A Slice of Justice: The Sentencing of Police Officer Michael Slager

Police officer Michael Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of an unarmed black man. Slager, while on duty, shot and killed 50-year-old Walter Scott in North Charleston.[1] This marks a rare moment in history in which a police office is convicted of unlawfully shooting a black person. While this is a victory for Black Lives Matter and the movement against police brutality, it still poses many questions with regards to the larger implications of the prosecution and the injustices taking place all over the states.  

This New York Times article summarizes the event that took place in April of 2015, when Walter Scott was stopped by Officer Slager for a broken headlight. Once he was pulled over, Scott got out of his car and ran, possibly because he did not want to be arrested for unpaid child support.[2] When Slager caught up to him, the two men fought over the officer’s Taser and Slager claims that Scott had it in his hand, but Scott started to run again and that’s when Slager fired eight shots. Feidin Santana witnessed the event and recorded the shooting on his phone.

The shooting is unlawful and easily condemnable, but noticeably absent from this narrative, specifically in the media’s portrayal of the case, is the issue of color. The New York Times Article specifically focuses on the trial of Slager, and the various stances for his testament. It claims his guilt while highlighting the mercy his defenders feel he deserves, stating “the politics of the moment demanded” his prosecution.[3] Yet little attention is given to the color of Scott Walker’s skin and how such actions continue to result in the murder of innocent black folks at the hands of police officers.  

This ruling is significant for the respect of police officers and for the respect of black lives. However, I am still trying to figure out what makes this case different from all the others? Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and too many others have endured the same fate as Walter Scott, yet their cases were never brought to justice. I am relieved to see Officer Slager held accountable for his actions, I am uncertain about the significance of this one ruling, especially since the discussion of color and black lives are largely absent from the portrayal of this event.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/us/michael-slager-sentence-walter-scott.html     

WC: 416

Pledge: Olivia Holmes

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[1] Blinder, Michael Slager, Officer in Walter Scott Shooting, Gets 20 Year Sentence.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.