Summary

A white U.S. Army sergeant, Jonathan Pentland, was charged with third-degree assault after a video surfaced showing him accosting and physically shoving a young Black man in a South Carolina neighborhood, an incident that has sparked discussions on racism and white privilege.

Abstract

The incident, captured on video by a bystander, Shirell Johnson, and posted on Facebook, depicts 42-year-old Sergeant First Class Jonathan Pentland confronting and physically assaulting a young Black man for walking in what Pentland referred to as "his" neighborhood. The confrontation, which included Pentland yelling at the man to leave the area and threatening him, resulted in Pentland being charged with third-degree assault and malicious injury to property for knocking the man's cellphone to the ground. The video's release has led to public outcry, protests, and discussions about systemic racism and the misuse of white privilege. Pentland's actions have been widely condemned, and the case has drawn parallels to other high-profile incidents of racial violence, emphasizing the need for legislative action to prevent such occurrences.

Opinions

The article suggests that Pentland's behavior is indicative of systemic racism and white privilege, as he claimed ownership of a public neighborhood and used physical force against a Black individual without provocation.
The act of videotaping the incident by a bystander is highlighted as a crucial factor in bringing attention to the issue and potentially preventing a more severe outcome, similar to other recent cases of racial injustice.
Pentland's wife's accusation against the young Black man is presented with skepticism, and the lack of appearance by the alleged female neighbor undermines the credibility of her claim.
The article expresses that Pentland's punishment, if convicted, may not be proportionate to the severity of his actions, considering the maximum penalty is 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The author advocates for the young Black man to seek legal action against Pentland, suggesting that financial repercussions might deter future racist behavior.
There is an implication that law enforcement and officials may attempt to justify or minimize Pentland's actions by referencing unrelated past incidents involving the young Black man, which is criticized as a deflection from the immediate issue of racism.
The article calls for both preventive and punitive measures to address racial incidents, suggesting that the Department of Justice and the Army's commanding general should take decisive action to quell unrest and promote justice.
The presence of protesters and the subsequent evacuation of the Pentland family, along with alleged vandalism of their home, is reported without clear attribution, raising questions about the reliability of the information regarding the protest's aftermath.

A Bullying White Army Solider Attacks an alone Young Black Man

What Happened When a Young Black Man got Shelved, Cellphone Knocked out of His Hand and was Pounced on for Walking While Black

**An April 14 booking photo of Jonathan Pentland.** Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center via AP

Cameras, lights, action! Technology is gaining more respect among the young old and otherwise and all ethnicities. Today, there is a high profile court case being tried at this very moment, and racism raised its ugly head once again. George Floyd’s murder was videotaped by a young girl, tons of incidents that have followed were also videotaped. There have been numerous cases that have yet to go to trial and some where lawsuits have been paid out. Videos posted on social media has alerted the world to the magnitude of much hate crimes. Recently, an innocent Black man in Los Angeles was arrested while Black and putting out his garbage, all caught on a video. A black soldier in Virginia, pulled over, videotaped his unwarranted altercation with two cops, lawsuit pending.

Fast forward, a young Black man walking along the sidewalk, got accosted and shelved by a while soldier for no apparent reason other than being Black. This soldier towered over this man, yelling and threating to harm him.

Jonathan Pentland, a 42 year old sergeant first class US Army noncommissioned officer, was filmed while shoving a young and very slim Black man in what the solider called “his” South Carolina neighborhood earlier this week has been charged with third-degree assault. Since when does anyone own an entire neighborhood? Is this called white privilege exercised unjustifiably? Did the kid live in that neighborhood or was he visiting someone in the neighborhood? Seeing the videotape, these two questions seem to escape this combat trained soldier’s thought processes.

Arrested, jailed and now out on bail. Thankful to an angelic lady, Shirell Johnson, who recorded this unprovoked incident and posted the footage on Facebook showing a one side confrontation between Pentland and the young Black man. Who says you can’t argue by yourself? Well, they should view this videotape where Pentland ranted and pushed this young Black man around. Pentland could be seen all in this man’s face yelling like a maniac and demanding he leave “his” neighborhood. Here are Pentland exact words, “ You either walk away or I’m going to carry your a — out of here,” No mistaking his intent there. Now the wife, not sure if she’s a Caren of not but she accused the Black young man of picking a fight with one of their female neighbors. Where’s the female neighbor now? To date, she has yet to surface. The young man denied Pentland wife’s accusation. The jury is yet out on this wife’s tidbit. If this was true, why didn’t the solider just ask about that situation with a friend but that didn’t happen, he demanded him to leave his neighborhood. Big difference. Not a word on the videotape about the man’s prior encounter with another. An attorney will get the truth here. What was heard on the video was that Pentland repeatedly asked what the Black man was doing in “his” neighborhood. The Black man said he was just walking, and that he lived in the area. You would think end of story. But not satisfied, the soldier shelves the young man. It looked like he wanted to provoked the Black man, perhaps to give himself an excuse to kill or hurt this young Black man. The young man advised that he hadn’t done anything. At this point, the solider should have step back, instead he responded, “ “I’m about to do something to you!” The young man tried to address Pentland’s wife but before he could Pentland shoved him, almost causing his to stumble as he yelled, “You’re in the wrong neighborhood, motherf — — -, get out.”

Thank God for angels and this Black man had one, unlike George Floyd and so many others like him. This angel who posted this video on Facebook just happened to be out walking with a friend when she saw this incident, and stayed with the young man until an officer arrived on the scene. Yes, the officer charged Pentland at the scene with “malicious injury” to property for knocking the man’s cellphone to the ground, not seen on the video because it had stop recording. If the roles were reversed, would the charges be the same? Think not. Knocking the Black man’s phone down so he couldn’t record the incident. Why? Was there ill intent on the part of Pentland? God sent an angel to capture an out of control racist solider in action. This angel stated as she saw what was happening, “We circled back to get him out of that situation because we refused to see him go to jail or lying there dead simply because he was Black, the only thing he did was be Black while walking!!!”

Photo by LA times (Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center via AP)

According to some officials’ account the young man had had some other occurrences but had nothing to do with Pentland’s behavior. What has one situation got to do with the another, like Pentland has never done anything wrong? This is an age old story in a play book. Also, it was stated that the Black man had an underlying medical condition that may have explained his behavior in the alleged incidents. Alleged? What has his health got to do with being accosted and shelved? Officials need to deal with the situation at the moment and not try to water it down by painting the victim less than perfect. Who is perfect? Penland’s actions were not justified and bespoke of racism and white privilege.

As the Department of Justice and the Fort Jackson Army’s commanding general promised to look into the matter along with denouncing Pentland’s behavior, more should be done in a preventive and punitive manner. Their actions are needed to cease much unrest.

Well as to be expected and rightfully so, protesters gathered outside the Pentland family’s home, the Pentland family was evacuated and according to the local sheriff, protestors vandalized the home. Who says? Not the media!

If convicted, Pentland faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. While much investigation will be ongoing and upcoming, the time for legislation to prevent this racist behavior is overdue and this Black young man needs to find an attorney, like yesterday. Hit Pentland in his pocket and perhaps the next time he’d think twice before attacking someone of color for walking down the sidewalk in ‘the’ neighborhood. The thought of what would have happened if this angel didn’t appear, where would this young man be? Dead or alive?!

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