464 Americans Have Been Killed by Police in 2015 – Here are Their Stories

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A couple of months ago, I highlighted the horrifying fact that U.S. police killed more civilians in March than UK police killed in 100 years. With May 2015 in the history book, we now have some updated stats, and the results are not pretty. 464 Americans have been killed by police so far this year, which amounts to more than three deaths every single day. If you don’t think this is a problem, I don’t know how to help you.

The Guardian put together an incredible list of all 464 people killed by date, as well as a summary of the circumstances of their deaths.

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Caught on Tape – Cop Who Shot and Killed Fleeing, Unarmed South Carolina Man Laughs About Shooting

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One of the biggest stories last week was the emergence of a video tape that showed a South Carolina cop shooting an unarmed man 8 times in the back as he fled (see: South Carolina Cop to Be Charged with Murder for Shooting Man 8 Times in the Back as He Ran Away). As he lay dead on the ground motionless, the officer went ahead and planted his taser next to the body to cover up the crime.

Now, audio tape has emerged of a conversation between the cop, Michael Slager, and a senior officer after the killing in which the officer is heard laughing about the shooting, and marveling at the incredible adrenaline rush it provided. They also discuss how to best handle the aftermath of the situation, and how nothing will really happen to him. Listen for yourself:

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South Carolina Cop to Be Charged with Murder for Shooting Man 8 Times in the Back as He Ran Away

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The officer, Michael T. Slager, 33, said he had feared for his life because the man had taken his stun gun in a scuffle after a traffic stop on Saturday. A video, however, shows the officer firing eight times as the man, Walter L. Scott, 50, fled. The North Charleston mayor announced the state charges at a news conference Tuesday evening.

The video, which was taken by a bystander and provided to The New York Times by the Scott family’s lawyer, presents a different account. The video begins in the vacant lot, apparently moments after Officer Slager fired his Taser. Wires, which carry the electrical current from the stun gun, appear to be extending from Mr. Scott’s body as the two men tussle and Mr. Scott turns to run.

Something — it is not clear whether it is the stun gun — is either tossed or knocked to the ground behind the two men, and Officer Slager draws his gun, the video shows. When the officer fires, Mr. Scott appears to be 15 to 20 feet away and fleeing. He falls after the last of eight shots.

The officer then runs back toward where the initial scuffle occurred and picks something up off the ground. Moments later, he drops an object near Mr. Scott’s body, the video shows.

– From the New York Times article: South Carolina Officer Is Charged With Murder in Black Man’s Death

The video at the end of this story is really hard to watch. Not just because we see a police officer gunning down a man as he ran away, but because he repeatedly yells at a dead body to “put his hands behind his back,” and then seemingly plants his taser by the corpse to cover up the crime.

Just like with banker theft, unless people are held accountable with serious jail time, the criminality will not only continue, it will get worse. The rule of law must be restored and applied equally to the rich and powerful, or we are truly doomed as a society.

Coincidentally, this horrific incident came to light on the same day I posted that: U.S. Police Kill More Civilians in March than UK Police Killed in 100 Years.

Now from the New York Times:

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