“We all want justice in America for Joshua “Omar” Johnson of the City of Norfolk, Va

There are a lot of broken homes all across America. Families lives have been changed in a matter of seconds from the violence, prejudice, and callous disregard for the welfare of others. If I learned the most valuable lesson from The recent events such as the set up by Norfolk Police Department of the killing of Joshua Omar Johnson, and others that shared similar fates under a different set of facts, is the value of life and family. Many of us can go home and talk, hug, and kiss our loved ones, while others go to a home where there is one less family member sleeping safe in their room. We all spend so much time with bitterness and disgust for our fellow neighbor, but when they are gone, we wish for the opportunity to say at least good – bye. As a father, I look at the world and what I do a lot differently. It is no longer about what I want to do, but what is in my children best interest. Moreover, I have to consider that anything I act, speak, or take action on, in regards to the many issues that surround protecting our civil rights. 

Secondly, I am troubled by our neighbors, family, and friends that are so easily willing to take a life, but are uneasy about taking the consequences of those actions. I have seen the toughest hard core self claimed criminals read letters of apology and cry to a judge for forgiveness that will never come. Two families, like so many families, all across this country has had to suffer and deal with these tragic events. We all, including myself, has to do better to end the petty grudges. If we are to do justice on behalf of anyone is to stand together for its resolve. Joshua, like so many others, should be consider all of our son, all across America. The many critics, in regards to statements that they have been made trying to label with prejudice the negative characteristics that they view of Mr. Johnson, are only a matter of time when they will seek others for good words of kindness, and people of faith that is unconditional. Some want favor under conditions. I will pray for them, just like I pray for each and everyone of you that such a tragic events does not have to be repeated. 

In conclusion, If you have a beef, grudge, or any negative with anyone in your life, its time to come to terms, because tomorrow is not guaranteed for you or for me. U.S President Obama said it best, “If I had a son, he would look just like Trayvon!” Mr. Johnson was made in Gods image, just like all of us. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Trayvon Martin, Mr. Troy Davis, and countless others that has felt the weight and flaws of our justice system are our family, as I would hope to be treated by everyone as a member of their’s. In order for us to stop violence, we must be on the street, we must be talking to everyone on any street corner or whom we may walk bye, even if its to say good morning, and not just sitting in a room full of bureaucrats that are trying to save face and add another event to their resume. If we treat people like animals than thats how they are going to behave. We need to follow up. Furthermore, It is each and everyone of you responsibility to talk with your family. The rest is up to you. 

Goodnight,
Merle Rutledge
Civil Rights Activist
Political Blogger
Political Consultant
Former Candidate for the Mayor of the Town of Chatham, Va
Also a son of everyone in the City of Norfolk, Va

Vote Michael J. Muhammad, for Mayor of the City of Norfolk, VA 2014

Read Full Post »

Joshua Omar Johnson shooting by Norfolk, VA Police Department not justified!

