The New York Times reports that there will be no charges against a white officer who put a chokehold on an unarmed black man he was arresting for selling loose cigarettes outside a ferry terminal.
The death was videotaped. The hold was outlawed on the police force. The dead man, Eric Garner, could be heard complaining of breathing difficulty.
The reaction on social media is fierce.
Over-aggressive policing is a problem everywhere, including in Little Rock. Evidence suggests blacks bear a disproportionate share of it. Until there are consequences, it’s not likely to get much better.
For good measure, read about white cops in Texas cleared of beating a black woman (again on video) who’d been arrested for an unpaid traffic ticket.
Some photographic evidence of Little Rock police use of force could be a feature in coming legal action, which is all I can say for the moment.