# Sandra Bland video **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 22, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859 "2015-07-22T05:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 81
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1601 "2015-08-01T07:32:04Z")
Sorry, thought it was obvious I was speaking generally about the position of Sheriff, Chief of Police, and similar positions. I don’t have any special knowledge of this fellow. Just pointing out that there are any number of reasons that would render him disposable even without any racist actions on his part. And that racism is, and ought to be, sufficient for disposal even if every other criteria were well and fully met. Him, Sheriff Andy of Mayberry, you name it… ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1602 "2015-08-01T13:32:39Z")
> [@camille](#): > > \*What do you believe is the difference between what you term race baiting and speaking out against the treatment of black people? \* Saying “don’t treat blacks differently from whites” is “speaking out against the treatment of black people”. Demanding that policemen are instructed “don’t ever throw a black woman on the ground” is race-baiting. Hope this made it clearer for you. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1603 "2015-08-01T16:33:41Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Saying “don’t treat blacks differently from whites” is “speaking out against the treatment of black people”. Demanding that policemen are instructed “don’t ever throw a black woman on the ground” is race-baiting. Hope this made it clearer for you. Go on… Or was that all. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1604 "2015-08-01T21:59:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I would suggest that it’s good journalistic practice to report all of the possible reasons the sheriff was fired. The article even said, “not all of which involved racial issues”. > It doesn’t look like the reporter looked for ANY evidence that might exist in the public record. I suggest that the reporter looked for anything that would suggest racism because the reporter wanted to report on racism. If there are public records and/or news accounts of reasons for that firing of the sheriff _other than_ racism (for example, charges of criminal conduct or charges of being intoxicated on the job or charges of abuse of power, etc.), and the reporter refrained from listing such recorded reasons—then you might have a case. Otherwise: no. By the way: earlier in the thread, someone asked why links about this topic (possible racism on the part of the sheriff) were to articles from outlets other than the original source of the story, the _Houston Chronicle_. I don’t believe it’s been mentioned, but the likely reason is that the H.C. is behind a paywall: > **[In Waller County, questions surround death of jail inmate](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-Waller-County-questions-surround-death-of-6389913.php)** > > PRAIRIE VIEW - State officials investigating the death of Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old... ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1605 "2015-08-02T00:04:48Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > By the way: earlier in the thread, someone asked why links about this topic (possible racism on the part of the sheriff) were to articles from outlets other than the original source of the story, the _Houston Chronicle_. I don’t believe it’s been mentioned, but the likely reason is that the H.C. is behind a paywall: > [In Waller County, questions surround death of jail inmate](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-Waller-County-questions-surround-death-of-6389913.php) Paywall or not, how do we know that Slate is giving us an accurate rendition of the original news report? Also earlier in this thread, someone cited “think progress” as if it were a news organization. They are not. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1606 "2015-08-02T00:39:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Paywall or not, how do we know that Slate is giving us an accurate rendition of the original news report? > > Also earlier in this thread, someone cited “think progress” as if it were a news organization. They are not. I linked to an original news article yesterday: > [@camille](#): > > Here is an original article from 2007: > > [Hempstead police chief accused of racism](http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Hempstead-police-chief-accused-of-racism-1806018.php) > > The predominantly black Hempstead City Council voted to suspend Smith for two weeks without pay after viewing videotapes and hearing allegations of racism from local residents against him and the other four officers. > > After a lengthy council meeting that lasted until 2 a.m. today, council also placed Smith on probation for six months and ordered him to take anger management classes but declined to take action on the other four officers. > > He was eventually fired. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1607 "2015-08-02T00:57:25Z")
> [@camille](#): > > I linked to an original news article yesterday: Yes, I know you did, and it was appreciated. I was only responding to **Sherred’s** comment about paywall being an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1608 "2015-08-02T13:57:44Z")
