Uppity-Negro.com

This story is so last month, but if Mercury News finds it noteworthy -- and they seem to be the only ones who do -- who am I to say different?

Teen in videotaped police beating says he did not provoke officers

A black teen-ager who was punched and slammed onto a police car by a white police officer during a videotaped arrest told grand jurors he did not provoke the confrontation, according to court papers.

Donovan Jackson, 16, testified earlier this month that he was beaten and choked by officers until he lost consciousness. His statements are in a 450-page transcript of grand jury proceedings unsealed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge David Wesley.

[. . .] Morse, 24, has pleaded innocent to assault, saying he punched Jackson after the teen-ager grabbed his testicles. Morse's partner, Officer Bijan Darvish, 25, pleaded innocent to filing a false police report. Both were placed on leave and face up to three years in prison if convicted.

The transcripts show that two sheriff's deputies who made the initial traffic stop were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony.

More, as they say, in the link.

I like how the more responsibility you have in the public or private sector, the more likely you are to be granted immunity when it looks like you broke the law, or failed to intervene while someone else did so on your watch. This must be that personal responsibility thing the conservatives are always lecturing about.

Rogue cop? Immunity. Selling arms to Iran? Immunity. Insider trading and massive fraud? Immunity. Jaywalking?

Yes, many of us who live in New York City did think Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was joking when he said he was cracking down on jaywalking. It was something Humphrey Bogart as a private eye might have said sarcastically to a homicide lieutenant whose guff he did not intend to take ("That's real good, flatfoot, but isn't it about time for you to go out and arrest another nun for jaywalking?"). But then a law student crossing Sixth Avenue got a $50 jaywalking ticket. What we had forgotten was that Mayor Giuliani is never joking.

Well, see, if you crack down on minor little things, overall crime goes down.

Major stuff need not concern you, citizen. Well, except for the televised hearings, when the senators and congressmen get to grandstand for the folks back home.

I'm figuring the cops don't do day one of jail time. Anyone want to bet against me?