Who wants another reason to be angry?

[Alecto]

http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A51706

The victim of a police beating caught on tape that eventually led to the firing of two officers has been found murdered. No suspects in custody. And, oh yeah, local news describes it as an execution style shooting (http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=9321704&nav=4XzR). Far be it for me to specifically make accusations, because I certainly wasn't there, but the police should be doing everything humanly possible to be sure it wasn't one (or three, as witnesses reported) of their own.

[Unmasked]

It's definitely suspicious, and I don't trust the police at all. However, we already have motive and probable cause. I think I'm justified in my belief that those policemen murdered her in cold blood.

[Steven E. Webster]

It's definitely suspicious, and I don't trust the police at all. However, we already have motive and probable cause. I think I'm justified in my belief that those policemen murdered her in cold blood.

This murder is truly awful. It certainly looks bad for the police department, however transgender persons in our society are exposed to alot of violence from all sides. I wouldn't be hanging any cops before a case is proven in court.

Did I hear the Feds were already involved in the earlier investigation of the police beating? Seems like that might get them involved in following up this murder---if the local police are under suspicion, the investigation should be taken out of their hands.

Steven Webster

[Alecto]

My biggest point is that, at very least, it looks bad, and if the police have nothing to hide they should do everything possible to open their department to investigation. I don't know how to follow that kind of thing, but I don't know that that's happening.

[Jennifer5]

This is aweful!

Unfortunately it's not the first story like this I've heard though. Being in a good area, we've even had our share of problems with the police. Luckily the ones in our town seem to be good, but surrounding towns - not so much. My brother has been harassed many times just because of the long hair (when he had it). Also my uncle was a state Human Rights Commissioner for several years and he took us to one of the public complaint things with him... it was horrifying to hear the kind of stories peole had to tell about the ways they were being harassed by the police.

Sadly, after several years some homophobe got my uncle booted from the position - even though he absolutely the perfect one for the job.

[BenL]

It is because of violence like this that Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed every year on or around November 20th.

Here is the list of the other victims (http://www.transgenderdor.org/?page_id=58) so far in 2008. It is apalling to think that in this day and age we still see such violence directed against people simply because of their gender identity or expression.

[Rick336]

My biggest point is that, at very least, it looks bad, and if the police have nothing to hide they should do everything possible to open their department to investigation. I don't know how to follow that kind of thing, but I don't know that that's happening.

Don't count on any internal affairs investigation being fair. I was involved in a case of police brutality with the Minneapolis cops in 1982 and the internal affairs unit didn't do crap. Even worse, the cops lied in court.

My experience with cops is that many hate gay people. So I'm sure they are capable of murdering a transgendered person.

Rick

[Unmasked]

I don't like the police. There are individual officers that are good, but the institution only looks out for itself. The state can lie when it helps their case.