Memphis......

[gimmethesimplelife]

OK for once I'm not going to bash the police on and on and on. Later today video footage will be released and we all know what the 5 officers are being accused of.

This time I'd just like to say I see hope here. Tennessee is a red state in the South and yet the DA and prosecutors are taking this case seriously and the involved officers were swiftly fired and I believe charged. The family involved is said to be satisfied with the charges even though murder in the first degree was not one of the charges.

I will not.be protesting - should protests come to Phoenix. I just don't have time. Part of me feels guilty about this - and part of me realizes that I'm lucky, very lucky to be in the job I'm in; especially at my age. I have the chance here to sock away much more money for the future - this has become very important to me. SO has had a hard time finding work and my income is needed - - protesting will not pay the bills nor put food on the table.

But regardless, I find hope in that in the deep South even - accountability seems to have arrived. Thankfully. Rob

[littlebittybobby]

Okay---Black Lives Matter. Yup.5149

[Yppej]

The north can be more racist than the deep south. I see racism in my own city all the time.

[Teacher Terry]

I was surprised that all the officers were black but as one of my sons said unfortunately the police force has always attracted psychopathic bullies. Now with all the cell phones it can’t be hidden., I am sure that good cops outnumber bad but the culture keeps the decent ones silent. I am happy that they are charging them but it won’t bring back the young kid that they killed.

[iris lilies]

This is a very sad event. I almost used the work “dark” but that would be racist. sigh.

But it is serious, sombre, and deeply concerning.

[gimmethesimplelife]

This is a very sad event. I almost used the work “dark” but that would be racist. sigh.

But it is serious, sombre, and deeply concerning.Stay safe, IL, ok? I remember you had posted awhile back that you were still in St. Louis? That's a city I worry about things getting crazy based on whatever the soon to be released video reveals. Stay safe. Rob

[Tradd]

I heard a comment from Al Sharpton that made me laugh. It was pretty much “we worked hard to get black officers on the Memphis PD and they did THIS?”

How dare black cops beat up other blacks. Sort of wrecks the usual narrative for this one.

Glad the cops were fired and charged so quick.

[iris lilies]

Stay safe, IL, ok? I remember you had posted awhile back that you were still in St. Louis? That's a city I worry about things getting crazy based on whatever the soon to be released video reveals. Stay safe. Rob
Sure but I am not concerned about my own safety.

I wouldn’t want any friend or relative of mine to be on the police force in a large city due to reprisals.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I heard a comment from Al Sharpton that made me laugh. It was pretty much “we worked hard to get black officers on the Memphis PD and they did THIS?”

How dare black cops beat up other blacks. Sort of wrecks the usual narrative for this one.

Glad the cops were fired and charged so quick.Yes, I agree. The five cops were fired and charged very quickly - this is indeed progress. Rob

[dado potato]

I have stayed a few days in Memphis as a tourist. DW and I loved Beale Street. The driver of a horse-drawn carriage was extremely considerate and accommodating towards us, at a time when DW could barely walk due to knee problems.

My impression of Memphis is that the people there are good and hospitable.

It is extremely disturbing to learn about the "scorpion" police unit. I hope justice will be done.

[frugal-one]

We were on Beale St a few years ago and hassled in broad daylight. Everything turned out ok but it sure was frightening. It truly is a dicey area.

[catherine]

DD and I spent a night or two in Memphis on a half-cross country road trip (from Houston to New Jersey) and enjoyed Beale Street, but that was over a decade ago.

[Yppej]

I was there maybe 20 years ago and went to Mud Island and the National Civil Rights Museum, where there was a protestor. It was a rooming house type hotel for the poor who were displaced when it was turned into a museum. So right there was some conflict between different black social classes in the city. I don't know if class was a factor in the murder now.

[Rogar]

I spent a couple of weeks in Memphis for work maybe 20 years ago, but never made it to any tourist attractions. I was treated to generous southern hospitality and some very nice people, but the race issues were pretty obvious compared to my home town point of reference.

[LDAHL]

Been there a few times. I mostly remember the bourbon, blues and barbecue.