(Politicizd) ----- Early yesterday morning, tragedy struck Minneapolis, with the latest police killing of an African American man. The officer, Kim Potter, was alleged to have killed Daunte Wright in an unfortunate traffic confrontation. As expected, violent protests quickly followed igniting looting throughout the city.
However, following the latest details of the encounter, is it now believed that the officer, Kim Potter, a 26 year old veteran of the department made a fatal mistake and accidentally discharged her firearm instead of her taser.
Later, it was revealed that Wright, at the young age of 20, had several warrants for his arrest and attempted to flee the scene, when the fatal shot triggered. Wright then drove his car further down the street until he crashed several blocks away. He was found dead on the scene.
In the aftermath, progressive activists shared the news, pushing the narrative of another racist police killing. Meanwhile, local Police Deputy Manager, Curt Boganey, was relieved of his duties, due to a disagreement among police discipline of the officer. Fox News quickly labeled the firing as a consequence to Boganey's call for due process.
"Daunte Wright shooting: Brooklyn Center city manager fired after call for due process for police officer"
(Fox News Headline) (Thomas Barrabi)
The headline marked further conservative outrage over concern that the public no longer supported the idea of due process. Consequently, conservatives publicly recommended to watch the body cam footage prior to making an opinion.
In fact, in the later released body cam footage, the officer can be heard alerting others nearby, as she plans to tase the man actively fleeing the scene. She then, steps aways from the car, in shock, and remarks, “"Holy sh*t! I just shot him." The recording, made available online, illustrated the confusion and disbelief as the officer realizes the life-altering mistake she just made.
However, several key political figures still played it down, insisting the incident was race related.
Rashida Talib, (D- MN) tweeted:
“It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist.
Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed”.
The comments, widely controversial, allege that the 'accidental' discharge was not an accident, and instead a reflection of police racism.
Rep. Eric Smallwell, (D- CA), expressed a similar sentiment, pursuing the narrative that race played a role in the unfortunate death.
Meanwhile, the President contradicted this ideology, garnering praise from both sides of the aisle.
The President explained, "It's really a tragic thing that happened, but I think we've got to wait and see what the investigation shows -- the entire investigation. You've all watched, I assume -- as I did, the film, which is really the body cam, which is fairly graphic. Question is -- was it an accident? Was it intentional? That remains to be determined by a full-blown investigation."
He later expressed his disillusion with looting and potentially violent protesting.
"But in the meantime, I want to make it clear again, there is absolutely no justification -- none -- for looting. No justification for violence. Peaceful protest -- understandable. And the fact is that, you know, we do know that the anger, pain and trauma that exists in the Black community in that environment is real. It's serious and it's consequential. But it will not justify violence and/or looting"
(President Joe Biden in the aftermath of Daunte Wright's death)
The statements represent a firm and unprecedented condemnation of outrage and looting urging the public to await the results of the investigation.
The incident, a growing national news story, shines another light into the controversy surrounding police behavior and performance and the influence racism plays in it.
