SPLC alleges Leonard Cure’s death resulted from ‘anti-Blackness in policing,’ but video contradicts their claim.
Exploiting Tragedy: SPLC’s False Narrative of ‘Anti-Blackness in Policing’
One of the country’s most racist organizations has shamelessly used a fatal traffic stop to fuel hatred and division.
In response to Monday’s shooting of Leonard Cure — a black man — by a sheriff’s deputy in Camden County, Georgia, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) condemned “anti-Blackness in policing.”
However, the release of car cam and body cam footage on Wednesday exposed the SPLC’s deceitful race-baiting.
On its website, the SPLC presents itself as a “catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy and strengthen intersectional movements.”
It is no surprise, then, that the SPLC eagerly seized the opportunity to frame Cure’s death as a racial issue. These self-proclaimed champions of “racial justice” seem to be hoping for another incident like the George Floyd case.
“SPLC is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Leonard Cure in Camden County, GA. We urgently call for a transformation in policing that honors every individual’s rights. The ongoing anti-Blackness in policing must end. Every leader must act for justice and accountability,” the SPLC tweeted on Wednesday.
SPLC is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Leonard Cure in Camden County, GA. We urgently call for a transformation in policing that honors every individual’s rights. The ongoing anti-Blackness in policing must end. Every leader must act for justice and accountability. pic.twitter.com/lNREN79EW9
— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) October 18, 2023
However, the graphic car-cam footage of the fatal encounter revealed that race played no role in the traffic stop. In fact, it showed that the sheriff’s deputy could not have known Cure’s skin color before pulling him over.
The car cam footage showed the deputy’s car driving at a moderate speed in the right lane of northbound I-95. Then, 15 seconds into the video, Cure’s truck sped past in the left lane. The deputy changed lanes and pursued him.
It took Cure some time to navigate through traffic and pull over safely, but he eventually did.
The deputy repeatedly ordered Cure to exit his vehicle.
“Step out. Step out! Get out! Get out! Put your hands back here,” the deputy said, pointing to the back of the truck.
Cure got out of the truck but did not comply with the deputy’s commands.
“I ain’t doin’ s***,” he said, setting the tone for the entire encounter.
At that point, Cure’s behavior became peculiar. The deputy attempted to grab Cure, but Cure resisted and stood at attention like a soldier.
“My name is Yah-wee,” Cure seemed to say.
“I don’t care. Step to the rear of this vehicle,” the deputy replied.
After questioning the deputy’s authority, Cure reluctantly complied. The deputy threatened to use a taser.
Cure finally placed both hands on the back of the truck, but the deputy radioed dispatch about a “non-compliant” individual.
Moments later, Cure asked if he had a warrant. The deputy once again threatened to use a taser unless Cure put his hands behind his back. Cure questioned why.
“Cause you are under arrest for speeding and reckless driving,” the deputy replied.
Cure argued that no one was hurt, but the deputy informed him that he had been driving at 100 miles per hour.
“OK, so that’s a speeding ticket, right?” Cure responded. The deputy informed him that in Georgia, such actions constitute a criminal offense.
Then came the trigger for the conflict.
“I’m not going to jail,” Cure declared.
“Yes, you are going to jail,” the deputy replied.
Cure appeared to gesture towards the sky. When the deputy approached and demanded once again that Cure put his hands behind his back, Cure made several attempts to grab the deputy’s taser. And so, the fight began.
The deputy tried to put Cure in a chokehold, but Cure gained the upper hand and struck the deputy in the face.
Bending the deputy’s neck and back, Cure taunted him.
“Yeah, b****. Yeah, b****,” Cure said twice.
At that point, the deputy managed to retrieve his gun and fired a shot into Cure’s body. Cure fell to the ground.
The video continued for another eight minutes. A Brinks truck arrived, and the driver assisted the deputy by keeping a gun aimed at the struggling Cure.
Exhausted, the deputy called for backup, repeatedly shouting “stay down!” and at one point collapsing onto the front of his vehicle.
Less than two minutes later, other officers arrived. The deputy then knelt down next to Cure.
“Hey. You look at me. You ain’t goin’ no d*** where,” the deputy said to the fatally wounded man.
As the other officers attended to Cure, the deputy walked away with a look of apparent shock and rested his head on the hood of his car.
Less than a minute later, an officer attempted to revive Cure’s heart. This continued for several minutes.
Towards the end of the video, the deputy could be heard weeping and hyperventilating as his fellow officers tried to console him.
WARNING: The following videos contain extremely graphic violence that some may find offensive. Viewer discretion is advised.
The deputy’s body cam provided another perspective of the incident.
Every aspect of this story is deeply tragic and heartbreaking for all involved.
Cure’s tragic past, for instance, includes a wrongful conviction and lengthy imprisonment in Florida. This fact alone provides crucial context regarding Cure’s potential psychological state when confronted by a law enforcement officer.
In a message shared on social media, the Georgia Innocence Project described Cure as “a wonderful friend and an active participant in educating Georgians about wrongful conviction.” The message also mentioned that Cure had started “a new and hopeful chapter in his life.”
However, the Georgia Innocence Project also urged readers to approach reports of the fatal incident with caution, considering the country’s history of unwarranted police shootings.
Rest in Power, Leonard Cure pic.twitter.com/v55tEgmTLJ
— Georgia Innocence Project (@GaInnocence) October 17, 2023
Given the videos released on Wednesday, the Georgia Innocence Project bears some responsibility for mentioning police conduct, even in a general sense.
On the other hand, at least the Georgia Innocence Project raised concerns about “unwarranted police shootings” without injecting race into the narrative.
The SPLC, however, deserves nothing but condemnation for its hasty judgment of “anti-Blackness in policing.” In light of the horrific events of 2020, such inflammatory language only brings shame upon the entire organization.
The post SPLC Claims Leonard Cure Died Due to ‘Anti-Blackness in Policing,’ But the Video Tells a Very Different Story appeared first on The Western Journal.
How can we promote constructive dialogue and mutual understanding in discussions about policing, rather than perpetuating division and promoting an anti-police agenda
And reckless driving,” the deputy explained.
Finally, the deputy attempted to restrain Cure. But instead of cooperating, Cure fought back. The two engaged in a physical struggle, with Cure refusing to comply with the deputy’s commands and attempting to reach for the deputy’s taser.
After several moments of wrestling on the ground, the deputy drew his gun and fired a single shot, striking Cure in the chest.
It is abundantly clear from the footage that race was not a factor in this tragedy. Cure’s actions, his resistance to the deputy’s commands, and his attempt to grab the deputy’s taser all contributed to the escalation of the situation.
Yet, despite the undeniable evidence, the SPLC continues to push its false narrative of “anti-Blackness in policing.” This deliberate manipulation of the facts is not only disrespectful to Cure’s memory, but it also undermines the legitimacy of the SPLC as a credible advocate for racial justice.
The SPLC’s rush to exploit this tragedy for their own divisive agenda is a perfect example of how organizations like them perpetuate hatred and division in our society. By jumping to conclusions and painting every interaction between law enforcement and minority individuals as racially motivated, the SPLC fails to address the root causes of crime and the complex issues surrounding policing.
Tragedies like Cure’s death should not be exploited to fuel division and promote an anti-police agenda. Instead, we should be working towards constructive dialogue and solutions that promote unity and mutual understanding. The SPLC’s false narrative only serves to further polarize our society and hinder progress.
It is time to reject the SPLC’s dishonesty and demand a more nuanced and informed discussion on the real issues at hand. Only then can we truly work towards meaningful change and justice for all.
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