Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, moments after shocking police video was released showing an Illinois officer fatally shooting Sonya Massey after she called police fearing a home intruder.

In his first public statement since dropping his bid for re-election, Biden said the shooting of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by white Sangamon county sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, in her home in Springfield, after a dispute over a pot of boiling water, “reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not”.

Biden, who is recovering from Covid at his home in Delaware, said Massey, “a beloved mother, friend, daughter and young Black woman … should be alive today”.

  • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Just glad they’re not messing around with this one, and went ahead with the three charges of first degree murder.

    • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      And wouldn’t you know it, it’s thanks to bodycam footage that we have irrefutable proof of this clear and unquestionably excessive use of force against an innocent victim.

      The bodycam footage that thousands of police departments throughout the US are still pushing back against because they want people to think it impedes their ability to appropriately deliver justice, when it is actually, finally, allowing justice to take place. The necessity of which was caused primarily by police brutality against people of color, just like this situation, where there was no witness account other than the cop’s side of the story.

      If this happened ten years ago, back before bodycams became more widespread, the cop would have gotten off with a short paid suspension and no other punishment, because all there would be is the cop’s one-sided account of how she clearly assaulted him with a deadly weapon and reached for his gun.

  • BetaBlake@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    6 departments in 4 years, this cop shouldn’t have had a job period. This department is partly liable for this just by employing him

  • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    That was worse than I was picturing. She immediately dropped to her knees while saying sorry (twice, panicked) , with her hands up and they shot her. She had released the pot the moment they got aggravated. It’s such a shame that this keeps happening and the only response police have is “more money please.”

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Just tired of reading about this shit while our DOJ twiddles its thumbs and our legislature waves little “Blue Lives Matter” flags in the faces of the survivors.

    • xenoclast@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      There’s a reason ACAB is a thing. They’re the most destructive gang in the world.

      Start at the top, every chief, superintendent and supervisor should be on trial. They should all serve time and lose their chance to police…

  • شاهد على إبادة@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    I saw the video, the cop had absolutely no justification for it. I don’t care what his religious believes are, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” is not a valid reason. What’s heartbreaking is what her last words were: “I’m sorry”.

    In a just world the cop would get a minimum of 20 years and possibly even a life sentence or capital punishment.

  • Juigi@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Start with getting rid of qualified immunity and make cop training more like it is in civilized countries.

    • BobGnarley@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Right? Let’s just pass another bullshit bill with a victims name instead of doing anything like that that will actually help the problem though.

        • BobGnarley@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          The president today in one hour could end qualified immunity. Tell me what isn’t true about that? In fact, even states could make their own legislation to make their states police forces not have it either.

          I mean the entire precedent is based on a court case Pearson v. Callahan which can be overturned just like Roe v. Wade was. (Also Harlow v. Fitzgerald)

          Bit please do educate me on how anything I said isn’t true and bless me with your knowledge of this “government” you speak of.

  • TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Does the proposed bill ensure American police get like three years training to become community-oriented and not a power tripping police officers?

  • Clbull@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    “Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” was apparently enough for a white police officer to pull out his gun and shoot an innocent black woman three times.

    What the fuck?

    This is legitimately worse than what happened to George Floyd. Like… I genuinely feel angry for the relatives of this poor woman after watching that bodycam footage.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      The way he behaved after he shot her is what seals the deal. He didn’t want to waste the bandages from his first aid kit on her.

      He’s a complete psychopath.

    • SulaymanF@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      He even starts the enocunter aggressively outside. Like he’s angry he had to look outside and is taking it out on her.

      • WhyFlip@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        The tone of his voice, his body language, and everything about this man screams psychopath.

      • 5oap10116@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Essentially: Cops are taught that everyone and everything is trying to kill them and anything that seems remotely dangerous is a lethal threat they need to “neutralize”. Also, as soon as you let your guard down, you’re dead. This leads to overreactions and unjust killings…

        Now, that’s not entirely wrong as police frequently deal with higher levels of unknown dangers but in this case…holy shit wtf?

        • SirDerpy@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I fully support others spending a half hour learning about what law enforcement are taught. If you’ve not seen something like this before then it’s definitely worth your time.

          I want to add that Park Rangers are law enforcement. They’ve exceptionally high standards for hiring. And, the pay sucks.

          I’ve broken rules in many parks, sometimes with good reason and sometimes without, usually very safely but once or twice definitely not. I’ve been “busted” about a dozen times by Park Rangers.

          Every single time I’ve been treated with dignity, respect, and honoring the spirit of justice over the letter of the law. I’ve not been punished when I thought I should be, then been told that’s the reason there’s no punishment. And, when I’ve been punished I’ve agreed with the severity and nature of it wholeheartedly. It’s quite literally the opposite of what I’ve experienced as a colored man in big cities.

    • Bernie_Sandals@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      What federal law did these cops break that the DOJ could prosecute?

      He’s doing about the entirety of what he can do right now by urging congress to pass this bill, he’s already signed several executive orders on police reform.

  • retrospectology@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    That’s rich coming from a guy who just hosted a genocidal, racist fascist at our capitol. Fuck Genocide Joe and his psuedo-concern about human rights.

    • 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓮@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Obviously it matters. It’s just that there’s no better or worse race but we are all different. Ignoring the differences is equally discriminating. We are all equal in human rights but we are not clones.

        • 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓮@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          Not really as hair colour unless hair colour is connected to culture and heritage. Diversity isn’t something to be pursued just because of social justice but it is a genuinely good thing for society and exchange of ideas. Homogeneous societies are stale and uncreative. When many cultures work together they are stronger than all of them separately.

          • ImpressiveEssay@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Lol… of fucking course hair colour is connected to culture and heritage!? In the precise same ways that race is.

            Nobody here wants a homogenous society. Why you tryna strawman me?!

            I am the one arguing that race should matter as much as hair colour so nobody even notices when brunettes and gingers and blondes work together etc.

            It’s crazy that you made up another person just now… wtf

            • 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓮@lemm.ee
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              9 months ago

              The original phrasing of your comment is bound to evoke such responses, it comes off as a bit culturally blue pilled so to say hence mixed reactions.

              If you were a political candidate it could cost you a lot for example but obviously this is just forum. You will just get some scolding and that’s it. Take it as free of charge friendly advice