So, this is my first diary, and it's because I have just heard the news of Kevin Allen, yet another black man shot by police this year.
Reading the article, I felt a swell of rage seeing the same old talking points over and over again. I said to myself, "It's like playing a game of bingo, see how many you can get."
...and that's how I got to here, dissecting this article. Some of the explanations are as if pulled verbatim from some sort of playbook. I hate that this is so predictable and that so many people will swallow it wholesale.
My bingo is below the jump.
EDIT: For some reason, this isn't allowing me to link the article I pulled from normally. So: http://www.nj.com/...
X. Did the "suspect" "charge" the police?
"He was aggressive towards them....he charged at them with [the knife]," O'Connor said Friday night."
X. Did the "suspect" suddenly turn into Hercules?
"O'Connor said officers first tried to subdue Allen using non-lethal force, including using pepper-spray and a baton on him. Allen continued to charge at the officers with the large utility knife after police tried to stop him."
X. Does the article mention a criminal history 10 years old?
"Allen has a criminal history dating back several years in Bergen and Passaic counties, according to court records. In November 2006, [...]"
X. Does everyone immediately related to the "suspect" have a completely different version of events?
"Allen was often seen at the library, watching music videos and largely keeping to himself, according to people at the scene Friday afternoon."
X. Is the "suspect" another black man dead?
"The man shot and killed by police at the township library Friday[...]"