Same issue, different city

When 18-year old Michael Brown (a black man) was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO more than a year ago, it caused significant unrest in that town. It was made worse when an eyewitness claimed that Brown threw his hands up and cried "don't shoot!"As a result, an already tense situation escalated into looting and violence within the city. After a long, thorough investigation, Wilson was not indicted by a grand jury due to a) overwhelming forensic evidence clearing him of wrongdoing and b) the whole "hands up, don't shoot!!" being a flat out fabrication. Regardless, riots and looting again ensued when the grand jury ruled "no bill."

Sadly, a similar situation is playing out in the Twin Cities.

A man suspected of assault was shot on a north Minneapolis street by a police officer early Sunday while allegedly hindering emergency responders from aiding his victim.

The shooting ignited a chaotic scene of shouting and taunting bystanders who believed the man was handcuffed before police opened fire.

Police Chief Janeé Harteau said Sunday afternoon that her department’s preliminary information is that the man was not handcuffed when police shot him.

An damning eyewitness account conflicting with that of law enforcement's information. Can you see where this is going?

Police did not identify the man, but Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, said in a statement that he was Jamar Clark, a black man in his mid-20s, and that he had been “shot and killed” by police.

The debate on the public stage is showing no signs of easing. The Minneapolis chapter of Black Lives Matter has scheduled a news conference for 9 a.m. Monday outside the Police Department precinct headquarters on the North Side. The chapter is calling for the release of any video police might have of the shooting as well as disclosure of the names of the officers involved.

Ah yes, the obligatory unreasonable demands. Whenever there is an officer involved shooting, that officer is placed on paid administrative leave until an investigation is completed. And the officer is never named unless he/she is found to have been in violation of the law and thus becomes subject to a trial.

As is custom with the local chapter of BLM when their unreasonable (and at times outrageous) demands are not met, they descend into disrupting the lives of others.

Hundreds of protesters have shut down northbound Interstate 94 in Minneapolis between 7th St. and Broadway Ave.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reports protesters are on the freeway, attempting to block traffic. The shutdown first started around 7 p.m. Several area metro police departments are on scene attempting to control the situation. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, protesters were given four warnings to disperse or be subject to arrest. Shortly before 9 p.m., authorities began arresting protesters.

If the police officer who shot Clark gets off with any punishment short of being drawn and quartered, expect more incidents like this in the aftermath. Nobody will come out of this in a positive light. Nobody.

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