arealibrarianJan 31, 2023
Eric Puryear

Part of what makes police brutality and racism so terrible is that, unlike other risks, it can't be escaped.

I can choose a safe car to guard against crashes. I can exercise for heart health.

But there is nothing I can do to guard against racist, violent cops. Even being an attorney who is wearing a suit doesn't help, as I've been racially profiled on my way to court, and physically grabbed by courthouse security on multiple occasions.

#BLM #GeorgeFloyd #TyreNichols #Racism #PoliceBrutality

Jan 30, 2023 at 1:14amWeb
Show threadHoldenJan 30, 2023
@eric Well put. I never thought of it that way. Thank you for sharing your analysis but very sorry to hear of your horrible experiences.
Show threadSpicewallaJan 30, 2023

@eric

If being a republican senator won't protect you, nothing will.

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tim-scott-capitol-racism-senate-225507

Sen. Tim Scott reveals incidents of being targeted by Capitol Police

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that even inside the Capitol building, the relationship between law enforcement and the black community can be strained.

POLITICO
Show threadJeanJauresJan 30, 2023
@Spicewalla @eric And, yet, Scott supports the white supremacist party.
Show threadSteffani CameronJan 30, 2023
@eric I “understand” racism but I’ll never UNDERSTAND racism. I’m so sorry that’s your (and so many others’) reality.
Show thread@leamoreanne5Jan 30, 2023
@eric the cruelty is beyond measure 🥹🥹🥹
Show threadSocialistStanJan 30, 2023
@eric This requires revolution, not reform.
Show threadJackie ❤️☮️🇵🇸🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Jan 30, 2023

@eric
Sadly, it's not just about tackling overt racism, it's also tackling covert racism and unconscious bias.

I'm in the UK and shortly after the murder of George Floyd, a friend of mine called me as she was very upset. She had spoken to another friend about George Floyd and how she was always worried for her husband and son. Her friend said to her, "Well if George hadn't resisted arrest, it wouldn't have happened."
#BLM #GeorgeFloyd #TyreNichols #Racism #PoliceBrutality

Show threadJackie ❤️☮️🇵🇸🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Jan 30, 2023
@eric
Tackling unconscious bias and covert racism is fighting an uphill battle as it's systemic and policy. Most white people don't want to be reminded we have an unconscious bias. It's not enough to be "not racist", we also have to be actively anti-racist.
We have to accept that we all have unconscious biases and tackle it in ourselves and monitor our behaviour.
But this has to start right at the highest level.
#BLM
Show threadartuitoJan 30, 2023
@eric it’s a real life lottery of brutality. Need to head out for groceries? Roll the dice! Wanna have some drinks with friends—How’s your melanin? Dark? Roll twice.
Show threadCherrilynJan 30, 2023
@eric Now I question how many women have been targeted for cop gang rape. Yep, that's in my head. Because clearly those people were many hunting.
Show threadMetafrastisJan 30, 2023
@eric There is one thing you *can* do: leave the US and come to Europe. The US are a lost country for women and POC, for atheists and intellectuals. You are one presidential election away from Gilead.
Show threadGuen PrawiroatmodjoJan 30, 2023
@eric I have a very naive question: does the law not protect us from racist abuse? Like, would it be possible to sue the courthouse security person for making arrests without just cause?
Show threadAbeniJan 30, 2023
@guenp @eric suing isn't protection *from* racist abuse, it's trying to seek retribution after it happens. A financial payout isn't necessarily justice, nor will it prevent it from happening again. And to be able to sue and possibly win, one has to have the resources for a good attorney. Many of us can't afford that.
Show threadMoyerTherapyJan 30, 2023
@eric Police brutality has roots in colonialism and plantation capitalism where slave patrols were used to enforce slave codes, which were later transformed into modern policing. This historical legacy, combined with systemic racism, has contributed to a culture of police brutality in which communities of color are disproportionately targeted and subjected to violence by law enforcement.
Show threadDonna Dechen BirdwellJan 30, 2023
@eric I realize it's not really the same as driving while black, but I find myself resolving to remove these bumper stickers from my car before my road trip to Mississippi. Driving (a Prius) while woke? (Sadly, many of those racist white boys are probably my cousins. For real.) #ACLU #nobannedbooks #BlueActionDemocrats
Show threadTofu GolemJan 30, 2023

@eric

https://armoxon.substack.com/p/every-riot-is-a-police-riot

Every Riot Is A Police Riot

Some thoughts on police murder in American, and the gravity of intent.