Click to Watch Video Click to Watch Video Click to Watch Video Photos: Officer hit by suspect vehicle Family says shooting not justified More Norfolk News Officer, bank teller followed procedure  Norfolk police tell WAVY.com officers are trained to stop an … Tractor trailer crash closes I-64 Troopers are investigating a crash involving an overturned … Food truck ordinance passes Norfolk City Council members approved the Food Truck Ordinance… Local family awaits call from Oklahoma  WAVY.com tells the story of a local family with loved ones in … Advertisement Dead driver’s family critical of police Family say police overreacted by firing 11 shots Updated: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 5:03 PM EDT Published : Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 2:01 PM EDT Anne McNamara NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – One day after a deadly police-involved shooting in the Ghent section of Norfolk, investigators confirm officers were never struck by gunfire. An officer opened fire on a vehicle in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo at Colonial Avenue and West 21st Street Monday afternoon, after the driver reportedly used his vehicle as a weapon. The driver, identified as Joshua Johnson, 22, of W. 27th Street in Norfolk, was shot and killed. His female passenger, Virgie May Hairston, 21, was arrested and charged with conspiring to commit or assist in a larceny. Hairston told WAVY.com Tuesday she thought the check was legitimate. The couple tried to cash the check in the drive-through around 2:45 p.m. Police say the teller at the Wells Fargo called 911 to report the two suspects were attempting to pass a bad check. “We pulled up to the teller and the lady say hold on my computer is messing up,” said Hairston. “Police come straight in front of us, and next thing you know, he hopped out the car and started shooting.” Polices say two officers responded to that 911 call. The first officer parked on the opposite side of the building and drew his weapon. He continued to walk behind the car toward the passenger side, while the other officer pulled his police vehicle in front of the suspect vehicle, which was in the drive-through lane closest to the teller window. That’s when police say Johnson put his car in reverse and accelerated, hitting the officer in the leg. The officer was thrown onto the trunk of the car. But Hairston says neither she or Johnson knew an officer was behind their vehicle. “I’m sure there wasn’t no officer behind us,” said Hairston, when asked repeatedly. Police said the officer in front of the car lost sight of the officer on the trunk, and fired the fatal shots. Eleven bullet holes were in the windshield. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. “Eleven to 12 times? Not one, not two,” said Hairston, who thinks the shooting was not justified. “It shouldn’t even have got to the shots. They should have fired at the tires or something, not at him, not directly at him and me too. I’m in the car. They didn’t think. They didn’t care. Obviously, they didn’t care.” When the vehicle came to a stop, an officer pulled Hairston from the front passenger floor. She was not injured. Photos: Officer hit by suspect vehicle Friends of Johnson’s in the Park Place neighborhood say he worked several jobs and officiated youth sporting events. They, too, believe police overreacted. “I told my son and he broke down crying so hard that he threw up,” said Kevin Mills, who worked at Andy’s Barber Shop with Johnson. “That was his buddy.” The officer hit by the car was treated at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and released. Initial reports from police dispatchers said an officer had been shot, but they have since confirmed neither officer was hit by gunfire. The officer who fired his weapon was placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure. The injured officer is on “Modified Duty” with pay, probably for a few weeks, said Karen Parker-Chesson with the Norfolk Police. The police chief refused an interview request from WAVY.com Tuesday. A spokesperson cited the ongoing investigation. Norfolk Police issued the following to explain policy: Norfolk Police officers are authorized to discharge their firearm “to defend and protect oneself or another when the officer reasonably believes that he or she or another person is in imminent danger of detah or serious physical injury.” Our training is focused on stopping the threat of imminent danger. Merle Rutledge Jr supports Omar Johnson and Ms. Hairston Joshua Omar Johnson shooting not justified with Norfolk, Va Police Department! (Merle T. Rutledge Jr responds on why!) Posted by Merle T. Rutledge Jr on May 22, 2013 at 10:00pm View Blog Initial Reports – Man killed by police for trying to cash a check in Norfolk, Va! An officer opened fire on a vehicle in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo at Colonial Avenue and West 21st Street Monday afternoon, after the driver reportedly used his vehicle as a weapon. The driver, identified as Joshua Johnson, 22, of W. 27th Street in Norfolk, was shot and killed. His female passenger, Virgie May Hairston, 21, was arrested and charged with conspiring to commit or assist in a larceny. The couple tried to cash the check in the drive-through around 2:45 p.m. Police say the teller at the Wells Fargo called 911 to report the two suspects were attempting to pass a bad check. Police said the officer in front of the car lost sight of the officer on the trunk, and fired the fatal shots. Eleven bullet holes were in the windshield. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. “Eleven to 12 times? Not one, not two,” said Hairston, who thinks the shooting was not justified. “It shouldn’t even have got to the shots. They should have fired at the tires or something, not at him, not directly at him and me too. I’m in the car. They didn’t think. They didn’t care. Obviously, they didn’t care.” When the vehicle came to a stop, an officer pulled Hairston from the front passenger floor. She was not injured. Initial reports from police dispatchers said an officer had been shot, but they have since confirmed neither officer was hit by gunfire. Norfolk Police issued the following to explain policy: Norfolk Police officers are authorized to discharge their firearm “to defend and protect oneself or another when the officer reasonably believes that he or she or another person is in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury.” Our training is focused on stopping the threat of imminent danger. The real story behind the scenes sheds light on what really happen. My point is that no police officer should have drawn a gun on a person on the street or in a vehicle unless they had belief that the guy was armed and dangerous. This was car a with two youth trying to cash an alleged bad check. It is unknown if they even knew the check was bad. My point is that there should have been no reason to draw weapons based off the initial response to the scene. This was not a bank robbery. It was on suspicion of trying to cash a check.   