How many shots does it take to justify whether someone deserves to die? It took five for Harvey Milk, but it still was unjust. Even after the violence and turmoil of the civil rights movement it has been shown once again that Americans cannot live free without consequence. In this case a person tried to erase a social stigma by using his social platform to promote equal rights. Milk’s assassination was unjust because an openly gay man in a position of authority and had more power then a “normal person”. Some may say that his murder was just because not everyone wanted the change he was trying to achieve. In the days and months leading up to his assassination Harvey Milk’s stance on Gay rights and his notoriety as being one of Americas
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Milk won the election to the San Francisco board of city supervisors in 1977. His election made him the both the first openly gay supervisor in the city and the highest ranking openly gay government official in United States.(NYC Moscone Milk Verdict Protest) He used his position to implement more change. Milk demanded that Government respond to the needs of the individuals.(Harvey Milk Biography) As mentioned he changed the make-up of the police department by allowing more gay and lesbian people to be hired. He ultimately hoped to produce change through politics. That he did. The only problem with his power is that all of the people weren't ready for the ‘in your face’ style that Milk portrayed and it angered many. It fueled the fire that led Dan White to take his life. The jealousy he had for Harvey’s position and power led him to do the unthinkable. Did Harvey effect Dan’s life to a point where he felt justified in taking his? Or was it just a hate for a man who was successful where had failed. A man who was not scared to speak out on topics that made the normal person uneasy. Is depression a reason to execute another person? According to Dan Whites defense team it is. Dan’s defense team argued that depression along with an increased intake of sugar led him to act out of control. This was later known as the ‘Twinkie Defense’ and has since been
Milk won the election to the San Francisco board of city supervisors in 1977. His election made him the both the first openly gay supervisor in the city and the highest ranking openly gay government official in United States.(NYC Moscone Milk Verdict Protest) He used his position to implement more change. Milk demanded that Government respond to the needs of the individuals.(Harvey Milk Biography) As mentioned he changed the make-up of the police department by allowing more gay and lesbian people to be hired. He ultimately hoped to produce change through politics. That he did. The only problem with his power is that all of the people weren't ready for the ‘in your face’ style that Milk portrayed and it angered many. It fueled the fire that led Dan White to take his life. The jealousy he had for Harvey’s position and power led him to do the unthinkable. Did Harvey effect Dan’s life to a point where he felt justified in taking his? Or was it just a hate for a man who was successful where had failed. A man who was not scared to speak out on topics that made the normal person uneasy. Is depression a reason to execute another person? According to Dan Whites defense team it is. Dan’s defense team argued that depression along with an increased intake of sugar led him to act out of control. This was later known as the ‘Twinkie Defense’ and has since been