Some people seem to frame the shooting as justifiable to prevent the potential danger the kids reckless driving would pose to others. While I personally think this was a completely undefensible escalation of violence on the police’s end, I think there can be some reasonable discussion on what the appropriate level of force to stop the kid from speeding off would be. Sure, why not. Would I argue a person who is speeding away from the cops while shot is likelier to cause an accident involving others than one who isn’t shot? Also yes.
But having a crowdfunder for the individual that did the shooting, in practice rewarding someone for executing a kid for speeding without a license? What the actual fuck?
Like the article says, the crowdfunder is for the family of the officer (as the officer is likely going to jail). French authorities would have immediately stopped a crowdfunder going directly to the officer, as that would be illegal per French law.
This is s tragedy all-in-all but what I would like to know: Nahel M. was 17, therefore driving illegally (no license), why was he doing this? Why didn’t he stop at the checkpoint? Why try to drive away? Was it a stolen car (it had Polish plates)?
Sadly, had Nahel M. stopped and done what the police say, I believe Nahel M. would still be alive. They would have certainly arrested and charged him (reckless driving, no license, possibly stolen car, and so on). Perhaps Nahel M. was afraid of being arrested like this, possibly a justified fear based on his experiences in the banlieue.
However, his attempt to drive away suggests he was aware of his actions being illegal and he wanted to avoid the consequences. Why would one do something illegal in the first place, if one wants to avoid consequences with the police?
I appreciate that you provide more info on what caused the death, but that’s not really what this post is about. If the officer did his job correctly, there’s no reason to crowdfund for him or his family. He did his job and he gets paid for it. If he used excessive force and goes to jail - why hand his family more money? As a reward for playing US sheriff? That crowfund seems just cynical, putting more hurt on the family of the deceased.
Yes, I agree, there is certainly the “screw you”-angle in the crowdfunder! Just look at who created it.
Regardless, there is another angle, perhaps unintentionally, and I think it is more important in the big picture:
The officer will likely never work as a policeman again, regardless if he goes to jail or not.
He likely ends up unemployed, and will probably have a hard time finding work for the rest of his life because of the reputation he has obtained.
If the consequences for a police officer following their training – crime happens, suspect does not comply to verbal commands, suspect needs to be stopped per training, in this case firearms were allowed – is that the officer’s life will be destroyed and also their family will suffer tremendously and ends up losing whole or half their income, what do you think happens next time when police has to uphold the law?
The police will choose to look the other way and let whatever is happening take place. This is very bad for society as a whole in the long term.
It’s not a reward for the perpetrator, it’s a preemptive Defense fund in case an example shall be made from him.
I think the danger of becoming a political scapegoat is very real, and when the government wants your head you need every bit of resources you can get.
I doubt that’s the primary reason people donate. I think it’s more of a way to show disagreement with the protests in general. I’m not donating btw, just saying.
I know people who donated (or tried to, seeing the crowdraiser was cancelled yesterday). They did it because they believe the cop did the right thing, and because it was launched by Jean Messiha, a far right pundit.
99% of the french population is against these moronic riots, but most wouldn’t give a dime to those assholes.
There are no good sides here. Kid absolutely should not have been driving recklessly and should have stopped for police. But the video doesn’t lie. He basically got executed by that cop.
Being on the “good side” should not be a prerequierment to the right to life.
Absolutely.
My comment lacks context. I was musing about how people always choose to take a side where one party is “good” and the other “bad”. You’re with us or against us mentality.
I have zero sympathy for reckless drivers, they’re a ticking timebomb. But this is murder by police and in no possible way justifiable.
