Charles Blow: At Yale, the Police Detained My Son

[RavenSky]

This is the scenario I have always dreaded: my son at the wrong end of a gun barrel, face down on the concrete. I had always dreaded the moment that we would share stories about encounters with the police in which our lives hung in the balance, intergenerational stories of joining the inglorious “club.”

When that moment came, I was exceedingly happy I had talked to him about how to conduct himself if a situation like this ever occurred. Yet I was brewing with sadness and anger that he had to use that advice.

I am reminded of what I have always known, but what some would choose to deny: that there is no way to work your way out — earn your way out — of this sort of crisis. In these moments, what you’ve done matters less than how you look.

There is no amount of respectability that can bend a gun’s barrel. All of our boys are bound together.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/opinion/charles-blow-at-yale-the-police-detained-my-son.html?_r=0

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Another Black Thug Taken Down

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/...ped-at-gunpoint-by-cops-outside-yale-library/

“So, my son, a 3rd year (biology) major at Yale was just accosted – at GUN POINT – by a Yale policeman bc he “fit the description” of a suspect…” Blow tweeted.


“He was let go when they realized he was a college student and not a criminal (he was leaving the library!) He’s shaken, but I’m fuming!” he added.

You can really blame the cop, because he fit the description of a burglar that was on campus a week before. "Black male". Very dangerous situation.
I'm pretty sure they got their man, but were force to let him go. He probably was suspended in high school and had Sprite on him. You know, the ingredient for Purple Drank.

 

[Derec]

You can really blame the cop, because he fit the description of a burglar that was on campus a week before.

Where does it say it was a week before?

And as long as blacks commit a disproportionate share of crimes a disproportionate share of blacks will genuinely "fit the description". Instead of blaming the police, perhaps Charles Blow should blame the black crime rates.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

You can really blame the cop, because he fit the description of a burglar that was on campus a week before.

Where does it say it was a week before?

Actually a different article, but the fact that there were no specific crimes committed doesn't make it better. It just means that he was held at gunpoint for being Black. Apparently which is just fine for you.

Perhaps these people should not be born Black or change their race? Because as we know, we are responsible for other people's actions when they happen to look like us.

 

[Derec]

Actually a different article,

Then perhaps you should link to it.
This article suggests that Blow Jr.'s encounter with the police and subsequent arrest of the suspect happened the same day as one of the burglaries:

Then, on Saturday afternoon, another pair of students in Trumbull encountered an intruder in their suite. Although the Yale Police Department reported that they had arrested a suspect in connection with the Saturday afternoon intruder in the Trumbull College suite, they initially targeted the wrong individual. Later that day, Tahj Blow ’16, son of New York Times columnist Charles Blow, was confronted at gunpoint by a YPD officer because he allegedly matched the description of the suspect, according to Charles Blow’s Twitter page. Tahj Blow declined to comment, and Charles Blow could not be reached for comment.

but the fact that there were no specific crimes committed doesn't make it better.

But there were specific crimes committed (a string of burglaries) and a suspect was later arrested.

It just means that he was held at gunpoint for being Black. Apparently which is just fine for you.

No, that would not have been fine with me. But I see no evidence that he was held at gunpoint just for being black rather that genuinely fitting a description of a suspect.

 

[laughing dog]

Mr. Blow should profusely praise the police officer for his restrain in not shooting his son instead of complaining about the stop.

 

[Toni]

You can really blame the cop, because he fit the description of a burglar that was on campus a week before.

Where does it say it was a week before?

And as long as blacks commit a disproportionate share of crimes a disproportionate share of blacks will genuinely "fit the description". Instead of blaming the police, perhaps Charles Blow should blame the black crime rates.

I hate to burst that big black bubble of yours, but crime is much more closely correlated to socioeconomic status than to race.

 

[Trausti]

The Yale Police Department’s response to a crime in progress on Saturday evening has generated substantial and critical conversations on campus and beyond. A Yale police officer detained an African American Yale College student who was in the vicinity of a reported crime, and who closely matched the physical description – including items of clothing – of the suspect. The actual suspect was found and arrested a short distance away.

