An 87-year-old woman in Georgia, United States, was tasered by police officers while she was cutting dandelions in her own front yard. The incident, which occurred on May 5th, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from community members and advocacy groups.
Martha Al-Bishara was confronted by the officers after a 911 call reported that she was carrying a knife and acting aggressively. However, Al-Bishara, who does not speak English and has dementia, was simply using the knife to cut dandelions as a snack for her goats.
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When the officers arrived on the scene, they reportedly tried to communicate with Al-Bishara, but she did not understand their instructions due to the language barrier. Instead of using a translator or finding another way to communicate with her, the officers decided to use a taser on Al-Bishara, causing her to fall to the ground.
Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The incident has caused outrage among community members and advocacy groups, who are calling for accountability for the officers involved. The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and called for the officers to be held accountable for their actions.
“We call on authorities to investigate this disturbing incident and hold the officers involved accountable for their actions,” said CAIR Georgia Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “Elderly people and those with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not subjected to violent attacks.”
The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) , a coalition of 40 of the country’s leading Latino advocacy organizations, has also condemned the incident and called for a full investigation.
“We are deeply disturbed by the actions of the police officers involved in this incident,” said NHLA Chair Hector Sanchez. “Elderly individuals, especially those with cognitive disabilities, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We call on authorities to fully investigate this incident and hold the officers accountable for their actions.”
A Pattern of Police Brutality
This incident is just one of many examples of police brutality and the use of excessive force against vulnerable populations. In recent years, there have been numerous instances of police officers using tasers, pepper spray, and other forms of force against elderly, disabled, and mentally ill individuals.
One particularly disturbing example occurred in 2015, when a mentally ill woman in California was tasered by police officers while she was in a wheelchair. The woman, who had schizophrenia, was unarmed and posed no threat to the officers. Despite this, the officers decided to use a taser on her, causing her to fall out of her wheelchair and suffer serious injuries.
These incidents highlight the need for better training and accountability for police officers when it comes to dealing with vulnerable populations. It is unacceptable for officers to use excessive force against individuals who pose no threat to them or to public safety.
The tasering of Martha Al-Bishara is a disturbing and unjustifiable incident that highlights the need for better training and accountability for police officers. Elderly, disabled, and mentally ill individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not subjected to violent attacks. Advocacy groups and community members are right to call for a thorough investigation into the matter and for the officers involved to be held accountable for their actions.