How do we even know if the person who was cashing the check was only being scammed.  This is a regular thing to happen in this day and age.  There is nothing about this situation in which a gun needed to be drawn on these youth as soon as the officer exited the vehicle. Did the bank teller ever tell them that the check was fraudulent before calling the police. I have cashed a check and also seen someone who has attempted to cash a bad check. The bank normally checks to see if this was a accident or was it intentional for the check to be presented.  I never seen a bank teller or police draw a gun and not know if there was intent by the individual to cash a bad check. I also doubt that Mr. Johnson even knew a officer was approaching from behind or better term sneaking up on the vehicle.  The purpose of sneaking up is to go undetected until you reach the final destination.  It is a difference between hitting someone on purpose and having no clue that another officer was behind him. If these were two white women in the car than I’m sure people would not be saying the same negative bull, like the ones that have acted and behaved, so sickly and childish in these posts. It is one thing to have a civil debate, but to call someone a thug, criminal and all types of racial slurs is the reason why people are responding with hate in the face of this tragedy.  Wells Fargo already assumed that the suspects was black and they was up to wrong and had no articulate basis for being judge and jury at that time.  The officers did not even have a clue if he even knew the check was bad. He is dead now and can not speak for himself. However, the community is engaged to speak for him. His family, friends, and those that have heard the news are here wanting answers. How many more do we have to lose over this silly rhetoric and racial discriminatory practices. It is one thing to disagree, but a mother and a father lost of a child. I could care less who you are, you deserve respect and dignity even in death. Even in centuries past, people would end a war for a number of days to show respect to even their fallen enemies. The responses here are hateful and appalling. However, I can guarantee while I’m back in town that no one makes those statements to my face, because it is too many cowards hiding behind internet lines. The officers calling this proper procedure is rushing to judgment and making a naked assertion further devoid of the truth. If Omar Johnson was meaning to run over the officer behind him than it would be common sense to run over the officer pointing a gun directly at him.  He might have been attempting to flee and fleeing suspect but not a armed bank robber, but he did not fire one shot at the officer.  Mr. Johnson was not even armed.  This is the part of the argument that does not make the City of Norfolk, Va argument clear or justified. The man had no clue a police officer was behind him or near him. He was backing away from the gun and not trying to run over a police officer. I believe the media did a great job of twisting what happen in this scenario. However, I’m a lot smarter and I know way better. I still remember the officer being dragged by a car that shot the woman in Ocean view as she tried to elude a Norfolk, Va police officer that also had a warrant for her arrest. You settled with that white family. To: Wells Fargo and City of Norfolk, Va Police Department What would you do if you see a police officer with their guns drawn and you are not aware that a crime or offense had been committed. You would be backing up because you believe the cops was about to shoot someone else and would be trying to get out of the line of fire. Now, if you told Mr. Johnson and his girlfriend Ms. Hairston that the check was bad and police was on the way. It is a such thing as telling the car to stay there until police arrived because they would be under a citizens arrest, which anyone has the power to make when a felony is committed in their presence. However, this bank does not let the driver know and as a result he is dead. We do not know if he was running from the police or simply trying to get out the line of fire. Reminder: The bank did not disclose to the individual that the check was bad except that the computer was messing up! I want Justice for Omar and these cops should be indicted alongside the bank teller and bank for manslaughter at the least, and murder which is more appropriate. I hope you come to terms City of Norfolk and get to work on handling things for this family. It is absolutely no excuse what happen to this young man. None! I am not rushing to judgment but I do not see anyone trying to run over a officer if they would have known one was behind them. Basically this young man was set up to be killed by the Norfolk, Va police department and its protocol.  This should have never happened. I am so sorry for the family. I am sitting here right now trying to keep peace and calm with this situation. I am deeply bothered and frustrated that our friends and family are being called home for tragedy and not celebration. I would never want to put this on any mother or father. I am just completely speechless When the media reports Ms. Hairston version of events.  It quickly stops at the part when she says Mr. Johnson panic.  I can explain the reason why because we would all panic or get out the way in this type of situation when we have no clue that a crime has been committed.  “We are trained when ambulance or police cars are in our path to do what, “move out the way and pullover to somewhere safe for our personal safety and to prevent property damage while government officials are in the line of duty and acting within the scope of their employment.!” states Merle Rutledge Jr in his hunt for justice for Joshua Omar Johnson.  Ask Farrakhan about anyone can look good or bad within a 30 second sound bite. The cop empty out his magazine for suspicion of a bad check. I am going to empty my magazine of probable cause to know that these cops violated this man civil rights and will be held accountable for taking this man life because this is wrongful death. There is no excuse, not whatsoever! I am just in complete shock at the news reports coming out about this situation. I hope its a thorough investigation and the charges should be immediately dropped against the passenger involved. My facebook page is full of messages of support for Omar Johnson. This is not the way I wanted to return back to Norfolk, Va. The people at the bank should be held responsible.  They know good and well if this was a white family than they would havetold them that the check was bad and it was just a mistake first than sending officers to kill first.   There was no reason for guns to be drawn over a check issue. Humbly Submitted, Merle T. Rutledge Jr Civil Rights Activist Former Candidate for Mayor of the Town of Chatham, Va Author and Political Blogger Views: 1145 Tags: 12, 911, alleged, bad, checks, civil,danger, deadly, death, defend, More… Promote ShareTwitter

Read Full Post »