The officer, who himself is African American, was responding to a specific description relayed by individuals who had reported a crime in progress.

https://messages.yale.edu/messages/University/univmsgs/detail/116871

 

[dystopian]

Where does it say it was a week before?

And as long as blacks commit a disproportionate share of crimes a disproportionate share of blacks will genuinely "fit the description". Instead of blaming the police, perhaps Charles Blow should blame the black crime rates.

I hate to burst that big black bubble of yours, but crime is much more closely correlated to socioeconomic status than to race.

B-but! Black people all look the same whether they're poor or rich, and poor white people don't even look the same to *other* poor white people much less the well off ones! You can't seriously be expecting the cops to acknowledge that "black, male" isn't a useful description to pursue! Think of how much more difficult their job would be if they can't just randomly stop people who aren't white!

 

[Mageth]

You can really blame the cop, because he fit the description of a burglar that was on campus a week before.

Where does it say it was a week before?

And as long as blacks commit a disproportionate share of crimes a disproportionate share of blacks will genuinely "fit the description". Instead of blaming the police, perhaps Charles Blow should blame the black crime rates.

Of course..."My son's black, so he deserved it." Also, "all blacks look alike." Good thinking there, Derek. No racism there, no sir, not a bit.

 

[Derec]

I hate to burst that big black bubble of yours, but crime is much more closely correlated to socioeconomic status than to race.

Nevertheless, the black crime rate is higher than white crime rate, and as long as that is the case police will be looking for disproportionately many black suspects.

 

[Mageth]

I hate to burst that big black bubble of yours, but crime is much more closely correlated to socioeconomic status than to race.

Nevertheless, the black crime rate is higher than white crime rate, and as long as that is the case police will be looking for disproportionately many black suspects.

And they all look alike, so one is as good as another.

 

[Derec]

Of course..."My son's black, so he deserved it."

Did I say that?

Also, "all blacks look alike."

Did I say that?

- - - Updated - - -

Nevertheless, the black crime rate is higher than white crime rate, and as long as that is the case police will be looking for disproportionately many black suspects.

And they all look alike, so one is as good as another.

 

[Mageth]

Yes and yes, Derek.

You need to put a white sheet and hood over that strawman.

 

[Mageth]

I'm sure that, at Yale, when a white person commits a crime, a few white students are accosted at gunpoint by the Campus Police. Yeah, I bet that happens a lot.

 

[Trausti]

I'm sure that, at Yale, when a white person commits a crime, a few white students are accosted at gunpoint by the Campus Police. Yeah, I bet that happens a lot.

You're aware he matched the clothing description, too?

 

[Sarpedon]

And what was the clothing description?

Was it blue jeans, hoodie and a backpack?

 

[Trausti]

And what was the clothing description?

I don't know. Ask the President of Yale: https://messages.yale.edu/messages/University/univmsgs/detail/116871

 

[Sarpedon]

Its just that anyone who's ever been to college, will know that most college students dress alike. I gave an example of a common mode of dress on a college campus.

I'm not likely to be awed by someone's vaunted position. That whole letter reeks of guilt and excuses.

 

[Shadowy Man]

And as long as blacks commit a disproportionate share of crimes a disproportionate share of blacks will genuinely "fit the description". Instead of blaming the police, perhaps Charles Blow should blame the black crime rates.

Clearly, black people have no right to complain about being accosted by the police until they all get together and end black crime. Then they might get a reprieve. Apparently, it is every black person's responsibility to stop all other black people from doing bad things or they'll never get taken seriously as not being a bad person.

You know, exactly the way we argue about gun owners when one gun owner goes on a killing rampage. We hold all other gun owners responsible and say they are deserving of all the criticism until they are able to stop all the crazy gun owners from killing people. Or the way we hold all police responsible for the actions of the few bad ones.

Kind of like that, right?