Another police execution in Cincinnati? #JusticeOrElse
Fatal shooting of Samuel Dubose by campus cop again raises questions about serious problem of illegal law enforcement killings inside of the United States
Shannae Figgs, left, cousin of Sam DuBose comforts Audrey DuBose, mother of Sam DuBose, as she prays during a vigil at the Hamilton County Courthouse. (Courtesy Photo)
Imani Dixon.
Read ‘Deadly Force’ report.
By Ashahed M. Muhammad, Special to the NNPA from The Final Call
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.”–Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” –International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
According to investigators, 43-year-old Samuel DuBose was shot in the head and killed by then-University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing after a routine traffic stop. Mr. Dubose was pulled over for having a missing front plate. A Hamilton County grand jury returned an indictment of murder and voluntary manslaughter against Mr. Tensing, who was also fired from the police department.
Outrage spread as the video of the fatal encounter was made public. Tensing turned himself in to authorities and during his initial court appearance July 30, bond was set at one million dollars after he pleaded not guilty. He paid the required 10 percent ($100,000) to bond out. He is now free awaiting trial.
“This does not happen in the United States—this might happen in Afghanistan or somewhere. People don’t get shot for a traffic stop unless they are violent towards the police officer, and he wasn’t,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters told reporters.
But the prosecutor wasn’t quite correct as experts say the unwarranted and illegal killings of civilians is a problem in the United States, where law enforcement agencies often fail to respect civilian lives.
Palestinian-American activist and commentator Linda Sarsour linked the Dubose killing with other instances where Blacks accused of minor crimes paid the ultimate price. “Selling loosies, driving without a license, not using your car signal ARE NOT punishable by death. #SandraBland #SamDubose #EricGarner,” Ms. Sarsour wrote.
A new report by Amnesty International USA concluded all 50 states and the District of Columbia fail to comply with international standards on the use of lethal force by law enforcement.
Human rights activists say lethal force should be used as a last resort when all other methods have failed. But in American cities officers are shooting first, then asking questions or are involved in cover-ups later, they said.
Amnesty’s report Deadly Force: Police Use of Lethal Force In The United States found state laws and regulations are overly broad, allowing police to use lethal force in a wide range of circumstances with very low standards for justification.
Police shootings are at a crisis level requiring not only well thought out strategies but also immediate and effective solutions, said Ernest Coverson, Midwest regional field organizer for Amnesty International USA, a human rights organization. America places a strong emphasis on calling for human rights globally, while widespread human rights violations are taking place right at home, he noted.
“I would say it is a crisis because it violates the right to life, the ultimate human right,” said Mr. Coverson. “It is a crisis that we have to get a handle on—around the country—as soon as possible.”
Only eight states require a warning be given before law enforcement officers use lethal force—Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.
Only three states require that officers create no “substantial risk” to bystanders when using lethal force—Delaware, Hawaii and New Jersey.
Twenty states allow ordinary citizens to use lethal force if carrying out law enforcement activities, such as assisting an officer with an arrest—Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington.
Initial media reports said Officer Ray Tensing was dragged. That appeared to be false after looking at the video. Activists and Mr. Dubose’s family members want charges filed against other officers who went along with Mr. Tensing’s original report.
Nine states and the District of Columbia have no laws on the use of lethal force—these include Maryland, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Nine states allow use of lethal force to suppress riots—Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont and Washington.
Blacks are disproportionate victims of lethal force by police. An officer guns down an unarmed Black man, outrage grows within the community, and predictably civic officials, political and church leaders call for calm.
But instead of pleading for calm, why not deal with the issue at hand, the rampant use of lethal force on unarmed civilians, and the lack of justice? And the victim’s side of the story is often never heard.
“At the end of the day, it’s his or her word against a dead body … it’s the police officer’s word, against a dead body,” said Coverson.
“All citizens, regardless of color, ethnicity, or religion, have the right to expect fair and unbiased treatment from their community’s police officers. Police profiling and killing of community members without cause is a very serious problem that destroys trust between police and the communities they are sworn to protect,” observed Dabdoub.
While most commended the Hamilton County, Ohio prosecutor for swift action in charging the former officer with murder, others believe officials have not gone far enough. Only a murder conviction will be true justice, they say.
They also believe other officers who corroborated the initial story, which appears to be false based on the video, should be disciplined in a major way.
Twenty-year-old University of Cincinnati second-year graduate student Imani Dixon said each killing of an unarmed Black man or woman affects her.
As one of only two Black students in the architecture program, she’s not often able to verbalize her feelings or share her opinions with those who can understand and empathize with her.
“It’s a peculiar experience for me … the mental anguish,” said Dixon. “I almost feel like I’m living in my own world when it comes to these things.”
University changes policing policies
The Dubose family has hired Florida trial attorney Mark O’Mara, who is best known for representing George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case.
A statement on the University of Cincinnati website said the school “is providing all legally allowable information to the public” and has met with students, members of the community and members of the Dubose family.
