They insist the criminal allegations against him are false, and have been using the page to try to sell shirts that read, “Free the Claw.” More than 500 people have “liked” the Facebook page. “The pursuit of Justice will be lengthy, but with the support of Family, Friends, and the Community, Daniel Holtzclaw will be vindicated and justice will prevail,” the page states. “All funds raised will assist Daniel and his Family as they seek the JUSTICE Daniel Holtzclaw so rightly deserves.” (Holtzclaws’ Gofundme.com page has been shut down after numerous complaints, but his Facebook page remains up. )
So let’s follow this twisted logic: supporters of Holtzclaw actually believe that eight women who have no connection to each other are lying and that they all conspired to hatch an elaborate scheme to discredit him? Why would eight Black women make up stories about being raped and forced to perform various sex acts by a white police officer? How is this in their best interests?
Holtzclaw’s friends and family seem to have a total disregard for Black women – and women in general – but particularly the African-American women who Holtzclaw allegedly singled out for his own sick behavior.
“This is a tragedy,” Anthony Douglas, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the NAACP, told reporters. “What this is is sending out a signal to the state of Oklahoma that African-Americans [are] prey. We do what we want to you because we hold a badge and a gun.”
I don’t know what police policies could have prevented Holtzclaw from allegedly preying on those women, but I do know this: There’s a very troubling pattern in this country where arrogant white police officers can abuse and shoot black men and rape black women and feel they are above the law.
America’s legislators should stop claiming that these cases of police abuse against Black citizens are isolated incidents and admit there’s a growing and disturbing police culture that is driving this despicable behavior.
And more one thing: Holtzclaw, if convicted of these crimes, is a deeply troubled and twisted man who should never be allowed to step outside a prison cell again.
What do you think?
Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
COMMENTARY: Oklahoma Cop Charges Another Example of Police Out of Control was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
