Mr. Stone ran outside and saw two police officers, both both white men, standing near Mr. Brown, who was lying on his stomach, his arms at his sides, blood seeping from his head. Another neighbor, a woman who identified herself as a nurse, was begging the officers to let her perform CPR. They refused, Mr. Stone said, adding, “They didn’t even check to see if he was breathing.”
I have some disturbing feelings about this.
Ever since the Ferguson Police Chief decided to release video that alleges Mike Brown stole cigars from a store and then shove past the employee who tried to block his exit, I've been seeing people claim that this somehow exonerates the cop who gunned him down in the street while he was unarmed.
I couldn't wrap my head around how anyone could think, "well, he stole something, so he got what he deserved." Do people really believe that capital punishment without any due process is an appropriate response to a petty crime?
But, when I read this line, "They didn't even check to see if he was breathing," something deeply disturbing occurs to me.
It's related to a thought that I shared with a friend on FB, recently. In that exchange I was responding to a graphic explanation going around which attempts to enlighten males about why they don't see the sexual harassment that women endure. In one part of that explanation, the author is telling men that women are still silently seen as the property of men. So, if a man is with a woman, whether she be a family member, friend or acquaintance, she is less likely to be harassed out of deference to him. That is, they see her as his property and therefore under his umbrella of protection. Any woman not associated with a man is fair game.
this was true when I was coming up and I find it true today also depending on the man's look of manliness or lack there o can encourage some to disrespect both of them. never had that problem I'm 6'4" and younger 285 lbs. 225 a7 18 years and damn good lookin', ok sorry again. denying this nurse to administer health care IMO was further showing their intent to kill Michael Brown or let him expire in front of onlookers and children as a defiant expression of "I'm the man, let this be a lesson.
