"Hands Up, Don't Shoot" and Other Lies

As images of smoldering police cars and rock-throwing punks in Baltimore went viral, many Americans were reminded of the race riots that metastasized across the country during the Civil Rights era. Those were dark days for the nation, marked by toxic rhetoric and overzealous police.

Since that era, the United States has enjoyed a period of relative racial calm.  There have been occasional incidents, but cities have not erupted in violence.  That now appears to be changing as race relations have deteriorated after a handful of high-profile police shootings.

In the wake of these episodes, the media, race-baiters such as Al Sharpton, the Justice Department and President Obama have helped fan the flames of discord instead of calling for peace, justice and patience.  They all share in the blame for the angry outbursts that have scarred American cities.

The most notorious case was the shooting of African-American Michael Brown by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August of last year.  Immediately, the media and those with racial agendas declared the officer guilty of murder, although the facts remained in dispute.

In the aftermath, a media portrayed Brown as a "gentle" giant who raised his hands and pleaded with the officer, "I don't have a gun." Protestors took to the streets of Ferguson chanting, "Hands Up. Don't Shoot."  That slogan became a rallying cry for those with axes to grind against police.

The president, Attorney General Holder and Al Sharpton all weighed in on the incident even before all the facts were known.  Their words often were critical of police and demanded justice for the victim. This fueled more anger and protests, which eventually spiraled out of control in Ferguson.

When a grand jury refused to indict the white police officer Darren Wilson, the media was incredulous. Indignation turned to hatred and unruly crowds burned and looted the city.  Their hopes of a conviction had been raised by those who spread the falsehood about "Hands up. Don't Shoot."

Turns out eyewitnesses who started the "Hands Up. Don't Shoot" narrative were thoroughly discredited by police.  In fact, on March 4 of this year, even Holder's Department of Justice issued a report saying there was no credible evidence of those words ever being uttered by Michael Brown.

Yet today there are still those who use the slogan to tar police as killers of black suspects.  Just like there are race hustlers whose con includes the claim police shooting victims are mainly black.  That is patently untrue.

According to a nationwide study by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics, the research showed that 44 percent of police homicide victims are white, 32 percent black and 20 percent Hispanic.  In a three-year period, there were 2,002 police homicides out of almost 40 million arrests.  

Ferguson should have been a lesson for those responsible for stirring up passions before the facts are vetted.  But politically-motivated partisans could not resist beating the drums of animosity in the death of African-American Freddie Gray at the hands of Baltimore police.

While the investigation into Gray's death was underway, the mob mentality ruled in the streets of Baltimore.  Guilt was presumed and thugs went on a rampage in Baltimore, hurling rocks at police, breaking windows, setting cars on fire and storming the streets. Neighborhoods were destroyed.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake exacerbated the incendiary circumstances by ordering police to stand down and allow the unruly mob to run amok.  Although she tried to walk back her statement, police sources confirmed her orders were to give space to those who "wished to destroy."

Instead of taking its time to conduct a thorough investigation, State Attorney Marylyn Mosby announced criminal charges against six cops in rapid fashion, claiming they were responsible for Gray's fatal spine injury while in police custody.

After the charges were announced, renowned civil rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz was critical of the due process exercised by the state attorney.  "Today had nothing to do with justice.  Today was crowd control.  Everything was motivated by a threat of riots and a desire to prevent riots," he said.

Dershowitz also lambasted Baltimore's mayor.  "The mayor outrageously said we're going to get justice for the victim, the family and people of Baltimore, never mentioning the defendants.  Under our Constitution, the only people who are entitled to justice are the defendants."

The famed lawyer is right.  Of course, that matters not one wit to the president, his Justice Department, the Al Sharpton's of the world or a media invested in promoting racial divisions.  They have shown no interest in the Constitution or justice.  They want the police punished, regardless of the facts.

It is time to hold the media and others accountable. Instead of pointing fingers and leaping to conclusions, the so-called leaders should be out front pleading for calm and reason.  It would also help matters if everyone told the truth for a change.