After reviewing everything I think what is not captured on camera -eg the struggle and subsequent alleged kick leading to her arrest is just not credible. The cops are trying real hard to make it stick. Also, I’d like to know why the Sheriff is so desperate to divert the truth about the drugs in Sandra Bland’s system? The department has a real problem if they insist she ingested drugs while in jail. What is it about this entire case that makes it so difficult for the Sheriff’s department to be truthful? According to a Columbia University researcher, the amount of THC in Sandra’s body would be a baseline amount for a sober regular user of the drug. > **[Hard to draw conclusions about pot in Bland's blood, experts say](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Hard-to-draw-conclusions-about-pot-in-Bland-s-6418565.php)** > > Forensic toxicology and experts who analyzed areport that detected marijuana in Sandra... ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1609 "2015-08-02T15:29:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > …Also earlier in this thread, someone cited “think progress” as if it were a news organization. They are not. Well, that certainly settles\* that!\* ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1610 "2015-08-02T15:29:35Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > After reviewing everything I think what is not captured on camera -eg the struggle and subsequent alleged kick leading to her arrest is just not credible. The cops are trying real hard to make it stick. I really don’t know what you mean here. So far, there’s no case to “stick”. And as has been explained already, the arrest was legal, no matter how stupid. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1611 "2015-08-02T16:10:42Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I really don’t know what you mean here. So far, there’s no case to “stick”. And as has been explained already, the arrest was legal, no matter how stupid. Yuh huh. But what goes down on her record is assault. Even Encinia himself is quoted vacillating whether to arrest her for assault or resisting arrest. So then it’s his word against hers. But she’s dead now. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1612 "2015-08-02T16:28:26Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Yuh huh. But what goes down on her record is assault. Even Encinia himself is quoted vacillating whether to arrest her for assault or resisting arrest. > > So then it’s his word against hers. But she’s dead now. Even in this he is admitting that there was no reason for this before he escalated it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1613 "2015-08-02T20:56:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Paywall or not, how do we know that Slate is giving us an accurate rendition of the original news report? You appear to be suggesting that someone at _Slate_ was confident that they could falsify a _Houston Chronicle_ story without anyone catching them. Bear in mind that _Slate_ is a widely-read, well-known site–a site that depends upon its reputation for accuracy for much of its success. What would you guess to be the odds that there is no overlap between people who do have access to the _Houston Chronicle_, and people who have had reason to look at the _Slate_ story? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1614 "2015-08-02T20:58:01Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Even in this he is admitting that there was no reason for this before he escalated it. She failed to signal a lane change, which, in Texas, is reason for arrest. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1615 "2015-08-02T20:59:26Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Yuh huh. But what goes down on her record is assault. Even Encinia himself is quoted vacillating whether to arrest her for assault or resisting arrest. > > So then it’s his word against hers. But she’s dead now. So, yeah, no case to stick. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1616 "2015-08-02T21:14:42Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > So, yeah, no case to stick. Well, it depends, doesn’t it? Bland’s family’s lawer might be able to build a case on something or another and file a civil lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1617 "2015-08-02T21:20:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > She failed to signal a lane change, which, in Texas, is reason for arrest. But you’re missing the finer point. He was just about to let her go with a warning… Not even a ticket! Then out of the blue he goes into berserker arrest mode, because… why now? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1618 "2015-08-02T21:22:10Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Well, it depends, doesn’t it? > > Bland’s family’s lawer might be able to build a case on something or another and file a civil lawsuit. But that’s pretty obviously not what **Andiethewestie** might have been referring to. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1619 "2015-08-02T23:37:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, that certainly settles\* that!\* Do you _honestly_ think that they’re not biased in a certain direction? They, themselves, admit it, to their credit. > [@thinkprogess.org](#): > > ThinkProgress is progressive. We believe the best way to advance progressive values is to accurately and thoroughly report on what is happening in America and the world. That is advocacy, not journalism. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1620 "2015-08-03T01:50:02Z")
Huh! I thought quality journalism was pretty well defined as “accurate and thorough reporting”. Gee, guess you showed me! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859.md?page=80) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859.md?page=82)