The current social and judiciary lexicon has shifted from ‘What is law?’ to ‘Who is law?’
Law enforcement pledges to ensure protection for the citizens. But what if the same entity is the cause of danger to our lives? Law is no longer a system but at the helm of a few.
A casual day for a young motorist became his last moment only because he violated a minor traffic rule.
The story of Eddie Irizarry is not a cautionary tale but a censure of the U.S. judiciary. You can read a detailed rundown on the case–click here.
But here’s a quick gist on the transpired events–
- A 27-year-old man, Eddie Irizarry, was driving his car in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia on August 14.
- Suddenly, he heard sirens behind him, indicating him to pull over.
- The police stopped him because of improper turns and not following the rules.
- One officer, Mark Dial, approached Irizarry’s car. In the following reports, Dial stated that Eddie was driving erratically.
- After this moment, two different accounts of the incident were presented:
- The police officer said he saw Irizarry holding a small, open folding knife against his thigh. He further stated that Eddie exited his vehicle with the possible weapon. Dial feared for his safety and pulled the trigger on Eddie in self-defense.
- However, a video released of the bodycam footage suggests otherwise. Eddie remained in his car with the windows rolled up. Per the time stamp on the video, the officer fatally shot Eddie within five seconds of arriving on the scene.
Mark Dial was arrested on the charges of first-degree murder. In a complete overturn of the law, his bail was sanctioned by Magistrate Marilyn DeLeon and Municipal Court Judge Christian DiCicco at $500,000. The police union contributed 10% of the release amount ($ 50,000).
The bail itself was the first abomination of the U.S. justice system. But the blood-boiling decision shook the city.
A massive protest erupted at the City Hall on September 26, gathering over 100 people who rallied till Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice. The protestors carried signs, “Say his name, Eddie Irizarry,” and chanted, “No Justice, No Peace.” Irizarry’s family demanded justice at the protest after Municipal Judge Wendy Pew dropped all charges against Mark Dial. That day observed a peaceful protest asking for Dial’s arrest.
However, on the night of September 27, a flash mob of 100 masked teenagers and young adults stormed the City Center and looted several stores, including Lululemon, Footlocker, and Apple outlets. However, the authorities maintained that these delinquent riots have no association with the earlier protest for Eddie Irizarry.
Is There Rioting in Philadelphia?
After the George Floyd protests in 2020, “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the Police” were the two main subpoints of contention. In a rebuttal, the police union initiated “Blue Lives Matter,” suggesting that a cop’s life is always hanging by a loose thread, considering they encounter dangerous criminals daily.
But the murder of George Floyd also prompted a few reforms, such as the police officer must always have his body-cam switched on.
And if it weren’t for this rule, more such police atrocities would have never come to light. In a recent case, body cam footage revealed Officer Daniel Auderer laughing about a young student, Jaahanvi Kandula’s death at the hands of another cop. He was heard saying, “She had limited value.”
Eddie Irizarry’s death would have remained an act of self-defense if the video had not exposed Officer Mark Dial for killing the young man.
Perspective #1: Peaceful Protests
This triggered a nationwide outrage as protestors gathered at the City Hall to bring light to the injustice of acquitting Dial of all charges even after teh body cam footage revealed the truth.
Eddie’s sister, Maria Irizarry, questioned Judge Wendy Pew’s decision–
“It didn’t take her even a second for her to say, ‘Yes, I agree with you.’ She didn’t even let anybody else talk … The evidence, everything is there. We’re going to keep fighting for my brother.”
At the same time, MOVE Legacy Director Mike Africa Jr., who dedicated his life to injustice in the Philadelphia Police Department, called out the PPD during the protest–
“Killing Eddie the way they did — ain’t doing their job … Standing there, surrounding us as if we’re the criminals — that ain’t doing their job. These buildings, these streets that we’ve been protesting in front of all these years, they don’t need your protection.”
“Who needs your protection is people like Eddie.”
Perspective #2: Was the Looting a Symbol of Rebellion, or Did the Criminal Opportunists Take Advantage of the Outrage?
The night of September 27 turned into an absolute nightmare when a flock of 100 youngsters ransacked stores in a flash mob wearing Halloween masks. One woman by the ID “@StreamerMeatball,” livestreamed the loot and was also seen encouraging the hooligans. The officers arrested around 50 of them.
People associated the protests with these riots, stating that the teenagers were rebelling against the PPD robbing the stores. However, authorities clarified with CBS Philadelphia that the two events have no confirmed connection.
Some netizens believe these rioters were just exploiting and benefitting from the murder of Eddie Irizarry. Moreover, these riots would tarnish the intention of BLM as it did during the George Floyd incident.
What is your take on this case? Considering the injustice with Eddie Irizarry, do you think the rioters should be given the benefit of the doubt?
What are your opinions on how the justice system handles this case? Do you think the riots are justified? Let us know in the comments section below.
