Two Tales of One City
My two most recent columns for PJ Media concern incidents in which people arrested by LAPD officers alleged that excessive force was used against them, one of them far more credibly than the other. In the first case, discussed here, Ronald Weekley Jr., age 20, was stopped by officers in Venice (not far from our own Rob Long’s house) for having committed some sort of traffic violation on his skateboard. He ran away, the officers chased him, and some manner of rough stuff ensued. Weekley claimed several injuries, none of which was apparent in the many media appearances he made after his release from jail.
In the second case, discussed here, Michelle Jordan, age 34, was stopped in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley for talking on a cell phone while driving. There was some sort of contretemps between her and the officers, resulting in her being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. For reasons still unknown, one of the officers slammed her to the ground a second time, resulting in what appeared to be painful scrapes and bruises to her face, shoulders, and chest.
Both incidents were captured on video, though in the Weekley arrest the video begins well after his contact with the officers began. Both incidents received some news coverage here in Los Angeles, though Weekley’s arrest got far more. And while Mr. Weekley, who is black, has received the full-throated support of the local grievance industry, the members of which announced with all the sincerity they could muster that their reaction was not “about race,” they have had nothing at all to say about the white Ms. Jordan’s arrest despite her clearly more credible claim of having suffered at the hands of the police.
Yes, dear readers of the Ricochetti, when they say it’s not about race, you can rest assured that it is.
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Comments:
Aug '10
Re: Two Tales of One City
Your racism saddens me. Clearly Mr. Weekely was defending himself against the oppressive system whereas Ms. Jordan was reacting out of racist outrage that she was not being given the full benefit of her white privilege. Even if she didn't break a law, she's still a symbol of our racist system and deserves whatever violence comes to her.
Mr. Dunphy, if I didn't know any better, I'd suspect you've not been to a single 101-level college class. Please stop embarrassing yourself with these displays of sociological ignorance.
Oct '11
Re: Two Tales of One City
You Sir need to learn to be a Marxist, of the Groucho style : Are you going to believe in what your eyes see or what the Grievance mongers tell.
Jun '12
Re: Two Tales of One City
This brings to mind my one contretemps with LA's finest, some 25 years ago. I (a then 27 yo white male) managed to drive through a narcotics unit stakeout while looking for an address in Sun Valley. I was followed out onto Sunland Bl. where I was flashed by the 8 man unit, pulled from my Dodge 024, cuffed, and kneed face first into the street. I'm sure it didn't help that upon seeing my car and person attacked, I pulled back in panic, not entirely trusting the flashing lights & badge. I was sore for days. When it became clear I was clean & innocent, I was given an explanation of sorts, but no real apology. Me and the Narcos were probably the only white guys in that section of town that evening. A couple of years later, Rodney King was pulled over not far from my incident, so I've always felt a little spiritual kinship with Rodney.