Death Of Sandra Bland Ruled Suicide, Twitter Explodes
Officer Brian Encinia was determined to make a routine traffic stop on Sandra Bland. But from the moment she was forced from her vehicle until her mysterious death, everything went awry. Twitter supporters want #JusticeForSandraBland, which many feel is absolutely appropriate given the suspicious nature of her death. The prosecutor announced the death was ruled accidental by suicide, claiming she hung herself in her jail cell with a plastic trash can liner. Supporters are crying foul, based on the fact that she was originally stopped for failing to signal a lane change and because of the conduct of the arresting officer, which many outraged citizens claim was extremely aggressive and unlawful..
Accused of assaulting a public servant, she was slammed on her head and treated similarly to others who’ve been victims of police violence of late. Sandra Bland reopened an obvious issue with citizens not being properly informed of their legal rights during traffic stops. In order for an officer of the law to request one place their hands behind their back, reasonable suspicion must be present, for example. In Oregon, however, police are violating civil rights by yelling “Stop!” as it falls under the unlawful detainment provisions found in Article 1, Section 9 of the Oregon Constitution. Texas law apparently doesn’t consider these things to be unlawful, according to dashboard videos captured by The Washington Post.
FBI investigators have joined forces with local gumshoes to determine an accurate cause of death; treating every detail as they would a homicide. Twitter supporters have strong feelings of suspicion and distrust for the justice system, noting that killing herself was not likely given her often cheerful demeanor. Yes, she was high on marijuana during her arrest, an overlooked fact that still doesn’t justify the way she was treated. Toxicology reports show she’d either swallowed an immense amount of marijuana or smoked heartily in jail. The fact that the toxicology tests found marijuana in her system calls into question Waller County Jail’s lax security or her desire to avoid being caught with drugs in her possession.
Donald Trump defends Sandra Bland, albeit loosely, stating the police used excessive force. Considering Trump is an advocate for the restoration of police power, it is a powerful indictment of the conduct of the officers involved in this case. Anderson Cooper brought to light some interesting information through his interview that leads political figures to believe the Sandra Bland case could be another pivotal matter that determines the outcome of 2016’s highly touted election.
An autopsy, an aggressive traffic stop, and so many questions are all citizens have left as Illinois native Sandra Bland is laid to rest. Family members will undoubtedly seek justice from Waller County, and perhaps Officer Encinia will see his badge stripped over this ordeal. Whichever way this case turns out, nearly 400,000 Tweets speak one common message: change the legal system to eliminate police abuse.
(Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
