Mills, Love:
Creating a groundswell of democracy
During a tumultuous time in San Diego some years ago, a white police officer had an encounter with a black man who appeared to be wearing only an army jacket. There had been some radio calls regarding indecent exposure in the area, and it was believed that this subject might be a flasher. Within seconds of the initial contact, things went south and a fight broke out that quickly resembled a professional wrestling cage match. The cavalry soon arrived, to the officer’s relief and the subject’s submission. On the way to jail, the man began to cry, apologizing profusely in between sobs of regret and explaining, “I thought you were going to hurt me because of Saigon Penn. (In a case that bitterly divided the city, Penn had been acquitted for the brutal murder of a police officer, the wounding of another and shooting of a civilian ride-along. The defense alleged mistreatment of minorities by white officers, creating the perception that the suspect’s violence was justified.) ...
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