Voice of reason silenced in Bayview shooting protests

Yes, I'm a white, middle-aged, middle class guy who hasn't lived the poor, American Black experience.  But talking today to my 80-year old neighbor who has lived that experience, I find my views pretty much mirror his on this matter.  Harding was killed because he was a convicted pimp with little education, a suspected murderer running from the law, carrying a gun, and looking for trouble.  That he got onto a Muni vehicle and didn't pay his $2 fare wasn't the reason he was killed, but it WAS his undoing.  Had he paid his fare, he would have been let go immediately after the fare check to do whatever mayhem he was here to do.  All the yahoos calling the police murderers and oppressors can kiss my ass.  They're doing their job to keep us safe by doing foot patrols and increasing their presence in our community.  It's only if you're doing something illegal that you ought to be worried that they're out to get you - because if you ARE doing something illegal, then they ARE out to get YOU. 

This from SFGate's CW Nevius,

It is time to turn down the volume.

In the wake of the Saturday shooting death of Kenneth Wade Harding in the Bayview, accusations against the police flew. A perfect example came from a handout at Tuesday night's protest that said, "SFPD shoot a 19-year-old in Bayview for not paying his Muni fare."

Throw in claims that Harding was unarmed and it sounds horrific - Police chasing down and killing an innocent, unarmed man in a dispute over a $2 Muni fare.

Unfortunately, it now appears that almost none of that was true.

Harding, who served 22 months in prison for attempting to force a 14-year-old girl into prostitution, may not have been running to avoid a Muni fare beef. He was probably trying to flee police because he is wanted as a person of interest in a July 13 Seattle shooting that killed a 19-year-old community college student and wounded three other people.

Read more: SFGate