The Verdict is in: Business as Usual

Okay, as I said in yesterday's post, Los Angeles juries are not to swift when it comes to convictions of rogue cops and celebrities. Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant. Again the message it is ok to shoot an unarmed Black man, as long as you are a policeman still whispers loud. Mehserle faces up to four years in prison. Not that stiff a sentence. Now, if I am not mistaken, the sentencing judge can suspend that sentence and give him probation. I am not sure, because I am not a legal expert. However, when it comes to California, nothing surprises me. Only time will tell.

The worse part is that no one is a winner, no matter what the verdict was. Oscar's family will never see him again. His daughter will ultimately never know her father. Johannes Mehserle has to live with what he did. His career in law enforcement is over. He will always be the guy who shot and killed an unarmed man. Should he go to prison, he will have to be placed in protective custody and he will experience the fate of those he himself has previously arrested, during the course of his short career.

Grief? There is more than enough to go around. I don't know, it seems like the only relief the Grant family might get is in Civil Court. Sound familiar? (Think OJ). The only difference is the city of Oakland has to pay. It seems that in all the cases where an unarmed Black man is killed by police officers, the results always seems to be the city throwing money at the festering wounds. I hope they learn one day. To much pain, too much crying, too much dying.

Oakland Waits for Verdict in Oscar Grant Shooting.

It is a recurring theme in today's society. An unarmed Black man dying at the hands of law enforcement. The trial of Johannes Mehserle, a BART police officer, is in the hands of the jury. Seversal months ago videos of the shooting went viral and millions watched as the tragedy occurred. Mehserle's defense is that he accidently drew his service pistol, instead of his taser, which was alledgedly his intention. Well, the incident and the public reaction lead to a change of venue to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles court system does not have a stellar reputation in these matters. It appears that rogue cops and celebreties fail to get convicted there.

With that in mind, it is understandable why merchants in Oakland are in fear of civic unrest. After all, following Grant's funeral, rioting occurred. There have calls for calm and peace from all walks of Oakland life, including Grant's mother. You can believe everyone is anxious, even fearful of what may happen. Again, everyone will be expected to accept the jury's verdict. According to the law, that is what is supposed to happen. Usually, of late, it does. Rioting will not solve anything in a case like this. Unfortunately, in cases like these, you never know what a jury might do. I am not taking sides. I saw the video and unless the defendant is just plain stupid, or easy to panic, I cannot really swallow his story. However, I was not there and some things just do not show up in the video.

My primary question is this: "Is this verdict going to to be lawful and just, or just business as usual?"