The Reframe
Show threadShield MaidenJan 30, 2023
@eric This reminds me of when Mo Farah, the multiple Olympic Gold Medallist was detained at a US airport because he is muslim, even though he lives in the US and is known all around the world. Not even he is safe, so what chance do others have? (Rhetorical question TWTAIN)
Show threadtutormentor1Jan 30, 2023

@eric

I led youth tutor/mentor programs in Chicago for 35 years. Most of the kids we worked with were Black. Many from the 1970s-1999s now are parents, even grand parents. I'm connected to many on Facebook.

I posted a reflection on my #tutormentor blog this weekend, with the headline "We can help kids through school, but can we keep them safe from racism?" https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2023/01/we-can-help-kids-through-school-but-can.html

Many, many more people need to be trying to figure this out.

We can help kids through school, but can we keep them safe from racism?

The nation is once again shocked by a Black man being murdered by police. This time it was in Nashville, Tennessee.   Below is one of many T...

Show threadClare Harris 🍁Jan 30, 2023
@eric I’m so sorry. It’s absolutely unfair, dangerous, and racists are getting way too much airtime these days. An absurd amount.
Show threadMorganaJan 30, 2023
@eric Unfortunately…… you are right….But then we need to find a way for accountability, tolerance and for everyone to find a way to step back and think before they react….
Sorry, that’s not much help for you…..
Show threadStormcrowJan 31, 2023
@eric If our DOJ had stopped the GOP coup, America could be turning this shit around already. Now we have nazis in power at every level in this nation, and they are making war on all of us. Instead of justice, another holocaust is on tap.
Show threadEric PuryearJan 31, 2023
@TheStormcrow That is my biggest worry, and why I have guns for self defense.
Show threadSpaceFoxJan 31, 2023
@eric The racial profiling has gone too far. The black and hispanic coms should leave the cities behind and go rual if possible.
Show threadEric PuryearJan 31, 2023
@SpaceFox I think it is generally worse in rural areas, sadly.
Show threadEric SummersJan 31, 2023
@eric I feel this disgusts everyone including those not marginalized by police. Not just officers. It’s rotten all the way up to district attorneys and judges. The use of civil asset forfeiture and no knock warrants (in unexceptional cases) is disgusting. It feels like we are perpetually on the cusp of criminal justice reform without ever getting there with all the entrenched interests. Police unions need to be disbanded and police immunity needs to end.
Show threadEric PuryearJan 31, 2023
@esummers You are quite correct on each of those points
Show threadPatricia GerstenbergerFeb 1, 2023
@eric I'm so sorry you've been forced to endure this. My breaking point was when a black pastor told me this story in an oh-well tone of voice: he was writing a sermon late one night and had writer's block. He decided to drive to Taco Bell. It was a Saturday night (you be amazed at how many sermons are written on Saturday). You know what happened: he was stopped by the police, asked to get out of the car, was frisked and questioned, and then "allowed" to go. A pastor! I changed that day. 1/
Show threadPatricia GerstenbergerFeb 1, 2023

@eric No one, pastor or lawyer or physician or regular guy or homeless person should endure this! Police are here "to protect and to serve," not to decide who to protect from and who to serve!

I would have loved to have heard that sermon, although knowing him, he stayed on course with his original sermon message and didn't make the sermon about him. 2/end

Show threadDancingwiththebelovedFeb 1, 2023
@patricia_gerstenberger @eric my talks were only occasionally written on Saturday. I found I was most inspired early Sunday morning 😁
Show threadPatricia GerstenbergerFeb 2, 2023

@Dridge3770 @eric I avoided Sunday mornings except for twice in my appointment: I woke up knowing that what I'd written wasn't what God wanted my congregation to hear. I had to start from scratch, thankfully with some helpful inspiration!

I also left my sermon at the parsonage on the printer once and didn't realize it until the service had started. I hurriedly wrote notes on my bulletin while the lay readers were doing their thing.

Show threadDancingwiththebelovedFeb 1, 2023
@eric I can barely imagine...