When you’re right, you’re right. Radley Balko has noticed a hunger for good news, and this would seem to qualify:
Eighteen-year-old Jabbor Gibson jumped aboard the bus as it sat abandoned on a street in New Orleans and took control.
“I just took the bus and drove all the way here…seven hours straight,’ Gibson admitted. “I hadn’t ever drove a bus.”
The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston. He beat thousands of evacuees slated to arrive there.
“I t’s better than being in New Orleans,” said fellow passenger Albert McClaud, “we want to be somewhere where we’re safe.”
Look at these pictures. I hope this kid gets a medal before Michael Brown does.
{ 20 comments }
jonathan 09.04.05 at 12:02 am
Independence Day being fresh in his memory, no doubt :)
Good news is always worth it.
Ketzl Brame 09.04.05 at 12:08 am
Do you know if it’s true he’s been arrested for stealing the bus?
Barry Freed 09.04.05 at 12:16 am
Hey c’mon, he didn’t steal that bus. He liberated it.
bad Jim 09.04.05 at 1:41 am
It’s unclear whether this Washington Post story is related or not (at least Allen Toussaint got out on this renegade bus), but it’s worth a glance.
apthorp 09.04.05 at 8:23 am
This is a clear case of looting — theft of property followed by interstate flight. Brown will get the medal … for having this purpetrator of this criminal lack of compliance with the unified federal command structure shot under martial law.
We also need to know if he told the passengers where they were heading. Just heard on NPR that “unruly” people were objecting when they found out where they were being taken. “Those” people ought to show a lot more gratitude.
John Isbell 09.04.05 at 8:31 am
” I hope this kid gets a medal before Michael Brown does.”
Yeah, that’s likely.
Belle Waring 09.04.05 at 8:37 am
if we had implemented a shoot to kill policy on looters sooner, we wouldn’t have had
problemsheroes like this.jet 09.04.05 at 9:25 am
Belle,
When you can point to one post of one conservative who wouldn’t have made an exception for a citizen organizing their own rescue, maybe then you won’t look so ridiculous.
Matt 09.04.05 at 9:31 am
Ah Jet,
You see, that’s just the trouble with the “shoot on sight”! option- how do you know “on sight” whether someone is organizing a rescue or something else? Answer- you don’t. That, of course, was only one thing wrong with the “shoot ’em!” crowed, but a pretty important one. It is, of course, on reason why we don’t normally think shooting people in anything but a life-threatening situation is a good idea, even by the police, but then, that’s not what the “shoot ’em!” folks though, no?
Sally 09.04.05 at 10:59 am
I think that must have been a different bus, Bad Jim, because it went to Baton Rouge, while Gibson’s bus went to Houston. But it does highlight something about Gibson. He could have taken a bus, driven it to where the rich people were congregating, charged for the ride, and made a big profit. He didn’t. He picked up a bunch of parents with little kids, and they all pooled their money for gas and supplies.
Incidentally, the guy’s name is Jabbar, not Jabbor, Gibson.
gzombie 09.04.05 at 10:59 am
Re: “Shoot on sight.”
First, imagine a photograph of crowds of people taking clothing and shoes from a shop with smashed-in windows in order to hoard them and perhaps sell them later for profit.
Then imagine a photograph of crowds of people taking clothing and shoes from a shop with smashed-in windows in order to take them to a shelter with thousands of refugees who have been wearing filthy clothing for days.
Finally, describe the differences in these photographs.
rollo 09.04.05 at 11:33 am
It isn’t that the “shoot-on-sight” sportsfan/citizens want to shoot the “looters” per se – they want to shoot their social inferiors, and this gives them permission and opportunity to do that.
J. Goard 09.04.05 at 1:16 pm
gzombie:
I, for one, believe that there will be differences between those two photographs — but I sure wouldn’t trust a gung-ho 20-year-old with an automatic rifle to make that determination in 2 seconds.
What is really needed is responsible citizens taking charge on the ground, and knowing that they’ll truly be given the benefit of the doubt in court if they have to take out a rapist or a self-interested looter. Vigilanteism is primitive law enforcement, and it carries serious risks, but in a major crisis it’s far superior to a bunch of young outsiders trained to feel superior to “civilians” and to shoot at anything that frightens them.
gzombie 09.04.05 at 1:43 pm
I, for one, believe that there will be differences between those two photographs—but I sure wouldn’t trust a gung-ho 20-year-old with an automatic rifle to make that determination in 2 seconds.
I agree about the 20yo with the gun. What would the differences in the photographs be?
Antti Nannimus 09.04.05 at 2:27 pm
Hi,
It’s probable at this moment the Bush Justice Department is writing a warrant for the arrest of Jabber Gibson for interstate transportation of stolen goods. The FBI will arrest him shortly. Jabber will probably spend years in prison for this. Compassionate conservative politicians will publicly congratulate each other for nailing him.
Have a nice day.
Antti
Matt Weiner 09.04.05 at 3:30 pm
Nothing I’ve read has pointed to anyone who’s actually planning to prosecute Gibson. It seems like it would be politically suicidal (at least right now).
When you can point to one post of one conservative who wouldn’t have made an exception for a citizen organizing their own rescue, maybe then you won’t look so ridiculous.
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
Q Scott, do you cited the President’s zero tolerance for insurance fraud, looting, price gouging. Does he make any allowance for people who have yet to receive aid who are taking things like water or food or shoes to walk among the debris?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think you heard from the President earlier today about his zero tolerance. We understand the need for food and water and supplies of that nature. That’s why we have a massive effort underway to continue getting food and water and ice to those who are in need. There are ways for them to get that help. Looting is not the way for them to do it.
Gary Farber 09.04.05 at 5:33 pm
It is Jabbar, it turns out, yes.
Barry Freed 09.04.05 at 7:39 pm
Good catch, Matt.
jet 09.04.05 at 10:33 pm
If you can believe this shit, I saw that this hero was actually arrested for a short period of time.
cluttergirl 09.06.05 at 1:00 am
I think the guy is a hero. Here is a Houston Chronicle story about it http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3334317 (the one that Sally linked to) But strangely most of the particulars are different… it says he was 20 not 18, it says he saved 50-70 people, not 100, it says he drove 13 hours not 7. Does anyone know the real particulars? thanks!
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