In my opinion, it changes the narrative if Daniele Watts and Brian Lucas were engaged in sex

[The Traveler]

41. My problems with this are varied

Recently, we have been treated to the story of a young man who was gunned down in a Walmart while talking on a cell phone and holding a BB gun. I read that he was shot in the back. The police came to that store because some jerk called 911 and reported a man with a gun making threatening gestures. Apparently, the 911 caller is now changing elements of his story.

The police entered this seen operating under the presumption that the 911 caller was both accurate and honest with his observations. That can be a very dangerous assumption ... as it was for the young customer in this example.

The system is supposed to operate under presumption of innocence. The only actual evidence we have at this time is this couple was engaging in PDA ... but not actual intercourse. A young black man with a BB gun forms a context in someone's mind, and they fill in the blanks and call 911. A young mixed race couple osculates for a few minutes, and a context is formed in someone's mind. That person calls the cops.

Given all that has gone down, I don't think we can't overly blame the young lady involved in this situation for reacting as she did. "Entitled"???? Aren't we all entitled to certain rights? Remember ... the cops did not see them ENGAGE in unlawful activity ... they just got a report that they did. A report without evidence is just rumor, and I question that it constitutes probable cause.

And LAPD is not famous for its sensitive handling of race related matters or its meticulous and precise use of ammunition in all situations.

What we have here are people who are encountering (in a very unfriendly way) the authorities for engaging in normal living behaviors. One got shot for it. The other got handcuffed. The common denominator seems to be race. This is not acceptable in my view.

Trav