Response to Pitts’ column
Mr. Pitts (“Understanding white privilege,” Dec. 4, 2014) needs to explain what he means when he refers to “white privilege” as opposed to “black privilege.” He referred to an incident in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where a 63-year-old white male armed with a rifle had a confrontation with the police and the police did not use deadly force because the offender was white. He compares this incident to one in Cleveland, Ohio, where a 12-year-old black male was shot and killed by police when he pointed a toy pistol (a replica of a 1911 .45 automatic) at an officer. The point is that the white male did not point the rifle at the officers, and black male pointed the toy gun at the officer as he got out of the patrol car. In cases such as this, the officer has a split-second to make a decision as to whether he wants to live or die. The result would have been the same if the officer had been black.
As for Mr. Pitts reference to white privilege, what about black privilege? Does black privilege include the right to provoke white police officers, to resist arrest and fight white officers when they are placed under arrest for an unlawful offence? What about the right to incite a riot when they perceive an injustice has occurred, or the right to burn down a neighborhood when they don’t agree with public policy.
Police offices have the same right to protect themselves as any other citizen has. When confronted with an imminent threat the officer has the right to respond with whatever force is necessary to protect him or the general public. That is his sworn duty as a police officer.
Robert Butler
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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