Some people may be surprised that the issue of questionable police interaction with unarmed Black people predates Black Lives Matter, and even all of the events we've seen in the 21st Century. If you've never heard of Amadou Diallo he was a 23 yr old immigrant from Guinea who was shot at 41 times by 4 undercover NYC cops on a Bronx street on Feb 4,1999...
It was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Diallo was a street vendor and was actually standing in front of his Apartment Building when the cops (who were not in uniform) apparently mistook him for a rape suspect. As they approached and possibly due to language issues Diallo (who was unarmed) reached into his pocket and the cops fired 41 shots, 19 of which hit him.
The cops later claimed they saw what appeared to be a weapon (possibly a gun or knife) but it turned out to be his wallet. Diallo was likely reaching for identification to prove his identity, and the cops mistakenly thought he was reaching for a weapon...A tragic case all the way around...The cops were charged with 2nd-degree murder, but a jury found them guilty of all charges...
Springsteen immortalized the incident in 41 Shots/ American Skin, although the song went beyond the Diallo incident to the broader issues involved. Mayor Giuliani and some within the NYPD viewed it as an attack on the cops, and there was unrest and calls for a boycott when it was played during a 10 night stand the E Street Band held in MSG. Fans were split with some booing or turning their backs to the stage while others cheered. The Police and Firemen among Springsteen's fan base were split as well with some viewing it as Brutally honest and some as a personal attack...
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/13/...g-about-diallo-prompts-anger-from-police.html
It's a compelling, complex song, and it strives to tell both sides of the equation. The lyrics describe what it's like to be a cop and be faced with life-altering decisions that have to be made in an instant, and then have to deal with the realization that you may have chosen wrong... Opening verse...
41 shots
And we'll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
Cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
[Pre-Chorus]
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin"
Equally poignant and an example of what many of us take for granted is the reality of what some families have to tell their children about how to interact with police. Lena gets her grade school-aged son Charles dressed for school, but in addition to packing his lunch and making sure he's prepared for a day of learning, she also feels the need to once again reiterate the rules. Because that's the reality...
"41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says, "On these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you'll always be polite
And that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you'll keep your hands in sight"
The reality is that in many ways nothing's changed, and 41 shots is just as topical today as it was in 1999, when Bruce wrote it... This is the video fans tend to gravitate to when events like this happen... The Big Man's mournful sax coda brings us to the end. An incredible piece of music that only Springsteen could write
It was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Diallo was a street vendor and was actually standing in front of his Apartment Building when the cops (who were not in uniform) apparently mistook him for a rape suspect. As they approached and possibly due to language issues Diallo (who was unarmed) reached into his pocket and the cops fired 41 shots, 19 of which hit him.
The cops later claimed they saw what appeared to be a weapon (possibly a gun or knife) but it turned out to be his wallet. Diallo was likely reaching for identification to prove his identity, and the cops mistakenly thought he was reaching for a weapon...A tragic case all the way around...The cops were charged with 2nd-degree murder, but a jury found them guilty of all charges...
Springsteen immortalized the incident in 41 Shots/ American Skin, although the song went beyond the Diallo incident to the broader issues involved. Mayor Giuliani and some within the NYPD viewed it as an attack on the cops, and there was unrest and calls for a boycott when it was played during a 10 night stand the E Street Band held in MSG. Fans were split with some booing or turning their backs to the stage while others cheered. The Police and Firemen among Springsteen's fan base were split as well with some viewing it as Brutally honest and some as a personal attack...
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/13/...g-about-diallo-prompts-anger-from-police.html
It's a compelling, complex song, and it strives to tell both sides of the equation. The lyrics describe what it's like to be a cop and be faced with life-altering decisions that have to be made in an instant, and then have to deal with the realization that you may have chosen wrong... Opening verse...
41 shots
And we'll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
Cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
[Pre-Chorus]
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin"
Equally poignant and an example of what many of us take for granted is the reality of what some families have to tell their children about how to interact with police. Lena gets her grade school-aged son Charles dressed for school, but in addition to packing his lunch and making sure he's prepared for a day of learning, she also feels the need to once again reiterate the rules. Because that's the reality...
"41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says, "On these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you'll always be polite
And that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you'll keep your hands in sight"
The reality is that in many ways nothing's changed, and 41 shots is just as topical today as it was in 1999, when Bruce wrote it... This is the video fans tend to gravitate to when events like this happen... The Big Man's mournful sax coda brings us to the end. An incredible piece of music that only Springsteen could write
