Up Against the Wall
Did you see the story about former tennis pro James Blake being tossed to the ground in New York City?
Blake, who is black, was standing outside the Grand Hyatt hotel waiting for a ride to the U.S. Open. It was just about noon when a NYPD officer grabbed Blake, slammed him to the ground and handcuffed him, screaming: "Police! Don't move!!"
Turns out that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Blake just happened to look like the guy who the cops were looking for in a fraud case. One of the higher-ups said that Blake could be the twin brother of the guy who committed the crime.
Gets you thinking, right?
Imagine just going about your day when you're suddenly grabbed, slammed and cuffed.
Would be pretty dramatic, don't you think?
The police commissioner has apologized and the cops are saying:
"It happens."
Blake is still seething, however, and wants to shine light on the fact that even if he had been the man who committed the crime, he was handled way too aggressively.
He wants more than just the apology.
He isn't looking for a pay day, he's just trying to see why things happen the way they do.
Look.
It's a real fine line that the police are walking these days.
Criminals are armed to the teeth.
Officers are being gunned down while pumping gas.
The race relations are a bit testy to say the least.
The take-down was in line with what the officers are trained to do...just happened to be the wrong guy...who happened to be a black man...a famous, Harvard-educated black man.
Could this all be fixed somehow?
I don't know.
The police officers are in a tough spot these days. A moment's hesitation could cost them their life.
I know that Blake is pissed.
I would be too.
Perhaps he feels it is based solely on the color of his skin.
That has to be an awful feeling.
But a moment's thought about how and why it happened...might make a difference to Blake once he calms down.
The bottom line is that we need police to do their jobs...
...without hesitation...
...without prejudice.
It sounds easier than it actually is.
Blake should be apologized to...and maybe that's all there is.
Blake, who is black, was standing outside the Grand Hyatt hotel waiting for a ride to the U.S. Open. It was just about noon when a NYPD officer grabbed Blake, slammed him to the ground and handcuffed him, screaming: "Police! Don't move!!"
Turns out that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Blake just happened to look like the guy who the cops were looking for in a fraud case. One of the higher-ups said that Blake could be the twin brother of the guy who committed the crime.
Gets you thinking, right?
Imagine just going about your day when you're suddenly grabbed, slammed and cuffed.
Would be pretty dramatic, don't you think?
The police commissioner has apologized and the cops are saying:
"It happens."
Blake is still seething, however, and wants to shine light on the fact that even if he had been the man who committed the crime, he was handled way too aggressively.
He wants more than just the apology.
He isn't looking for a pay day, he's just trying to see why things happen the way they do.
Look.
It's a real fine line that the police are walking these days.
Criminals are armed to the teeth.
Officers are being gunned down while pumping gas.
The race relations are a bit testy to say the least.
The take-down was in line with what the officers are trained to do...just happened to be the wrong guy...who happened to be a black man...a famous, Harvard-educated black man.
Could this all be fixed somehow?
I don't know.
The police officers are in a tough spot these days. A moment's hesitation could cost them their life.
I know that Blake is pissed.
I would be too.
Perhaps he feels it is based solely on the color of his skin.
That has to be an awful feeling.
But a moment's thought about how and why it happened...might make a difference to Blake once he calms down.
The bottom line is that we need police to do their jobs...
...without hesitation...
...without prejudice.
It sounds easier than it actually is.
Blake should be apologized to...and maybe that's all there is.
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