Read on Twitter
1/ A story for the times:
A woman is repeatedly assaulted & terrorized by a man who gets drunk and seeks her out
She finally gains the courage to call police after a particularly degrading episode which included sexual assault
Her story is believed and a felony warrant is issued
A woman is repeatedly assaulted & terrorized by a man who gets drunk and seeks her out
She finally gains the courage to call police after a particularly degrading episode which included sexual assault
Her story is believed and a felony warrant is issued
2/ Fast forward a few weeks
The assailant has not yet been arrested, but he shows up again at her domicile and enters
He prevents her from leaving and seizes her car keys
She finds the time and space to call 911 and police are dispatched3
The assailant has not yet been arrested, but he shows up again at her domicile and enters
He prevents her from leaving and seizes her car keys
She finds the time and space to call 911 and police are dispatched3
3/ Responding law enforcement are advised en-route of the history, including the felony warrant
On arrival they safeguard the victim and confront the abuser with the intent of taking him into custody on the previously indicated felony warrant
On arrival they safeguard the victim and confront the abuser with the intent of taking him into custody on the previously indicated felony warrant
4/ The system has worked
A woman who has been abused gained the courage to speak up, she has been believed, and law enforcement are responding quickly when she calls
They will apprehend her abuser
He will face justice
But ... there's a plot twist
A woman who has been abused gained the courage to speak up, she has been believed, and law enforcement are responding quickly when she calls
They will apprehend her abuser
He will face justice
But ... there's a plot twist
5/ The abuser resists and arms himself with a knife
He refuses to accept his fate, and the police are forced to escalate if they wish to make the community safer, and bring the alleged sexual abuser to justice
The police attempt less-than-lethal tactics to subdue him
He refuses to accept his fate, and the police are forced to escalate if they wish to make the community safer, and bring the alleged sexual abuser to justice
The police attempt less-than-lethal tactics to subdue him
6/ The low level tactics fail
Physical capture and tasers are overcome/eluded by the alleged sexual abuser, with a recent and active warrant for felony sexual assault
He retains the knife
He attempts to flee
In the interest of public safety, law enforcement pursues him
Physical capture and tasers are overcome/eluded by the alleged sexual abuser, with a recent and active warrant for felony sexual assault
He retains the knife
He attempts to flee
In the interest of public safety, law enforcement pursues him
7/ Plot twist 2
At this point, neighbors have taken notice
The confrontation with police is caught, partially, on camera by neighbors who don't know the full story
As the alleged sexual abuser attempts to enter a car to flee, law enforcement perceives an immediate threat
At this point, neighbors have taken notice
The confrontation with police is caught, partially, on camera by neighbors who don't know the full story
As the alleged sexual abuser attempts to enter a car to flee, law enforcement perceives an immediate threat
8/ Reacting to this threat, a threat obscured from neighbor's camera view by the vehicle door, the nearest officer discharges his weapon, striking the alleged sexual abuser multiple times
Law enforcement officers call for EMS and immediately begin aid to the suspect
Law enforcement officers call for EMS and immediately begin aid to the suspect
9/ Aid and EMS are successful, the injured suspect is transported quickly to a local emergency center, and his life is spared
The suspect is restrained and guarded at the hospital, and will still face justice for his alleged sexual assault
The suspect is restrained and guarded at the hospital, and will still face justice for his alleged sexual assault
10/ Plot Twist 3
While public safety personnel are rendering aid and saving the alleged sexual abuser's life, the neighbor has posted the video which captured only part of the incident to the internet
A narrative is published contrary to some of the core facts
Unarmed
Innocent
While public safety personnel are rendering aid and saving the alleged sexual abuser's life, the neighbor has posted the video which captured only part of the incident to the internet
A narrative is published contrary to some of the core facts
Unarmed
Innocent
11/ Before actual facts can be made public, the narrative takes hold
People are outraged by the video which captured only part of the incident and none of the predicate
Protests immediately begin
Protests turn violent
A city burns
People are outraged by the video which captured only part of the incident and none of the predicate
Protests immediately begin
Protests turn violent
A city burns
12/ Fast forward a few days
The city remains in turmoil
The suspect remains alive and is allowed to post bond for his sexual assault warrant
The victim has been forgotten by the press
The alleged abuser has been cast as the new victim
The city remains in turmoil
The suspect remains alive and is allowed to post bond for his sexual assault warrant
The victim has been forgotten by the press
The alleged abuser has been cast as the new victim
13/ There is significant doubt that the brave woman, who courageously spoke up after years of abuse, will be heard
Justice for this woman is put on hold
Those who publicly proclaim #BelieveAllWomen have sided with her violent abuser, against the police who tried to protect her
Justice for this woman is put on hold
Those who publicly proclaim #BelieveAllWomen have sided with her violent abuser, against the police who tried to protect her
14/
How are women who speak up, call the authorities, file complaints, seek their day in court, seek justice... how are they to trust the system when the political and media establishment protect violent abusers who violently resist capture?
She must not be forgotten
How are women who speak up, call the authorities, file complaints, seek their day in court, seek justice... how are they to trust the system when the political and media establishment protect violent abusers who violently resist capture?
She must not be forgotten
15/
When perceived injustice, told through half-stories and half-truths, creates real injustice ... we must reanalyze societal perspective
Protecting the most vulnerable among us: women, children, & the elderly must be society's focus
We can do better
We must
When perceived injustice, told through half-stories and half-truths, creates real injustice ... we must reanalyze societal perspective
Protecting the most vulnerable among us: women, children, & the elderly must be society's focus
We can do better
We must
