Dear Afro.com Editor,

Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams believes the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks is being politicized. What sounds political is a sheriff, without having all the facts, emphatically saying the shooting by an Atlanta police officer was completely justified.

Why would a Black sheriff publicly defend a white police officer who fatally shoots a fleeing Black suspect in the back? Perhaps the conservative minded Sheriff Williams is ingratiating himself to Burke Countyโ€™s influential white constituency.
In his book, Black Labor, White Wealth, Dr. Claud Anderson stated, conservative minded Blacks, โ€œWho place their personal advancement above the welfare of their race, often gain significant personal and financial benefits, recognition and access to power. They are anointed by whites as โ€œleadersโ€ and touted as role models.โ€
If not for personal gain, why else would a Black sheriff make such an insensitive, ill-advised public statement?
Kevin Palmer, Evans, GA, (706) 231-1831

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