It Is Never About Race: A Continuing Series

By Charles Pierce, Esquire

28 August 14

nd there still will be people who will claim not to "understand" w hy black people dread the approach of the police.

Beavercreek police say they shot and killed Crawford because he was waving the BB gun and didn't drop it when commanded by police, according to local media accounts. Lawyers for the Crawford family and Crawford's father have viewed 5 to 6 minutes of surveillance video of the shooting. The lawyers said at a news conference on Tuesday that Crawford was talking on a cell phone and had picked up the gun off a shelf. "He was doing nothing more, nothing less than just shopping," attorney Michael Wright said.

First of all, what white person gets frightened enough in a WalMart to call a cop just because a black man has a pellet gun?

Everybody, because it's not about race because it's never about race.

Also, what cop gets frightened enough in a WalMart to draw down just because a black man has a pellet gun?

Most of them, because it's not about race because it's never about race.

Also what cop shoots to kill in a WalMart because a black man is holding a pellet gun?

This one, because it's not about race because it's never about race.

And it seems like the local cops are following the Chief Tom Jackson Protocol for selective leaking, having allowed bits and pieces of a surveillance video to drip out, creating the bones of a narrative in which Crawford was asking for it because he was a black person in the WalMart and people got scared of him.

The family of Crawford viewed the video this week that cameras captured inside the Walmart that night. The store has more than 200 security cameras on the premises of its Beavercreek store. AG Dewine says they saw the video "pertinent to the family". The entire video is part of the ongoing investigation. It has not been released to the media.

Because it's never about race. Ever.