#adreyncash

Check out my latest single: "How You Feel"... https://soundcloud.com/adreyncash/how-you-feel

I really want to take this time to analyse this situation. I've seen countless opinions justifying the murder of yet another black teen; however, this one was supposedly armed. Firstly, I want to address the fact that the Police establishment are an extension of the legal system. Their Job is to enforce laws and practises laid out by the Judiciary, in my opinion; they should not have to power to make life or death decisions without warrant. Now, I understand that the media tells us that Antonio Martin had pointed a gun at the officer; and provided some very questionable surveillance footage that supports this idea (a point I will get into later) for some this alone justifies the reaction of the police officer. Yes, if you point a gun at a police officer I believe that an officer should use reasonable force in attempt to save his life. Reasonable however, is the word that I think should be addressed, understood and clearly defined. So let’s analyse this situation, following the narrative that Antonio DID point a gun at the police officer. With all the technological advancements that we have made in the last 50 years, along with the advancements that we have made in society and our thinking; I truly believe that a Police officer's use of deadly force should be reconsidered or at the very least clearly defined and explained. In this situation, you have a Teen pointing a gun at an officer, out of context this statement alone may encourage you to think that the use of deadly force was warranted, however let me present it like this… If a mass shooter such as James Holmes who had just killed 17 people and injured 70 others points a gun at an officer, it is safe for the officer to assume that he is in immediate danger of death. Simply because the person pointing the gun at you had just murdered 17 people, and injured 70 others – it is then reasonable for an officer to use deadly force. However, if the person pointing the gun at you had not fired the gun (as reports document) and had not injured or murdered anyone with that gun prior to pointing towards you, deadly force is NOT warranted. Furthermore, the surveillance footage that is being plastered all over by the media should not be taken at face value, as the camera was some distance away. Whilst watching I didn’t know WHAT I was looking at or for, only when the footage is edited and zoomed in by media networks do you see a shadow with an arm extended. To me, that is not clear enough for me to say without a shadow of a doubt that A) Antonio Martin was pointing a gun at the officer and not just pointing his hand at the officer or B) The reaction, or overreaction, of the police officer was warranted. Police officers should not be killing people in the streets like animals! I think the correct modus operandi would have been to shoot to disarm the suspect, apprehend him and bring him to justice via the judiciary as was done with James Holmes. All individuals are entitled to their rights of justice through the legal system following criminal activity. The racial aspect is an important factor that must be considered in cases such as this one. Institutional racism has depicted the black community, specifically black men as aggressive, dangerous beasts, which effectively means that in situations like Mike Brown, Tamir Rice and now Antonio Martin police officers are more likely to overreact when dealing with black men. For those who simply disregard the racial aspect of killings like this one really do not understand the longstanding effects of Institutional racism and white supremacy. Finally, this is not to condone the act of pointing a gun at a police officer (if indeed he did) but to highlight the point that Police officers should not have the power of judge, jury and executioner. Black Lives Matter and all lives come with rights, and if James Holmes was allowed his human right of being tried by the judiciary then why aren’t these human rights being extended to Black Americans?

I manage a rapper but I be his hypeman too at the same time

this photo-shoot was mad fun.

- Adreyn Cash