Not only George Floyd: "Disable Lives Matter"

(by Niky Marcelli) Net of human pity for the fate suffered by George floyd and by many black people more or less "accidentally" suffocated by the police and for which there is a lot of noise these days, I would like to report at least three episodes in which the violent arrest resulted in the death of the arrested person by suffocation.

Cases for which no international demonstrations were held and where the policemen (and sometimes the doctors) involved got away with practically a reprimand. The victims in these cases were not black people with a more or less long delinquent curriculum, but clear-cut Caucasians who, as the only distinction, had that of being disabled. Before talking briefly (so as not to get bored!) Of these three cases, I would like to launch a hashtag that I hope will go viral as the best known #blacklivesmatter, or #disablelivesmatter.

But let's go in order and leave the United States.

ROBERT SAYLOR 

In February 2006, Robert Saylor, a boy more than evidently affected by Down syndrome, after going to the cinema, refuses to leave the theater at the end of the show. Having intervened on the spot, the police arrested him and blocked him on the ground. Robert Saylor dies of suffocation. I could not find any clues as to the possible conviction of the policemen. But who - quoting the immortal Carosone - “doesn't want to be an American”?

Here are two striking cases of our house that I do not remember have made particular noise, if not strictly local.

RICCARDO RASMAN

In October 2006, in Trieste, Richard Rasman, mentally disabled, he decides to celebrate, perhaps a little noisily, his employment as a garbage man at the Municipality. Turn the stereo up to full and set off a firecracker. Neighbors call the police. At the sight of the agents, Rasman gets scared and barricades himself in the house. A reinforcement wheel intervenes and the firefighters force the door. The agents find Rasman sitting on his bed, intent on resisting arrest. The result is a fight with four agents and Rasman is immobilized on the ground, handcuffed behind his back and with his ankles locked with wire. Despite being immobilized, officers continue to hold him in a prone position for several minutes. Rasman became cyanotic and suffered respiratory arrest. The rescuers could not but ascertain the death The policemen were sentenced to six months (SIX MONTHS) with probation.

ANDREA MONEY

We are in Turin in August 2015. Andrea Soldi, mentally disabled, is quiet in the little park under his house, sitting on what he considers “his” bench. For some time he has refused to take his medicines and the psychiatrist orders the TSO (Compulsory Health Treatment). He goes with two nurses and two traffic police to pick him up. Andrea resists arrest, is handcuffed and placed face down on the stretcher. He is overweight and cannot breathe. The nurse in the ambulance realizes this and repeatedly asks the doctor and the policemen to remove the handcuffs, but she is ignored. Andrea Soldi suffocated during the transport. The psychiatrist and the policemen were sentenced to varying sentences. The heaviest is one year and eight months, with conditionality and no mention in the file.

Now please tell me if, in your opinion, these three lives were worth less than that of poor George Floyd. 

Not only George Floyd: "Disable Lives Matter"

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