Twitter is a large place, where virtually all points of view have a voice.
This week, in some corners of the Twittersphere, there are people claiming that alleged Aurora shooter James Holmes is receiving lenient treatment from the criminal justice system and media due to his race.
If he were black, these Twitter users argue, no one would be raising the possibility that Holmes is mentally ill. Rather, Holmes would have been killed by police before he was taken into custody.
Yes, really, there are people who believe that:
https://twitter.com/_NeciKidd/status/227681082512920577
https://twitter.com/inVINCEble24/status/227632481233416192
Everyone talks about how "educated" James Holmes is…if he were black it'd be about how violent & ignorant he is. #TheaterShooting #media
— Jonesie (@AwkwardGirlLA) July 22, 2012
https://twitter.com/lideeeyuh/status/227598233835302914
https://twitter.com/AHarp_1/status/227519364574883840
https://twitter.com/KarelisM_/status/227593988780199937
Wonder is James Holmes would be dead yet if he were black or Mexican..
— Barry Williams III (@blw_3) July 24, 2012
https://twitter.com/elsanyait_xo/status/227497947825311744
Fuck James Holmes cause if he was black he wouldn't have even made it to jail. They would've shot him dead on the scene
— FOREVER_FADED™✂️ (@DG_HEARTlESS) July 23, 2012
Recommended
They trying to say James Holmes might be insane but if it was a black man it would be a totally different thing .
— Kesh (@Keeeshakesh) July 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/TeamPenguino/status/227507564567482369
Since James Holmes is white he's still a suspect… if he was black or Hispanic things would be so different
— Dani (@daniellyyss) July 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/EricaB143/status/227546673520467968
https://twitter.com/NayBaduu/status/227541480510746624
James Holmes knew wtf he was doing. If he was black they wouldn't have said he was mentally ill
— Dashia (@dashia_dukes) July 23, 2012
https://twitter.com/ido4me_period/status/227381889672019968
https://twitter.com/elsanyait_xo/status/227497947825311744
https://twitter.com/faalon/status/227490288590016512
How the fuck can you be "Mentally Ill" but you have a PHD in Neuroscience? Fuck you James Holmes and Fuck this racist country!
— Kevin Pocasangre (@K_Pocasangre) July 24, 2012
https://twitter.com/NerdLifeApparel/status/227433919790870529
On a related note, a few Twitter users appear to be claiming that Holmes himself is racist, despite the fact that most of the people he killed were white.
https://twitter.com/JDivaDaPrincess/status/227480064659431424
https://twitter.com/REGGIE147REG/status/226733583769952257
Racism is still a huge factor in this country..Fuck casey anthony, george zimmerman, and james holmes!!!!!
— Nino Brown (@Tay_GotDaJuice) July 23, 2012
Of course, if Holmes is convicted, that will be construed as evidence of racism, too:
https://twitter.com/TomTom_Lil/status/227534611742339072
Still others wonder if the Aurora shooting was a false flag operation to divert attention from the real villain:
https://twitter.com/inNate13/status/227434946288041985
Join the conversation as a VIP Member