Here’s some serious news for you ladies. I usually try to keep things “positive” here, but I know a lot of moms read this blog, and this is serious enough to bring to your attention. My blogging friend, Jean, wrote about an incident regarding an 8-month pregnant woman.
A pregnant woman named Malaika Brooks of Seattle, Washington, was pulled over by some cops, for allegedly speeding. She refused to sign the speeding ticket (you cannot be arrested for refusing to sign a ticket, btw, but you may face a fine if the judge in court finds you guilty of speeding). The policemen tasered Malaika REPEATEDLY, delivering 50,000 volts to her body. She pleaded with them, telling them that she was 8-months pregnant. She had no weapon, was not violent, she just wouldn’t agree with the cops and sign their stupid ticket. They tasered her REPEATEDLY, causing burn marks on the woman’s body.
She took them to court. And guess what? The federal Appeals Court said the THREE POLICEMEN did not use “excessive force” when they tasered Malaika! They let the cops go! The Appeals Court sanctioned that cops can use “pain compliance” tactics to force citizens to obey the cops.
Someone please tell me what is happening in our country??????????
A federal appeals court says three Seattle police officers did not employ excessive force when they repeatedly tasered a visibly pregnant woman for refusing to sign a speeding ticket.
The lawyer representing Malaika Brooks said Monday that the court’s 2-1 decision sanctioned “pain compliance” tactics through a modern-day version of the cattle prod.
“To inflict pain on a person if that person is not doing what the police want that person to do is simply outrageous,” said Eric Zubel, the woman’s attorney. “I cannot say that loud enough.”
Zubel said he would ask the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear Friday’s 2-1 decision that drew a sharp dissent from Judge Marsha Berzon:
“Refusing to sign a speeding ticket was at the time a nonarrestable misdemeanor; now, in Washington, it is not even that. Brooks had no weapons and had not harmed or threatened to harm a soul,” (.pdf) Berzon wrote. “Although she had told the officers she was seven months pregnant, they proceeded to use a Taser on her, not once but three times, causing her to scream with pain and leaving burn marks and permanent scars.”
She was driving 32 mph in a 20mph school zone, by the way. To the iron maiden and thumb screws the wicked woman shall go!!
Things are getting scary. These kinds of stories are becoming FAR too common. There was a case similar to this one in my area of Syracuse, NY, too. This is much, much more than just Republicans versus Democrats and Democrats versus Republicans. We are supposed to be a free country. No, you are not free to break laws, but you are free to non-violently disagree and refuse to obey a police officer. The job of the police is to enforce law and leave the penalties of breaking the law up to the courts, not to force citizens to do what cops say. This stuff is the beginning of a police state.
Edit: After I wrote this post, I saw this excellent video at Vulcan’s Hammer. WOW. The corruption is rampant.
2. April 2010 at 9:47 pm
That is very scary. What kind of world is this world becoming? I am scared for our great grand children.
3. April 2010 at 6:58 pm
what the hail? and since when is it law that you have to sign the traffic tickets? I’d be finding another court to send that too because that’s beyond messed up. how is the mother and more importantly the baby doing??
4. April 2010 at 7:32 am
Dear Rebecca,
I love that video. No vountry is perfect, either it is the most powerful country like USA. It is same like human being. Nobody perfect. I ever had accident and experience. You have read it in my book. My other Indonesian friend had the same experience too. She had to leave a house and her little 3 years old son with her husband when she called the police that her husband abuse him because he was drunk. Can you imagine, a wife left her house in that night with 3 years old son with a drunk husband? She went to my home and cried. It was a true story. She still works at Walmart, at the same place where I worked. But I believe there are still many good policemen in this country.
4. April 2010 at 7:34 am
Happy Easter!!!
4. April 2010 at 7:34 am
Dear Rebecca,
I love that video. No country is perfect, either it is the most powerful country like USA. It is same like human being. Nobody perfect. I ever had accident and experience. You have read it in my book. My other Indonesian friend had the same experience too. She had to leave a house and her little 3 years old son with her husband when she called the police that her husband abuse him because he was drunk. Can you imagine, a wife left her house in that night with 3 years old son with a drunk husband? She went to my home and cried. It was a true story. She still works at Walmart, at the same place where I worked. But I believe there are still many good policemen in this country.
8. April 2010 at 12:58 am
Absolutely Unacceptable. They should be sited by human rights groups for cruel and inhumane treatment of a pregnant woman and a fetus.
Becs where do you find these things girl ?
8. April 2010 at 9:16 am
Hiya RE! I get these stories right here:
http://www.wnd.com/
I don’t get my news from the TV, cuz they lie like rugs.
25. April 2010 at 11:31 am
Is it ok for a police officer to taser a pregnant woman or throw her on the group and put pressure on her bell?
…authority/ego they pulled out a taser and tasered the woman. Another case which was caught on tape of a pregnant black woman who the cop threw on the ground…
8. May 2010 at 11:13 pm
Hi there, I was just surfing the web and came across your website . Thought I’d say thanks and tell you that I’ve enjoyed my stay here, hope you have a good morning !