UNCjigga
Lifer
Well folks, here we go again. On MLK Day in Miami, a group of teens who were attending a "BikesUpGunsDown" rally and/or demonstrating to save a building appear to have been impeding traffic on a busy street. Deplorable A, identified as Mark Barlett, is filmed hurling racial epithets at the teens from his truck/SUV. Teens shout back.
Later, in a separate video, Deplorable B, identified as Dana Scalione (Deplorable A's girlfriend?) is seen out of her car in the crosswalk yelling at various black youth on bicycles, accusing them of holding up traffic. One of the youth appears to pop a wheelie and move toward her with his bike (possibly to intimidate her and get her to back off) and she accuses him of running over her foot. It appears that his bike never touched her foot, as another youth was in between them. As she is yelling and screaming hysterically, Deplorable A jumps out the car and runs toward them with a gun drawn.
Need I remind you this is Florida..."the" Stand Your Ground state.
Luckily, no shots are fired, Deplorable A hurls more racial epithets, and the kids move on.
Later, Mark is arrested on a weapons charge and released on $500 bond.
Twitter is outraged. I'm getting sick of all the hot takes by random B and C-list Twitter personalities. IMHO, there is only one way to view this incident given the limited context. Deplorables A & B don't seem to be nice people. Deplorable A especially is a racist prick and possibly unfit to own firearms given his racist attitudes (according to your views surrounding First/Second Amendment--I'm withholding judgement because its a goddamn Twitter video.) These kids/protesters seem to be impeding traffic and causing a bit of traffic rage, judging by the other motorists seen getting out of their cars. It does not appear that the street ahead was closed for any permitted march/rally (I don't see traffic tape/cones/police) so it's quite possible that these youth were also breaking the law by impeding traffic. They should know better, but they're just kids (see how that works both ways?)
Bottom-line: the Deplorables aren't nice people and Mark rightfully was charged with a crime, but should he face hate crime charges? Based off a Twitter video? I don't think so.
Are the kids blameless? Not entirely. They should respect the rules of the road and the rules applying to pedestrians/cyclists. However, there is no justification for waving a gun at these kids. Full stop.
Later, in a separate video, Deplorable B, identified as Dana Scalione (Deplorable A's girlfriend?) is seen out of her car in the crosswalk yelling at various black youth on bicycles, accusing them of holding up traffic. One of the youth appears to pop a wheelie and move toward her with his bike (possibly to intimidate her and get her to back off) and she accuses him of running over her foot. It appears that his bike never touched her foot, as another youth was in between them. As she is yelling and screaming hysterically, Deplorable A jumps out the car and runs toward them with a gun drawn.
Need I remind you this is Florida..."the" Stand Your Ground state.
Luckily, no shots are fired, Deplorable A hurls more racial epithets, and the kids move on.
Later, Mark is arrested on a weapons charge and released on $500 bond.
Twitter is outraged. I'm getting sick of all the hot takes by random B and C-list Twitter personalities. IMHO, there is only one way to view this incident given the limited context. Deplorables A & B don't seem to be nice people. Deplorable A especially is a racist prick and possibly unfit to own firearms given his racist attitudes (according to your views surrounding First/Second Amendment--I'm withholding judgement because its a goddamn Twitter video.) These kids/protesters seem to be impeding traffic and causing a bit of traffic rage, judging by the other motorists seen getting out of their cars. It does not appear that the street ahead was closed for any permitted march/rally (I don't see traffic tape/cones/police) so it's quite possible that these youth were also breaking the law by impeding traffic. They should know better, but they're just kids (see how that works both ways?)
Bottom-line: the Deplorables aren't nice people and Mark rightfully was charged with a crime, but should he face hate crime charges? Based off a Twitter video? I don't think so.
Are the kids blameless? Not entirely. They should respect the rules of the road and the rules applying to pedestrians/cyclists. However, there is no justification for waving a gun at these kids. Full stop.
