Ronnie White Saga
by The Ronnie White saga is a sad fact of life which can happen to anyone of us under slightly different circumstances. The author is a University Lecturer in Health Sciences and has written numerous analytical, thought provoking articles on early childhood education.
Deaths of prisoners while in custody are always fraught with charges of racism, police cruelty and negligence. It is not a subject many people give serious thought to. However, it is always a burning issue if you have been deprived of social rights were brought up in a poor neighborhoods and did not have the same quality of education as the group of people who dominate the country in which you live. Discrimination against minorities and the poor is endemic and has always persisted in all societies.
Ronnie White was an innocent guy who was taken into police custody. He was subsequently strangulated to death. The police have ultimate responsibility for his death at this time. Of course the Police are going to say that Ronnie White was a criminal who had killed a fellow officer. In Law, Ronnie White, is innocent until proven guilty. Therefore he needed to be afforded the protection of the Police Force irrespective of their feelings that he killed a fellow officer. It is not up to the Police Officers to be “the judge, the jury and the executioner” all in one.
The Police Forces of the different states have lots of power and authority. Some of the power is legitimate. They have been given that by legislation. Some other power which they have is illegal and has been acquired by bullying and illegal killings and practices. I had a friend who was a police officer and he confided in me about how police would use blunt instruments to cause injury and pain without leaving external bruises. The public is collectively aware of these sorts of things. Barry White was no exception. I am sure he had a long “relationship” with the police. My perception is that the relationship was not a loving one either.
Barry White deserved the protection of the Police force and did not get it. The Police Force, in my opinion, is guilty of gross negligence, but if one tries to get the Police Force convicted of this then the Police Union will be up in arms. Indeed, the whole of the establishment will rise in arms. When this happens then institutional racism and prejudices are to blame. Sometimes the tables can be turned against institutionalized prejudices but the victim needs to strong, have the necessary economic, social, legal and educational resources to be able to beat the system. I hope readers remember the Rodney King saga and the Arar case from Canada and the US.
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Post Commentwhite cornerback
On July 3, 2008 at 9:26 am
I’m just curious, as a black woman, you show no compassion at all to the white victim here, the police officer. You instead are exercised about Ronnie White’s death, even though he wouldn’t have been killed, he wouldn’t have even been in prison if he hadn’t killed the police officer in cold blood.
That, to me, is racism. You are more concerned with black deaths than white deaths. I think this attitude is actually natural. People are tribal, and your tribe is black. But guess what, “sister”: as a racially conscious white person, I am the same way! I really could not care less about the suffering of that subhuman piece of garbage named Ronnie White. In fact, whoever killed him ought to be commended for saving the taxpayers lots of money.
If I’m wrong and off-base, then please answer: why don’t you say a single word about Paul Findley and his family in your article. And even if you had said something, can’t you admit that it would have been be nothing more than lip service?
Shergill
On July 3, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Good Day White Cornerback,
Thank You for your comments. I am neither black nor a female. I am concerned about all forms of violence. It does not matter who commits violence on whom.
I wrote the article from a societal view point rather than from the White or Black perspective. I did not know who the victim was and considering the fact that he has not been convicted of the crime it is unreasonable to conclude that he Ronnie White was the murderer.
shames
On July 5, 2008 at 10:23 am
Excellent article, Shergill. Thanks for sharing.
Shergill
On July 6, 2008 at 2:57 am
HI Shames,
Thank You for reading this article. I still feel sad when people get killed. In my life’s work I have seen lots of deaths but one never gets used to them. Each death is sad. Each is uniquely differnt. I guess god designed it that way!
The summer in Ohio must be like Ontario. Hot and sizzling! It is hot and sizzling in Darwin, Australia all the time. It is winter right no but the temperature is 30 degrees C.
Shergill
A friend of Ronnie White
On July 8, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Thank you very mucho for your words. Me as a friend of Ronnie White I think that every thing that you are saying is true, And Ronnie white was still not gilty. Only god could have juge him not the cops.
Shergill
On July 9, 2008 at 1:20 am
It is sad that bad things happen in society. Collectively we all have some responsibility. If there was support for those persons at that time then the bad things would not have happened.
Some people will not agree with me but it is alright.