Krimson, no question that what happened to Mr. Diallou and the other gentlemen in your post is tragic and a very legitimate source of outrage for the African-American community (and for that matter all Americans). I am ashamed and saddened by these NYPD incidents.

But I think we have 2 qualifiers in the current Bell case which, as tragic as it is, undermines the quest for justice.

1) The African-American community has GOT to come up with a more credible advocate for justice than Rev. Al Sharpton. After the Tawana Brawley fiasco, this man has zero credibility or integrity left. He is not only despised by many whites who otherwise sympathize with the urban injustices against black Americans, but I believe he has alienated many wthin his own community with his hypocritical tirades. He is a publicity-seeker, a demagogue, and quite frankly, a racist.

2) Let's face it: Sean Bell and his buddy Mr. Guzman, and the other fellas that were "hanging out" that night, are not exactly "sympathetic" figures. They all had not-insignificant criminal records, including several felonies. These were not what you would call "good" guys. Of course, this in NO way justifies what happened to these guys that night, nor should this fact exonerate the detectives involved. All I'm saying is, this is not the textbook case that one would use to call for a wide-ranging Congressional inquiry into police misconduct. The Diallou case was much better suited for that purpose.
I mean, technically it shouldn't matter. Bell did not deserve to die that night, and Guzman does not deserve to have 4 bullets lodged in his body. The cops are no more justified in emptying 3 magazines into them than they are into Amadou Diallou. But it helps your case when you have sympathetic figures, and Bell and his posse just do not fit the bill.

Curious to get your take on these 2 qualifiers.