Picture of the Day: Black lawmakers make ‘hands up, don’t shoot’ gesture on House floor

It’s come to this.

If you need evidence of how deeply divided the nation has become on the subject of race six years into the presidency of a man who falsely promised to usher in an era of post-racial harmony, the picture below provides it. It is a shot (which is perhaps a poor choice of words) of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who took to the floor of the House of Representatives Monday to make the “hands up, don’t shoot,” gesture that has become something of an unfunny joke in recent days.

hakeem-jeffries

The gesture originated early in the saga of black teen Michael Brown, who was shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Claims made by a friend of Brown that the teen had his hands raised in a gesture of surrender were proved false by forensic evidence and testimony under oath of other witnesses. But the “hands up, don’t shoot” mantra has remained a rallying cry among low-information types who point to the shooting of Brown as typical of wanton police brutality toward minorities.

It is understandable, if not excusable, that a bunch of overpaid professional jocks would make the gesture as a sign of solidarity. But a member of the U.S. Congress? Jeffries was joined in his symbolic gesture by other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Al Green (D-Texas).

Howard Portnoy

Howard Portnoy

Howard Portnoy has written for The Blaze, HotAir, NewsBusters, Weasel Zippers, Conservative Firing Line, RedCounty, and New York’s Daily News. He has one published novel, Hot Rain, (G. P. Putnam’s Sons), and has been a guest on Radio Vice Online with Jim Vicevich, The Alana Burke Show, Smart Life with Dr. Gina, and The George Espenlaub Show.

Comments

For your convenience, you may leave commments below using Disqus. If Disqus is not appearing for you, please disable AdBlock to leave a comment.