Libertarian Johnson: ‘Root cause’ is drug war
Gary Johnson says the “root cause” of police shootings is the war on drugs.
The libertarian nominee for president did not directly tie the drug war to the shooting deaths in Minnesota and Louisiana by police or the sniper killings of five officers in Texas this week. But poor relations between police and African-Americans stems from the criminalization of drug use, he said.
“The root is the war on drugs, I believe. Police knocking down doors, shooting first,” Johnson said in an interview Friday in Washington. “If you are (black and) arrested in a drug-related crime, there is four times more likelihood of going to prison than if you are white. And shooting is part of the same phenomenon.”
“That’s the common thread. Shootings are occurring with black people, black people are dying,” he added. “This is an escalation.”
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6 responses to Libertarian Johnson: ‘Root cause’ is drug war
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anothertoothpick July 8th, 2016 at 18:15
I think the “root cause” is these cops are scared $hitless of the black man.
They have convinced themselves that black is bad and dangerous.
whatthe46 July 8th, 2016 at 18:28
And complete hatred. What in the hell is there to be afraid of a 12 yr old child or a msn in a car with his seatbelt on.
anothertoothpick July 8th, 2016 at 18:57
I really think it has a lot to do with cop culture.
My cousin is a cop.. He is a fairly intelligent guy but I still see it.. especially when there is a couple of them at the bar and they drop their guard.
They have a “,hero,” detective buddy who shot seven people in the line of duty and he is the topic of discussion quite often.
My cousin however in nine years has never pulled his revolver out of it’s holster.
???????
Samira Burkett July 9th, 2016 at 05:04
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Suzanne McFly July 8th, 2016 at 18:16
I believe the “drug war” is a factor in our unequal justice system, but there are multiple other factors as well. I wish we could blame it on one thing and fix it, but we can’t. We need to quit labeling one another and learn how to live together without hatred for the “other”.
bpollen July 9th, 2016 at 04:24
Since Anslinger at least, drug laws have been to protect us from drug-crazed minorities. That’s how they were packaged and sold. In many ways, it was a tool of oppression. So Gary thinks it’s the tool and not the racism that demonized drugs in the popular conscience.