Editor’s note: Gov. Deval Patrick has been widely quoted in the media responding to the situation in Ferguson, Missouri saying: “I’m sick of unarmed, black men being shot by police. I’m sick of the lawlessness on the streets. I think everyone is just tired of when are we going to get through with this kind of thing.” The Blackstonian urges Gov. Patrick to take a serious look at what has happened right here in the state of Massachusetts. There have been numerous cases of police using excessive/deadly force resulting in the death of unarmed Black & Brown people in Boston, Framingham, Lynn, Dartmouth and more. I have proposed to legislators and the Governor himself that Massachusetts needs to establish a Commission on Police Misconduct that would tackle the issues of corruption, abuse of power, brutality and deadly force within law enforcement in Massachusetts. Cities and towns and the county DA’s have shown that they are unable to look at each case without a pro-police bias which has resulted in officer after officer facing no charges or punishment for the loss of civilian life.
Gov. Patrick is rightfully concerned about what is happening across the nation. The Blackstonian urges the Governor to use his power to address this long standing issue right here in Massachusetts.
Click here to see our listing of people killed by police across the state.
(Please note this list is incomplete if you have other cases please contact us.)
From The Boston Herald:
Patrick on Ferguson: ‘Sick of unarmed, black men being shot by police’
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick today said he is “sick of unarmed, black men being shot by police” in his first comments since a black teenager was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., spurring riots, looting and a heavily militarized response by police.
“I’m sick of it,” Patrick said with a heavy sigh. “I’m sick of unarmed, black men being shot by police. I’m sick of the lawlessness on the streets. I think everyone is just tired of when are we going to get through with this kind of thing.”
Patrick, who made history in 2006 when he was elected the state’s first black governor — at the time, only the second black governor nationwide — said the U.S. faces painful hurdles on race relations.
READ MORE HERE:
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/08/patrick_on_ferguson_sick_of_unarmed_black_men_being_shot_by
