Wanted for dodging a gun offense, he recklessly menaced a cop’s life while trying to escape

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota officer Kim Potter has been convicted for first and second degree manslaughter for mistakenly shooting Daunte Wright.

Cheers arose from outside the court house from a crowd that sported a “black lives matter” poster, as if Wright was an innocent victim and a symbol of how cops murder black men.

But how much do you read about how Wright brought it all on himself? Practically nothing.

So here’s the record:

Wright was pulled over in a standard traffic stop for two violations–an expired registration tab and an object hanging from his rear view mirror, obstructing his view. As he should have been. The rest of us cough up money every year for our license plates; why shouldn’t he?

When his background was checked–standard procedure for every traffic stop for everyone and not just black drivers–it was discovered that he had an outstanding warrant for a weapons charge–carrying a handgun in a public place without a state permit. In other words, he was a wanted man.

As required for everyone with an outstanding warrant for dodging a court appearance, he was arrested. Or at least the police tried to. While police were trying to cuff him, he jumped back in the car and tried to drive off. With an officer hanging out of the window. Never mind that the officer could have been seriously injured or killed.

From the passenger side of the car, Porter sees the look of fear on the officer’s face as he tries to extract himself, but Wright, behind the wheel, kept trying to speed off. She reaches for her gun, mistakenly thinking it’s her taser. “Taser, taser, taser,” she shouts as her training taught her. She fires once, striking Wright in the chest. Nonetheless, off he speeds, covering several blocks before he crashes his car into a vehicle.

(I wonder if Porter would have been charged with manslaughter if she had intentionally drawn her gun and fired. After all, with a cop hanging out the car window while Wright sped away, would’t she had been legally and morally justified in using deadly force? Just wondering.)

(Oh, and where are the advocates for stricter gun control? After all, Porter allegedly had been illegally carrying a gun, becoming a threat to the community. Don’t they have something to say about the scourge of too many guns on the streets?)

(Here I’ll be accused of “blaming the victim,” but there was more than one victim here.)

I don’t question this jury’s decision. But the truth is that Wright was guilty in his own right: He violated the law, he was legally stopped and arrested and he tried to flee, endangering an officer of the law.

We’re supposed to ignore all that? We’re supposed to forget that police officers are people too, with families who would mourn their loss? We’re supposed to forget that police officers followed the book, stopping Wright, not because he was “driving while black,” but because he had violated two laws and then dangerously resisted arrest for being a wanted man?

So, yes, Wright’s death is a tragedy, for him, for his family and friends and certainly for Porter too. But none of this would have happened if not for Porter.

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Born today was Dr. Fauci,

Famed epidemiologist.

Viruses get very grouchy

When they find he does exist.

This year I raved a lot about Englewood and his jazzy escapades into hip hop. Well, just in time for Christmas, he’s put out a new single, “Flex On Christmas,” featuring Yung Gravy. It’s definitely a spoof of some sort, but it’s still pretty funny and would grab the attention of any holiday playlist listener.

Pom Pom Squad covers “Popular,” the song that put Nada Surf on the map, and the man, Matthew Caws, who sings about congratulating “Johnny football,” guests on the track. This is a really good version that does the original justice, I hope it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Apparently, Big Thief recorded like 50 songs for their latest project? They are not all are hits, of course, but “No Reason” feels driven and purposeful.

Webby spits fire and brings “X” back from the grave to tell phony MCs that he was crushing rhymes while they were choking the chicken. “We Up” sees Webby at a new level as an artist, and, damn if it’s not great to hear X’s voice again!

“And these children that you spit on/As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations/They’re quite aware of what they’re goin’ through” – David Bowie

Fontaines D.C. continues to grow on me with this live version of “A Lucid Dreamer.” When I first heard these guys I was not a fan. But, over the course of the last few years, I’ve grown fond of them and their fiery desire for repeating the same lyric over and over.

This remix of The Knocks’ “River” is playlist-worthy. They set a good mood and give you enough time to fall into the groove before it’s gone.

“Like Louie Armstrong, played the trumpet/I’ll hit that bong and break you off something.” B-Real of Cypress Hill

That line will forever be ingrained in my mind, bringing me to your Jazz Cut Of The Week, which features none other than Louis Armstong.

I thought this was going to be it. I thought this was going to be the end. I told more than a few people that I was going to pull the plug on this column at the end of the year. I figured that after close to ten years and more than one thousand of these diatribes, that it was enough. I not only had said enough but more likely, I had said too much.

But, something changed recently. I’m not exactly sure what, why or when, but it started to be fun again. I also found that there was more to write about…a lot more. So, I changed my mind about leaving. Hey, a guy is entitled to change his mind, right? Phew!

Besides, 2022 is going to be busy. Probably not a good busy, but between the investigation into the insurrection, Covid, the mid-term elections and the idiot living in Florida (I know, which one?) there will be plenty to peruse. Plus. I’m sure I’ll find more inane nonsense for me to ramble on about.

With that said, it’s time to call it a year around here for 2021. To everyone who read something I wrote this year, thank you. To everyone who has clicked on something, said what kind of bullshit is this, also thank you. Either way, I appreciate it and am thankful for all of you.

So, on this Christmas Eve, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday. I look forward to seeing you in January. But for now, it’s the end of the year as we know it….and I hope we’re all feeling fine.

Related Post: Ten grievances for 2020 that I’m airing for Festivus

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