Undercover narcotics officers with the Hueytown Police shot and killed one man and wounded another in nearby Brighton last Wednesday afternoon. Calvin Robinson, 21, becomes the 44th person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year.
At this point, there is no indication that Robinson or the as-yet unnamed wounded man were armed or had fired on police. Nor is there any word about whether any drugs were found.
Police have made no further statements since then except to describe the shooting victims as "suspected drug dealers," but a witness interviewed by CBS 42 News said he saw several police cars chasing Robinson's vehicle down the Bessemer Highway before it turned off the freeway and headed toward Robinson's home.
"It was, you had about five of them that was coming behind that car. But by the time I turned around right here, all you could hear was gunshots," said Briscoe Fuller. "That didn't make no sense all that shooting they did."
Robinson's family told CBS 42 they were still coming to grips with his killing, but wanted justice.
"What's going through my mind right now is he was a 21-year-old young man who still had a whole life ahead of him to lead. And as an educator myself I see a senseless killing that took place today," said Angela Kornegay James, Robinson's cousin. "He was less than, as the young man said earlier, 20 feet away from his house. You can see his back yard from the place where he was killed so apparently he was trying to just make it home."
"I loved my brother," said Tyrus Robinson. "My brother don't bother nobody. My brother works. It was a senseless killing. We not going to stop until we find justice."
Media has become oblivious to drug enforcement murders
The recent case of Chavis Carter, the young man from Mississippi was shot and killed while handcuffed in the back of a police car, garnered some attention by the national media only because the circumstances of his death were so bizarre, mysterious and suspicious. However, unless there's compelling evidence of excessive force or a video revealing bad behavior on the part of police, the event might not even get mentioned in the local news. What's needed here is an aggressive investigation by the national broadcast media of all of these drug enforcement shootings by police. Phil Smith has a wonderful job of documenting these cases, but in order for justice to be applied, the broadcast media has to take an interest in these cases.
There is an unfortunate attitude among the average American citizen, law enforcement and the media that if you're involved or accused of being in the drug trade, you deserve whatever you get, even if that outcome is death. Fortunately, this young man killed in Alabama has a good family that will pursue getting justice for their son. But that family support often isn't enough to put the spotlight on this murderous epidemic. Yes, when these murders occur on a weekly basis and no one in law enforcement is held accountable, that's a major issue, which Obama and Romney will ignore this campaign season. Obama spoke out about the Trayvon Martin case only because the media picked up on it and the person that wasn't charged at at the time wasn't a cop. Drug reformers could help out with this frustrating situation by contacting or writing to some the TV news magazines urging them to do an investigation into some cases that Phil has documented. These shows are constantly looking for new material. Fox New's Judge Napolitano and John Stossel have shown an interest in putting their spotlight on the failures of the drug war. But we need to publicize this trend and take it to the next level.
No Justice in the Insane War on Drugs!
Another tragic case of DEA (with assistance from local police) gone wild! Even if suspects were guilty of a 'drug offense' - prison and/or death is a far worse crime than any drug involvement. America's War on Drugs was a politician's dream come true in the late 1960's, early 1970's.... Richard Nixon aka Tricky Dickey who resigned from the Presidency rather than be impeached for HIS federal crimes! The American Drug War will go down in history as one of the most unjust, shameful, hurtful, sinful scams ever played on the American people by the ones in power who are supposed to serve and protect through representation. But why should they worry, they and theirs are exempt from this war - the people with the most money get the best drugs! (and they NEVER go to prison, let alone be targeted, followed and gun downed in cold blood!) God help America!
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