Killed because they called for help

[MrScorpio]

Killed because they called for help

The family of Walwyn "Smiley" Jackson describes to Lucy Herschel the horror of watching as police killed the young man they were supposed to help.

September 24, 2012

ANOTHER YOUNG Black man was gunned down by New York City police in early September--one in a long list of people killed by those who were supposed to "protect and serve" them.

On September 7, 26-year-old Walwyn "Smiley" Jackson was shot by police in Queens. His family had called 911 when they found him holding a kitchen knife to his own throat. Jackson was distraught at being unemployed and unable to provide for his 2-week-old son, Landon.

As Jackson's grandmother, Gloria Cameron, said in an interview:

We called 911 because we wanted an ambulance to come to take him to the hospital. He was no threat or harm to anyone but himself. When [the police] came to the door, I didn't want to let them in. They told us to get out of the way and stay downstairs. One of them went for their gun as they went upstairs. I tried to tell them he's sick. I started to cry and then I heard the shot. He never even made a sound.

What little coverage there is in the mainstream media described Jackson simply as an "emotionally disturbed man," wielding a seven-inch knife. "That's what bothers me the most," said another family member. "He wasn't 'emotionally disturbed,' he was just depressed."

http://socialistworker.org/2012/09/24/killed-because-they-called-911

[LisaL]

1. I don't believe paramedics are equipped to take someone in the hospital who is holding a knife.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. But cops are sure equipped to kill them.

[rhett o rick]

4. I agree, but what's your point? Are you attempting to justify murder? nm

[graham4anything]

3. that's a cop for you. It's as simple as black and white

they could have tranquilized him or taser'd him.
Not perfect solutions, but why unjust punishment

What were the cops in a rush to eat the last sugar donuts at a Duncan donuts?

that is 100% the fault of the lead cop (the police commissioner ) who sets the training standards.

shoot to kill then say oops if somehow it comes out in the media while attempting to stonewall by the blue wall of silence notorious in NYC

watch, the cop lovers on DU, the gun lovers on DU will come and say the victim got what he deserved for wasting their time.

when will this end?

[rhett o rick]

6. They are usually rewarded with time off with pay. nm

[tblue]

5. The war on young black men has GOT TO STOP!!!

My gosh! ENOUGH!

[Brigid]

7. Are we to understand that the NYPD has no protocols in place for situations like this?

Not too long ago, I saw the fake cops on "Law & Order" handle a similar situation better than this. At least Det. Green didn't shoot the poor guy. Good Lord.

[Mimosa]

8. I remember an America which had mental health clinics

Back in the 1950s and 1960s states had plenty of mental health clinics.