A Raw Opinion On Sandra Bland

Here's the TL;DR: He's a rageaholic asshole, and she had bad luck meeting him. She was depressed, and admitted it (in spite of what her in-denial family may want us to think--really guys?), and this dickhead and everyone else that supported him put her in a situation that pushed her over that edge. No conspiracy, just plain and simple truth.

This is yet another tragic example of miscommunication. Of course, the officer--being in the authorative position--is responsible for the turn of events that followed, and should have exercised restraint and acted maturely.

Here's the thing:

She might have been high (according to the police autopsy). She was new to town, so she was nervous. Why was she nervous? First, because of the absurdity of getting pulled over for a turn signal, and secondly because of her preconceived--but not unjustified--notions about a white law officer pulling her over.

The trooper probably held some bigoted views about Sandra being black, and maybe more about her being a woman. However, judging by his interaction with the previous stop, I would surmise that he was not looking to make trouble with those he ticketed. I would go even so far as to say the last person he pulled over was only going one or two miles over the posted speed limit, but let them go to avoid "extra work."

Her, nervous and fearful, spoke brusquely with the trooper hoping to end the interaction quickly and in the moment decided that she needed a cigarette.

He, irritated by her gruff tone, "offered her an olive branch" by requesting that she put out the cigarette. When she did not "take this branch" by acting subserviently, he raged.

Asking her to depart the vehicle was a reaction to what he saw as a rebellious attitude. Alternatively, he could have been heavily offended by cigarette smoke. Either way, he should not have let these perspectives dominate his actions in the role of a law officer.

She was taken aback by his demands. Her refusal to cooperate with the officer was a counter to his unreasonable demand. She saw him flexing on her, didn't appreciate the gesture (who would?), and raged.

Snarky civil disobedience for a fascist application of authority. Seems fair to me.
But that's besides my point.

She could have UNDERSTOOD what a cowardly cop he truly was, take the ticket "like a good citizen" (Do you really have to go SJW over a ticket?) and lets him go on with his sad life.

The trooper could have UNDERSTOOD her apprehension and then extert ANY amount of control over this bigoted anger problem he has and let her go with a warning. (Zero to sixty for a cigarette?)

Look, I'm all about conspiracy theories too, but I get the feeling that she felt ashamed of what had happened, realized that she was not FULLY justified in her reaction, held negative attitudes about herself that were passively reinforced by her surroundings, and did something really rash.

Alternatively, she could have decided that the only way to fully illustrate the consequences that can ensue when law officers unfairly wield their authority was a symbolic sacrifice--no note needed.

It seems to me that anyone being arrested should choose their battles wisely. Before anyone refutes this declaration with, "If we don't start here, when does it stop," or some rhetoric like that, I will also add that this debacle was not worth a human life, however it was taken.

Sandra's death was unnecessary and ultimately could have been avoided with some maturity from the trooper, someone whose self control we should have been able to rely on. Instead, the nation's view is skewed to trust in their tendency towards bigotry and xenophobia.