The story:
DENTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — Denton police released video Thursday of an officer-involved shooting that killed a 23-year-old college student in January.
Police Chief Frank Dixon said he did not want to release the video, but did so to avoid civil unrest after weeks of public protests demanding more transparency from the department about what happened to Darius Tarver…
The response:
Darius Tarver is dead. Say it. Let it sink in deep into your bones. This is more than a news report. This is a tragedy beyond comprehension. This is the death of brilliance. Don’t turn away. Look at Darius dying on the pavement. Look at we lost that night. Look!
Once you have taken a long look…and only after you have taken a long look…I invite you to think critically about how this tragedy unfolded.
Now, I want to quite frank. For many years, I have given my life to the effort to combat police brutality. Institutionally, I hate the police. With that affirmed, I love truth more than anything I hate. For weeks, local activists have told us that Darius Tarver was a victim of police brutality. Today, the video clearly revealed the truth.
Darius had weapons that he used. Darius was given commands that he ignored. Darius did not respond to nonlethal efforts. Darius stabbed an officer. Darius charged toward the officers. Darius was shot after multiple attempts at a nonlethal outcome.
Why did this happen? I don’t know…but I do know that we don’t get to just make it up as we go.
Tonight, I’m angry. Not at the police…for once. I’m angry at those who peddled false narratives to the detriment of other factual instances of police brutality. Hollow sensationalism doesn’t bring about justice…it foments injustice. Darius Tarver deserves to be remembered for who he was…not for the caricature that local activists want him to be.
Amen.
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