Sunny Hostin On Ma’Khia Bryant Shooting: Why Is Deadly Force Always The First Order Of Business – Especially When It Comes To Black & Brown People?

April 23, 2021 by Kimari C in TV with 0 Comments

Sunny Hostin On Ma’Khia Bryant Shooting: Why Is Deadly Force Always The First Order Of Business – Especially When It Comes To Black & Brown People?

Bodycam footage of the latest police-related death of black teenager Ma’Khia Bryant was released to the public and it has become an increasingly polarizing issue; especially on the heels of the Derek Chauvin verdict. He was found guilty on all charges against him (unintentional second-degree murder; third-degree murder; and second-degree manslaughter) for the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd.

George Floyd, Derek Chauvin

The treatment of African Americans has been a topic of disconcertment in this country for years and the release of the footage Ma’Khia Bryant tragedy created the usual divide and a question of double standards with regard to the treatment by police of black and brown individuals in this country.

Ma’Khia Bryant was at her home when she allegedly called 911 and said another female was trying to stab them. It has been speculated that Ma’Khia Bryant called the police, but reports on who actually made the call have not been confirmed. In the body-cam footage that was released, Officer Nicholas Reardon can be seen arriving on scene at approximately 4:44PM in the midst of the scuffle with Bryant and another person. Seconds after arriving, the officer attempts to find out what’s going on yelling “Get Down” several times before shooting the 16 year old in the chest four times as she’s seen wielding a knife at another person. She falls immediately to the ground. According to the press briefing on Wednesday (April 21st), Bryant received first aid by other officers on the scene 90 seconds after the shots were fired. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead at 5:21PM.

Sunny Hostin expressed her frustration with the constant disparity when it comes to the treatment and deadly force of black and brown individuals in this country at the hands of the police. When asked by her co-host Whoopi Goldberg about her thoughts on the incident she had this to say:

“…My question is, you know, why is deadly force always the first order of business….especially when it comes to black and brown people in this country? When is it ok, why is it ok? We shouldn’t live in a country quite frankly, where it’s acceptable for the police to shoot a 16 year old four times in the chest over a fight”.

She continued,

“It goes from zero to execution very, very quickly when there is a black and brown person involved. That is just the truth… [CNN’s] Don [Lemon] is comparing this case to the case of George Floyd. She was 16 years old in foster care; George was a 46 year old man. Let’s compare apples to apples. Let’s compare this 16 or 17 year old to other 17 year olds. Let’s compare her to Kyle Rittenhouse.”

Kyle Rittenhouse is a white 17-year-old who was seen on camera touting an Ar-15 style rifle at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He had just shot and killed two people. Upon approaching the teenager, the police took him into custody with no incident. He was later charged with multiple counts of homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sunny Hostin continued :

“Video was taken 15 minutes before Rittenhouse allegedly shot and killed two people. The video showed police shared water with him and thanked him for his presence. Also, after the shooting he was able to leave the scene even though caught on video he walked towards the police as protesters yelled that he had shot people.”

She went on to say,

“Let’s also compare her to the Atlanta shooter Robert Aaron Long. He was taken into custody without incident, and you know what the captain said that arrested him? That ‘he was having a really bad day.’ How bout comparing him to Dylann Roof? In June of 2015 he killed 9 churchgoers, he was treated so kindly by police that he was taken to a Burger King. So was de-escalation a possibility here in this case?Not with this black girl…not at all”