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by John_Atwater from Philadelphia

Last Post 6 days, 5 hours Ago


Rodney King beating worse?
May 8, 2008 | 9:40 PM
Category: News
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The Rev. Al Sharpton says the violent arrest of three suspects in Philadelphia was worse than the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles in 1991.

Watch the Philadelphia arrests here

Race was the critical issue in the Rodney King beating, and the Commissioner says strain from an exhaustive search for a police shooting suspect -- not -- race was a motivating factor.

Is the comparison justified, and do you think Al Sharpton should come to Philadelphia as he has promised?

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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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electrons read my blog
May 9, 2008 | 8:12 AM

Comparable to Rodney King? You have got to be kidding me! Rodney King was beaten for speeding. These 3 scumbags were charged for attempted murder. Let's repeat that. Attempted murder.

Sure, let AL come here... Just let him be warned that we cannot provide security for him because all of the police are being pulled off of the streets for protecting themselves against 3 guys who were charged for ATTEMPTED MURDER. What they should have done is tap danced up to the car, asked them if they want to go grab a brew and discuss the incident.

So yeah, I hope he enjoys his stay in Philly. Hardly anyone takes him seriously anymore, so it is not worth getting angred over his comments.
JustinAMFields
May 9, 2008 | 2:29 PM

Uhm, I do believe that the answer is an undeniable "YES". Let's look at King. Police see a man speeding, they think he is under the effects of PCP, they pummel him (because PCP users are super strong and the only way to subdue them is to knock them unconscience?)

These guys are SUSPECTED of being involved in a shooting. The cops pull them over, they stop of their own recognizance, and then are dragged from their vehicle and beaten get the crap beaten out of them. Why did they get beat up? Did they not stop their vehicle? Were they not complying to the officers? The only reason I can think that they were beaten up were because they were young black men.
JOEANDNAN
May 9, 2008 | 10:44 PM

I would like to know where Al Sharpton is when the blacks are shooting each other and police officers, ruining neighborhoods, and collecting welfare. But if something happens like the tragic beating in Phila. (which I feel the city is doing a great job investigating) right away its racial and because the blacks were slaves a centry ago. Does Al know that all ethnic groups coming to this country were discriminated against but they worked hard and overcame it not sitting back waiting for everything to be handed to them. Al why dont you get a job and stay away from our city.
tayism
May 9, 2008 | 11:59 PM

Well, for the lame joeandnan, AFRICAN people were enslaved by europeans, the same europeans that were ostracized for being murderers, homosexuals, thieves, rapists, and whose women were all whores.
The same europeans that invaded this country, took what they could, and displaced the Native Americans.
I'll say this, I have a strong disdain & hatred for police in philly. The beating whether like Mr. King or not is just as it is, RACISM, which seems to plague the philly police dept. Those officers looked really white to me. I can remember the demon, frank rizzo, sending in his thugs to just bother AFRICAN people for no good reason.
I have 3 family members on the force, 1 just left because of the RACISM towards AFRICAN officers. So, it's all relative!
I don't care who was murdered, there's no excuse for that beating; they were dragged out of the car and on the ground, at that point they should've been arrested, not kicked, hit, and stomped. Chief Ramsey should be a man and step up to the challenge to confront this problem that seems to only exist within AFRICAN communties. Mayor Nutter should should do the same and stop trying to pass this off as just emotions! He's a hypocrite! If the demon officers can't deal with the stress of being an officer, they shouldn't be on the force, period!!! They should start working behind the counter of dunkin donuts because that's all they're good for anyway.
yoyom read my blog
May 10, 2008 | 12:05 AM

It is people like you that is going to make this situation worst than what it is by bring up race. I have been on this site since the story broke and today is the first day I have heard anyone mention race. What story are you all watching. BLACK AND WHITE COPS WAS THERE. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS WAS THEIR BEATING JUSTIFIED. Joeandnan you need to check with LJ69 about stats. He should know what race has the more people collecting welfare and its not the blacks.
LJ69 read my blog
May 10, 2008 | 12:25 AM

True, blacks are not number 1 when receiving welfare. This is based on whole numbers... there are those who would argue that percentage wise they are. Actually the welfare stats are deceiving mainly because a majority of welfare is paid to the mother by the state..the father of the child pays the state. The problem arises when the father falls behind or is never ordered to pay child support to begin with. Then it becomes a burden of the state. ...and anyone who thinks it's a life of leisure living on what welfare gives you ... think again.
yoyom read my blog
May 10, 2008 | 12:37 AM

Well let them argue, but I will say I agree with you on this one. No need to go any further. Let's put this to rest while we are ahead.
ConcernedinPhilly
May 10, 2008 | 9:59 AM

JustinAMFields -
FYI....They were not SUSPECTED of being involved in a shooting. They WERE involved as viewed by plain clothed officers watching the corner. They stopped on their own (as opposed to crashing into the police cruiser in front of them) AFTER being pursued by several police units.

As Mayor Nutter told Sharpton in January, we don't want or need him here in Philadelphia. He can stay in his own state and cause havic there.
Why is it because the suspects in the incident were black it becomes a race issue?? However, three white cops are killed within a year, all by black men and it is not a race issue.
Sharpton needs a job! He is not aiding anyone. He does not want to come here to help find a solution to stop the violence in our city. He does not want to come here to help these men invloved find better opportunities for themselves and their families so they are not career criminals. He is a media BLEEP looking for attention for himself.
The violence in our city needs to stop. We do not need him here bringing attention to himself and making matters worse. We as a city; blacks, whites, hispanics, asians, etc. need to take responsibility for ourselves and our city and stop the violence.
STAY HOME SHARPTON!
stopguns
May 10, 2008 | 10:03 AM

Come on now, stop having children to be raised in a one parent home. Have some respect for yourself.Welfare was originally instutited to aid untill you can get on your feet not a lifetime of handouts whatever race you are.
Mr. Sharpton is the biggest racist of them all,
he keeps racism alive and he thrives on it. Instead of coming to our city and spreading racism, come and speak on living with pride and getting along with one another. I am second generation born here, I can assure you my relatives who come over to america were not given ANYTHING!! We did not own slaves. They worked hard and passed their values down. In Philadelphia the mentality has to change and white and black have to work together to stop whoever is trashing our city. I know there are enough citizens who do want to live peacefully without fear of walking to the corner store.
JOEANDNAN
May 10, 2008 | 10:54 AM

Well I never said that the beating was ok . It was wromg true. My problem is with Al Sharpton who just wants to start trouble why doesnt he help the black people overcome the fact that they are killing each. Look at the stats where and who are doing all the shootings??? And tell me who gets the most welfare?? Where are all the fathers to these kids?? In short Al Sharpton is a bum and only knows how to start race problems.
statueman read my blog
May 10, 2008 | 11:43 AM

Do not you people understand that what these police officers have done is put the lives of each and every law abiding police officer on the streets of the United States of America in jeapordy?

Do not you extremist supporters of this kind of police behavior realize that this is the kind of violence that perpetuates criminal behavior in this country?

BECAUSE THAT WAS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY POLICE OFFICERS

and it is a mistake of heart to be in support of that. You are creating more of the same, asking for it indeed... begging for more of the same.
John_Atwater read my blog view my photos
May 10, 2008 | 6:15 PM

Now, an inflammatory flyer is circulating in North Philadelphia. Here's a link:

http://community.myfoxphilly.com/blogs/John_Atwater/200

8/05/10/Inflammatory_flyer_in_wake_of_police_shooting
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John_Atwater

I'm John Atwater, a FOX 29 reporter.

Member Since: 10/25/2006


 

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