Fernando Ferrer on Amadou Diallo

Fernando Ferrer on Amadou Diallo
Via the NY Daily News:
"I don't believe it was a crime," Ferrer, who was Bronx borough president at the time of the slaying, told members of the Sergeants Benevolent Association. "Do I believe there was an attempt by many, in a lot of different places, to overindict? Sure." The comments were far different in tone than Ferrer's remarks when he was running for mayor in 2001. The year before, the four cops who fired 41 shots at Diallo in front of his Bronx home when they mistook his wallet for a gun were acquitted of murder.Mayoral hopeful Fernando Ferrer told the police sergeants union yesterday that there was a broad attempt to "overindict" the officers involved in the infamous 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo.

And yet we wonder why this guy has twice failed to become mayor. I'm not a Fernando "Freddie" Ferrer fan. Not in the least. The man just can't be trusted. And he lost to Mark Green! Mark Green!!! But in regard to the Diallo statement, Ferrer proves one thing: He will say and do anything to win. Hmmm.....does that remind you of someone?

Unfortunately, Black folks just don't get it. The notion that Freddie Ferrer can get away with calling the Diallo murder anything less than what it is, is severely harmful. Today, some 6 years later the Diallo crime still stands as one of the most tragic and racially divisive episodes in NYC's history. 41 shots is a grim reminder of a racist administration that catered to "fixing" crime at literally ANY cost. The facts of the Diallo case showed that the four cops were badly trained and completely out of control. Police officers should be in control of the situation; 41 shots showed that they were very clearly out of control.

The instances when it is necessary for a police officer to shoot and kill another human being should be when a threat is real, not perceived. Four well-armed officers clearly had a tactical advantage if they used good judgement and training. For an officer to shoot wildly, hitting the victim in the bottom of his foot (he was clearly down at the time) is inexcusable.

And so was Freddie Ferrer's statement to the Sergeants association.

For Ferrer to have any chance in defeating Mayor Bloomberg this November he will need to win, in a landslide, the Black and Hispanic vote. He can count on Hispanics because he's Hispanic himself and well, Hispanics have a history of immense loyalty in voting for one of their own. Therefore it's the Black vote that could be the biggest factor in deciding who our next mayor will be. And far from me to recommend that any Black person vote Republican, keep in mind that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a 30-year Democrat who only joined the Republican party in 2001 so he could win. In other words, think of the mayoral race as a Democrat (Ferrer) vs. a "closet" Democrat (Bloomberg). Which leaves my vote out because Bloomberg is a liberal and voting for Ferrer would be stepping on the memory of Amadou Diallo.