The Value of a Black Life to a Cop Killer: An Amerikkan Buyout
By: Phelicia Ball
Castile, photo via NY Daily News
A Black man loses his life, while the cop who murdered him not only is acquitted of his crime, but is granted $48, 500. According to a separation agreement announced on Monday, Minnesota police officer, Jeronimo Yanez who shot Philando Castile in 2016, will leave the police department and will receive the money in a lump sum. The agreement also states that Yanez will be paid for up to 600 hours of unused personal leave and accrued pay.
The city of St. Anthony posted a statement to their website stating that the greater good would be served if Yanez was no longer employed at the police department. The city furthered their statement by emphasizing that, “The City concluded this was the most thoughtful way to move forward and help the community-wide healing process proceed.” The full officer statement agreement can be found here.
Out of the 250+ Black men, women, and children shot by law enforcement in 2016 alone, there have only been approximately 26 convictions since 2005, while the other cop killers either remain in uniform or leave the department with thousands. What does this say about our country and who is protected and valued under the constitution?
Officers are given the benefit of the doubt because they’re perceived as “saviors” who are not capable of doing wrong, creating a dichotomy between citizens, especially those of color whom are coined criminals and the causation of their own death. The system wants to be pro-law enforcement, but the truth of the matter is that police misconduct does exist and they should be rightfully charged for taking the deaths of Black men and women due to their white fear. White fear is swarming through our country like wildfire, taking out Blacks by the thousands. While a Black life is terminated and undervalued, the killer gets away with a lump sum and gets to keep his life—what an Amerikkkan buyout.
