. He, being from Brazil, made the mistake of wearing a
fleece jacket in the cool London weather. Those from tropical climates
are a bit more sensitive to the gray chill of London, on even the
balmiest of days.
-
- Common sense might surmise that if one was indeed
suspected of harboring a bomb beneath his jacket, you would hardly
follow him to a subway station (packed with people), before
investigating! You would hardly trip the man, jump on him, and shoot him
five times in the "torso", as reported by witnesses; setting at risk
your own life and numerous passengers!
-
- With London having the highest rate of crime in Great
Britain, up consistently 37% year in and year out, one might guess that
this foreign man, was fearful for his life, when this strange gang of
men (not in uniform) yelled at him and took up chasing him? We'll never
know since without provocation they killed him.
-
- Astoundingly, London's Mayor Ken Livingstone stated,
"The police acted to do what they believed necessary to protect the
lives of the public. This tragedy has added another victim to the toll
of deaths for which the terrorists bear responsibility". Jean was not
killed by 'terrorists' but by police.
-
- Overzealous and incompetent, they followed a man from
his apartment building- to a crowded train station, before they insanely
jumped on him and shot him. They apparently gave little heed to the
"public" who might have died, had there been a device strapped around
Jean's abdomen! Jean, the Mayor of London needs to be reminded, was the
"public". He wasn't protected on his way to work, or business of the
day, but set upon and killed.
-
- Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair stated
that, "I think we are quite comfortable that the policy is right (shoot
to kill) but of course these are fantastically difficult times." I
wouldn't hesitate in thinking that it was most "difficult" for young
Jean! Blair added, "Somebody else could be shot". With dress and
suspicious behavior (?) being the criteria for a 'shoot to kill' policy,
one might warn the thousands of homeless people in London to
beware!
-
- Upon hearing of Jean's death, and reports from
eyewitnesses of his terrified look as this group of men jumped him; I
thought of the numerous homeless persons I worked with in a large city
(CT.), who would meet the suspicions of a "shoot on sight" policy. Not
having shelter they were apt to wear their wardrobes on their backs.
With medical services and mental health clinics closed, or woefully
under funded, there are many folks wandering about who might be
exhibiting bizarre or questionable behavior.
-
- Most telling in this tragedy is how desensitized
society has become to the death of the one. Carnage and death seem to be
newsworthy only if it involves mayhem visited on certain lands and
populations? Our nightly infotainment announces a blurb about numerous
deaths in Iraq; and then spends countless hours in the telling of a
bug-eyed run-away bride, Tom Cruise spouting his Scientology philosophy,
or of Michael Jackson, off to recuperate from his trial, at the palace
of some Saudi Arabian prince!
-
- In the recent bombing of London; Mr. Blair and
President Bush, were conveniently close at hand (Scotland) at the G-8
meeting to offer condolences and assurances; that as the two world
leaders against terrorism, they would not falter in pursuing terrorism
to the ends of the earth. Guarded as they were at this meeting; by
thousands of police, helicopters hovering overhead, concrete barriers,
and isolated by five miles of fencing, specially constructed at a cost
of one million dollars---it wasn't hard to imagine why they were so
confident.
-
- An innocent man is dead, which should cause all to
fear. With a 'shoot on sight' policy; that excuses any and all overt
acts in the name of fighting terrorism-the next innocent victim could be
anybody, given their behavior or choice of wardrobe when leaving the
house. The homeless need to pay special heed-and those from tropical
climates not acclimated to cooler
temperatures!
|
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With
Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans
l'anarchie"
|
