Another Decision

Hello Everyone:

Another week, another Grand Jury returns a decision not to indict another police officer in the pointless death of another African-American male.  By now the entire known galaxy knows that Eric Garner, a horticulturist with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and father of six, died of a heart attack after being placed in a chokehold by Officer Daniel Pantaleo.  Once again, a police officer believed he was in mortal danger by an unarmed man.  I will repeat what I said after the Ferguson Grand Jury, I don't care what side of the story you're on, a person is dead and the one who took Eric Garner's life must live with this fact for the rest of his life.  Of course there will be the inevitable outrage and protests but what will come out of all this?  Will there be sensible policy implemented that will give police officers some discretion in determining whether a person is credible threat while still respecting a potential suspect's rights?  I was speaking with the Brit BF, who is Afro-English, thus justifiably outraged by the Grand Jury's decision.  I understand his anger at both decisions.  The Brit BF is gentle and kind person who would not hurt a fly, yet because his skin is much darker than mine, he is automatically suspect of everything and anything.  I shutter to think would happen to him if was stopped by the police.  Until now, it something I haven't really thought about because 1) we've been apart; 2) he's never been harassed in my presence.  Then again, we live in a major metropolitan area that is a little more open minded about inter-racial couple but I know this isn't always the case.  I don't know how I would deal if I witnessed a police officer harassing him or placing him in a chokehold.  It scares me to think about it.