Officer Peter Liang is Being Used as a Scapegoat
First, I mean no disrespect to Akai Gurley’s family as I am sure going through this process hasn’t allowed them any time to heal.
Peter Liang is a 28 year old police officer who had just a year and a half experience. Liang fired his gun in a dark stairway and the bullet ricocheted and killed Akai Gurley. Liang said he heard a sound to his left, he was startled and his gun went off (source). He never intended to kill Akai Gurley and this is not a racial incident.
An unarmed man is dead and no one wants to hear it was an accident. Akai’s family and friends want Liang behind bars.
But Peter Liang can’t be the scapegoal for an existing problem. There have been many victims of police brutality, but that simply isn’t the case here. Almost two Summers ago, we watch Eric Garner lose his life to the NYPD/
One of the things that really bothers me if that Officer Liang is received such little support from the NYPD Union. We watched the death of Eric Garner on YouTube almost two Summers ago and NYPD Union President Pat Lynch was all over the news defending Panteleo (Panteleo history shows he had a problem in his job before), yet Pat Lynch is barely heard from in Liang’s case. After Liang’s conviction, Lynch spoke out a little, but he should have been all over this defending Liang. I have never seen the NYPD union back away from one of their own like they have in this case.
I’m glad to see the Asian community standing up. Peter Liang is being used as a scapegoat for the history of police brutality that has been allowed to exist in NYC. They shouldn’t have to, but they know they have to do whatever they can to help Officer Liang. Free Peter Liang FB Page.
We heard about the problem with one of the jurors on Peter Liang’s case. Juror Number 9, Michael Vargas wrote both positively and negatively about the police on his Facebook page. But he lied when he was selected for the jury. When asked if anyone in his family has been accused of a crime, Vargas’ failed to disclose that his father served 7 years in jail for manslaughter. There is a reason this question was asked! The judge said that the manslaughter conviction sticks. I believe that it should have been declared a mistrial as an error was made in the proceeding and Liang should have been given a new trial. (See story here)
Brooklyn District Attorney, Kenneth Thompson recommended Liang serve no prison time, but this coming week the judge will decide Office Liang’s fate. I feel our legal system has failed Officer Liang.
Hugs,
marlene
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