The Unarmed Michael Brown
March 6, 2015
ALAN writes:
With regard to the Big Lie that being “unarmed” makes a giant black man a dear, sweet, gentle, agreeable fellow, consider the following:
Ernest Blackwell, 29, wanted to become a professional football player. He was black, 6’3”, 235 pounds. Early one evening in August 2004, he embarked on a rampage that would cost him his life, a rampage wholly unprovoked by anything or anyone. This took place in North St. Louis County, a few miles east of Ferguson.
First he shot his 9-year-old stepdaughter in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun. Leaving the gun behind, he then ran out of the house and charged a group of children playing, several houses away. He caught a 14-year-old girl and beat her in the face with his fists while yelling “Touchdown!” with each blow. He chased her stepmother into the house. After breaking down the dead-bolted door, he attacked her and beat her in the face.
Children outside flagged down a police officer, who ran into the home. Before he could say a word, Blackwell attacked him, causing a dislocated shoulder. He tried to pull the officer’s pistol from its holster as the officer radioed for help. Blackwell then tried to choke the officer. When a second officer arrived, both tried to defend themselves with batons and fists. No effect on Blackwell.
In all, nearly a dozen police officers tried to subdue him “using electric Taser guns, with no effect.” One officer said Blackwell laughed at their inability to control him. Finally, one officer tripped him and several others held him down while paramedics injected two shots of a sedative. Before an ambulance arrived, he died. Autopsy showed marijuana in his blood. He was not injured, but he injured four police officers. Later, three officers received awards commending their performance.
Said a neighbor who witnessed it all: “I can’t believe the officers didn’t shoot him. This guy was out of control and would not comply with any of their orders.”
[ Heather Ratcliffe, “Autopsy sheds little light on football player’s rampage”, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Feb. 10, 2004. See also here.]
The point to remember: He was unarmed.