“Because this tragedy calls for close inspection, the Cincinnati Police Department investigated and turned over its findings to the Office of the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney for a determination,” the statement said.
The university announced immediate changes to campus police patrolling policies after the fatal shooting. Campus cops will focus patrols within campus boundaries, and will conduct traffic stops only within the boundaries of the campus. According to campus officials, the Cincinnati Police Department has agreed to increase patrols in areas just outside campus boundaries until further notice.
University President Santa J. Ono and several members of the university’s leadership team met with the City Manager’s Advisory Group July 27.
“As the result of multiple conversations this past week with community leaders, which were reiterated this morning, the university is initiating a process to hire an independent external reviewer to examine UC Police Department policies, procedures and practices. We also are moving forward with the creation of a community advisory panel. These are important steps to create an enhanced environment of openness and healing,” said President Ono.
There were some campus protests, however, as city and university officials prepared for the worst with the July 29 announcement that body camera video of the killing would be released. Realizing it would be a tense time, the University of Cincinnati canceled all classes and closed administrative offices on the Uptown and Medical campuses at 11 a.m. and suspended classes that were in session.
Body cam footage released
Initial media reports said Officer Ray Tensing was dragged. That appeared to be false after looking at the video. It appeared as if the officer fell only after shooting Mr. Dubose in the head. Activists and Mr. Dubose’s family members want charges filed against other officers who went along with Mr. Tensing’s original report.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Deters spoke to reporters July 29, saying in his three decades of experience, the officer’s actions July 19 were “horrible” and “unnecessary.” He expressed sympathy for the Dubose family.
“This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make. Totally unwarranted. It is an absolute tragedy that in the year 2015 that anyone would behave in this manner. It was senseless,” said Deters. “He should have never been a police officer.”
It was incredible how quickly the officer pulled his weapon and discharged it, said Deters.
Student Minister Darryl Muhammad of Mosque No. 5 in Cincinnati said while the indictment is a step towards justice, there have been problems with University of Cincinnati police and the Cincinnati police for years. Rebellions broke out in 2001 after police killed Timothy Thomas, an unarmed 19-year-old Black man. This same prosecutor’s failure to charge police with wrongdoing, outraged the Black community, which led to the rebellion, Muhammad asserted. The unrest covered four days in 2001 and caused an estimated $3.6 million in damage to businesses and nearly two million dollars in damage to city property. A boycott of businesses after the rebellions caused an estimated $10 million in revenue losses.
“The Hamilton County prosecutor is definitely no friend to the Black man and woman here in the city of Cincinnati,” said Mr. Muhammad. “He does not have a good history in the city.”
According to Muhammad, in the past, the prosecutor has referred to Blacks as “soulless,” “cowards,” “criminals,” “thugs” and “breeders.”
The Nation of Islam has consistently been involved in meetings with other community organizations and police in attempts to quell violence, and according to Mr. Muhammad, this recent shooting has motivated Muslims to intensify their efforts.
At a recent rally near campus, Imani Dixon heard two of Dubose’s children speak. One was Dubose’s nine-year-old son. She described it as “heart-wrenching.”
“They will never be the same because of this. It has forced them to be aware of the kinds of things that happen, and it has forced them to be aware of the history of Black and White relations,” she said.
Many artists, entertainers, and activists took to their social media accounts to weigh in on the matter.
Actress Kerry Washington shared with her 2.21 million followers via her Twitter feed: “Again. Dear LORD! #SamDubose.” Actress Holly Robinson Peete posted “I can’t watch the video. I just can’t watch it. #samdubose.”
Karen Dabdoub, executive director of the Cincinnati chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), delivered a tepid statement related to the Dubose killing.
Hip hop artist Talib Kweli insightfully posted via his Twitter feed: “Cop murdered #SamDubose & his fellow officers lied right along with him in police report. What was that you were saying about ‘good cops?’ ”
Writer and political commentator Rahiel Tesfamariam wrote: “The 2nd officer should be charged with obstruction of justice for lying for Ray Tensing. Charges must be brought against him! #SamDubose.”
Most believe without the body cam footage, there wouldn’t have been an indictment, and DuBose’s death would have been merely classified in police terms as “justifiable.”
Leading Black Lives Matter organizer Johnetta Elzie, via her Twitter account posted: “even with a body cam recording his interaction, Ray Tensing was prepared to lie and get away with murder. #SamDubose.”
With each shooting America’s moral authority is eroded as foreign countries see teargas, extrajudicial killings and torture happening in the United States, said Coverson.
His advice to young Black men and women he has encountered? If stopped by police, do what is required to get home alive. In this country police are given tremendous power, and while human rights groups are addressing these issues, “reform is multidimensional” and often takes time, he added.
Seeing police encounters in real time with video captured by dashcams and smartphones has changed some opinions, but, there are still vastly differing perceptions regarding the value of Black lives, noted Coverson.
“There’s still a major part of the population that still believes (Black’s killed by police) deserved what happened to them,” he said.
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