What I do believe happens in a lot of these cases is that we somehow want to place blame on the victim for their behavior or that they brought it upon themself. As law enforcement official, you are held to a higher standard. You are expected to execute your job in that regard.
Sharon CooperI don't mean to sound so disenchanted, but I will tell you what has been going on in our country in the mere - the last nine months to a year in terms of the fact that there is clear evidentiary proof based on video footage.
Sharon CooperBut I think I see what these guys' problem is. You know... aside from the lack of a spine and the latent misogyny? As long as they continue to act like women are a separate species and, thus, not relate to us as HUMAN BEINGS, they'll continue to alienate the majority of us on sight or send those unfortunate souls who actually date them (Bleh!) screaming into the night.
Sharon CooperAnd what I tell people is this - as a citizen of this country, there are certain rights that are given to you. Officer Encinia's decision to forcibly remove Sandy from her vehicle, which predicated on the fact that he asked her to do something - he did not lawfully order her to do something - to which she responded with a question. And for that - for that - I celebrate her because during a time where so many people would have remained silent she stood up for herself, and she invoked the rights that are due to her, and that is not unlawful.
Sharon CooperWell, what I will tell you is the support from the world - it's not just an African-American citizen. There are people of all different walks of life who are rallying behind the concerns with the that Sandy was treated because what that says to me is that this is an American issue.
Sharon CooperProsecutors are allowed to cherry-pick what evidence, if any, that they do present to a grand jury. So the grand jury process overall is flawed. And that's why it should not be utilized in this case and so many cases that are similar to this.
Sharon Cooper