Our readers sound off on New York City's stop-and-frisk policy and chat live with our writers and editor during the Vice Presidential debate.
[View the story “Comments of the Week: Stop-and-Frisk and Our VEEP Chat ” on Storify]
Comments of the Week: Stop-and-Frisk and Our VEEP Chat
Storified by The Nation · Fri, Oct 12 2012 12:19:28
Earlier this week at TheNation.com, documentary filmmakers Ross Tuttle and Erin Schneider released a video featuring the first known recording of a stop-and-frisk in action. In it, three plainclothes police officers are heard threatening Harlem teenager Alvin and telling him that he was stopped “for being a f*cking mutt.” The story was picked up by outlets such as Gawker, New York Magazine and The Atlantic and was brought up in a New York City Council hearing on the practice. Our readers had a lot to say about the video and the future of stop-and-frisk.
urza9814:
This kid is a hero. Thank you, Alvin. Whether you know it or not, you took a great risk in recording this — people get thrown in prison on charges of "criminal wiretapping" for trying to expose this kind of police misconduct. But exposing this crap is the only way anything will ever improve.Stopped-and-Frisked: ‘For Being a F**king Mutt’ [VIDEO] | The Nation
Councilmember Robert Jackson angrily lecturing Bloomberg’s attorney, referencing #StopandFrisk recording on @TheNationChristopher Robbins
Dynamoxie:
This is so similar to what is happening with immigration arrests and deportations. Congress gives ICE enough money for 400,000 deportations, so every year they try as hard as the can to reach that total. Then they respond to criticism by saying the policy is to focus on criminals, but they change the definition of "criminal" to include traffic violations.Stopped-and-Frisked: ‘For Being a F**king Mutt’ [VIDEO] | The Nation
The crazy thing about this NYPD/"fuckin mutt" video is that it’s the 1st time this kind of thing’s been caught on tape. http://www.thenation.com/article/stopped-and-frisked-being-fking-mutt-videoAudrea
Kevin Rhodes:
“The civilian population, they’re being hunted by us,” says an officer with more than ten years on the job. “Instead of being protected by us, they’re being hunted and we’re being hated.” The cop who made this statement needs to be found and promoted to Chief of Police. I knew there was at least one good one left out there. Statistically speaking, there has to be a few more. I just don’t know where they are.Stopped-and-Frisked: ‘For Being a F**king Mutt’ [VIDEO] | The Nation
Thx for making it. Great ex of indep journalism MT @PeterRothberg Thx @bradlander 4 bringing up @thenation’s #StopAndFrisk video in hearingBrad Lander
Why are you shocked? – “@thenation: This is happening in the United States of America: http://tnat.in/elwSj”T.
Ornery59:
Wonder what would happen if NYPD was allowed to stop random bankers and brokers on suspicion of committing white collar crimes?Stopped-and-Frisked: ‘For Being a F**king Mutt’ [VIDEO] | The Nation
As a mother, this Stop-and-Frisk business scares the shit out of me. http://www.thenation.com/article/stopped-and-frisked-being-fking-mutt-videoRejin Leys
Coming off of our successful chat last week, we were joined again by up to 600 readers for our live chat during the Vice Presidential debate. If you missed it, you can read a replay here. We’ll be back again this coming Tuesday at 9 PM for more live fact-checking and analysis during the town hall presidential debate. In the meantime, here are some of the best reader comments from Thursday night.
Kurt:
The loop holes and deductions that will need to get closed in order to close the Ryan 5 trillion gap will fall to the middle class – bye bye home loan interest deduction.Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
Pete M:
He brought up 47% in the right way: pointing to who actually makes up that population.Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
Adam Heffelfinger:
I hate that this conversation always ignores that this administration HAS attacked Iran’s enrichment program with the stuxnet virus.Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
Tim Price:
Ryan: "I want to preserve Social Security for older Americans by making sure no one else has it."Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
We’ve had Paul Ryan explain the progression of seasons in Afghanistan to us; can we get him to talk about his plan to redefine rape?Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
Bruce Rosen:
Romney must believe expanding the military is the very best corporate stimulus with all of those cost + contracts…Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
JAA:
Who cares how their faith informs their views? What are they going to do about people who don’t share their faith?Watch the Vice Presidential Debate with The Nation! | The Nation
Sarah Arnold