That thin blue line that stands between civility and chaos -- us and them -- just got a little thinner, and we all are diminished by this tragic loss.
Even the most ardent critic of police involvement in the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown should be taken aback by the cold hearted assassination of two patrolmen, partners, sitting in their cruiser Saturday afternoon. Assuming of course you're a rational human being.
Neither officer involved in the Garner or Brown deaths got up that morning thinking they were going to kill a black man. Unlike Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who clearly decided he was going to kill that day, with the only prerequisite being the victims dressed in blue.
Unfortunately for them and the families they leave behind, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were in his line of sight.
Amherst Police Station 12/7/14 #Ferguson protesters shut down Main Street
Have highly publicized demonstrations over the past few months -- some of them here in Amherst -- contributed to this outrage? How could they not -- especially with chants like "Fuck The Police".
Self serving denials ring cold and hollow, like a freshly dug grave.
When a large group of college aged youth demonstrated in front of Amherst police station two weeks ago, they chanted in choreographed unison, "Who do you protect, who do you serve?"
Now the men and women in blue will be giving much more thought to protecting their own.
We are heartbroken over the shooting of two #NYPD officers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's families, friends and coworkers.
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) December 20, 2014
