Hal Marx, mayor of Petal, Mississippi, weighed in on viral video footage that showed the arrest suspect George Floyd, saying, “I can’t breathe.” At the same time, a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground by his neck.
Well, this MAYOR is not the sharpest tool in the shed. A child understands that putting your knee on a person’s throat can cause death, especially for 6 minutes, now, if he had any brains he would have checked out if this is typical police procedure and found out it is not.
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Marx said Floyd probably died of an overdose or a heart attack. He also said, don’t judge before we know all the facts, yet he is he, making a judgment. If Mr. Floyd did die of a heart attack or an overdose like the mayor said, there was still no justification for what that police officer did. He is still responsible.
Marx presupposes too much while attaching his own bias to boot. None of us know at this point what led to Floyd being pinned to the ground; however, what we do know is that more than one officer was on the scene. If you cannot get a suspect under control and in handcuffs in less than three minutes from him hitting the ground, you have no right to wear a badge and carry a gun.
Some humans only understand empathy when tragedy affects them or theirs…If looking at a “cop” with his knee fatally on the carotid artery of a civilian doesn’t seem wrong, see decency.
[USA Today] The Petal Board of Aldermen on Thursday held a special meeting seeking to persuade Marx to step down.
He refused.
“I will never surrender to the mob mentality,” said Marx, adding that he and his family had received death threats.
Residents, with emotions running high, called for his resignation. Protests, sparked by his comments, are planned over the next three days.
The dispute started Tuesday when Marx tweeted “Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?”
The mayor was referring to the police officers who were fired Tuesday, a day after Floyd died after being pinned to the ground by one of the officers.
Marx received backlash, but he says his words were misinterpreted by some.
It is unreasonable for Marx to remain in office if he cannot tell what is wrong with the picture or video.
I believe that the size of George Floyd had something to do with his treatment. Four policemen were armed. This extent of force was not necessary. I cannot fathom that the other three stood there and did not question the other officer’s behavior.
I don’t care what came before; there is nothing that could have happened that would excuse the cops’ actions when he has a suspect in cuffs, under control, and in custody.
This piece was written by Wayne Dupree on May 29, 2020. It originally appeared in WayneDupree.com and is used by permission.
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