police brutality

In a two week period in early September, 7 people were killed by police in Washington. Two of those stories especially stand out.

On August 30th, a Seattle cop unleashed 4 shots aimed at John T. Williams. Williams was an indigenous an indigenous totem carver who sold his work at Pike Place Market. He was holding his 3 inch knife and a piece of wood when he was killed. Contrary to the officer’s statement that Williams was lunging at him, witnesses have come forward saying that the victim was not acting aggressive or advancing toward the officer at all.

It was disappointing to see the Counterpoint Journal publish “Police Department Breaks Up Protest Against Police Brutality” as the article covering the 8 April 2010 march. Since its inception in 2009, the paper has set itself apart by attempting to provide the fullest understanding of conditions, events, and decisions at the Evergreen State College, in the city of Olympia, and for the world. Such a wonderful paper was and is a direct challenge—as its name implies—to the trashy, shallow, poorly edited Cooper Point Journal (CPJ). In that regard, the CxPJ has been a success.

It would appear that the irony of this situation was lost, as a protest in downtown Olympia against police
brutality ended in police violence.