Submitted by Leshawn Thorn, Nov 28, 2006 09:51

Without any concrete or solid understanding of how the events transpired, this community has already created an opposition and used divisive language to create a "us" Vs. "them" dynamic. How can anyone seek justice when the focus of the issue has become a racially charged incident, which in reality had nothing to do with the shooting? I applaud the community for bringing attention to the police and their misconduct in undercover operations, and I too even without hard proof see the number of shots fired as excessive. Although there has been no highlighting of the fact that everyone of these gentlemen had extensive criminal records, had accosted a women in the club, harassed her for not being complicit with their sexual demands, initiating a fight with the bars staff, claiming to have a gun, running from police, ramming their car into an officer, then into several other stationary objects, and acting erratically at 3am in morning! I think given these events confusion is an appropriate word, and to attempt to construe this incident as police brutality or a racially targeted event is damaging to this community and to their efforts of seeking justice. We are all members of this community, we are all involved in this tragic event, and must all communicate in a rational and compassionate manner by reserving judgment until there is adequate information to make an informed decision and determine what action should be taken.

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