What Really Happened to Sandra Bland?

Sandra Bland spoke out against civil rights in the final years of her life, never missing an opportunity to spread the word about racial injustice and police brutality. Four years after her 2016 death, Bland continued talking when videos of the traffic stop that ultimately led to her death came to light in 2019.

Before 2019, the world knew only the cops’ side of the story, which by this point, everyone knows is sometimes altered. Correctional officers found Bland hanged in her Texas jail cell on July 13, 2015, three days after she was taken into custody on misdemeanor traffic charges after the officer tailgated her. She hanged herself with a trash bag, officials say.

There was a large trash can and a trash bag in the cell….you take an inmate’s belt, hair ties and everything else, but left a trash can and a trash bag? Oh please. Contraband in ANY U.S. Jail.

Officials ruled her death a suicide.

Police Body Cam Footage Released

Police dashboard footage released after Bland’s death showed that Trooper Brian Encinia pulled over the 28-year-old woman when she failed to signal a lane change. The officer tailgated Bland for some time, prompting the lane change. The traffic stop escalated quickly after she refused to oblige the officer’s request to put out her cigarette. Bland appeared to be angry and agitated in the video.

Bland Cell Phone Footage Tells a Different Story

The 2019 cell phone video from Bland’s phone shows a woman sitting in her car, calm and controlled with an officer agitated with a Taster pointed in her face screaming “Get out of the car. I will light you up. Get out. Now!”

The trooper contended that he feared for his life, which the cell phone video disproves. He walked to his car, wrote a ticket, then went back to Bland’s vehicle. The video shows Bland was no harm to the officer when he grabbed open the door and pulled her out of the car, slamming her to the ground. The officer stated Bland was reaching for something. Bland told the officer she suffered from epilepsy.

Bland Should’ve “Just Complied”

Some people argue that Bland should have “just complied” with officers and been more respectful toward him, blaming her for the actions of another person. The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech to government officials (where’s my first amdenders who LOVE bringing this one up???? Even. when. You. don’t. Like. what. Is. said. To. you) as long as the speech is non-threatening in nature.

The cop told Sandra to put out her cigarette, she should have complied. Again, this request is not within the cop’s boundaries because Sandra was not under arrest at the time. Smoking in public is legal, no matter how many people hate smokers or smoke.

Bland did not care for the police; she was not shy about the fact. Did her demeanor reflect an unflattering opinion of police? Yes, as Bland was well-educated and aware of her risks as a Black woman living in America. She knew many simple traffic stops ended in the death of other Black people, the entire thing she fought so hard to combat. That is why she refused to put down her phone while recording the incident. She was fearful for her life, not the other way around.

Encinia Not Charged in Death; Charged With Perjury

A Grand Jury refused to indict the officer on criminal charges related to Bland’s death, though it recommended perjury charges because he lied about events leading up to her death. Officer Encinia was fired from the department and arrested in 2017 on perjury charges, though all charges against him were later dropped.

Wrongful Death Settlement

Bland’s family reached a $1.9 million wrongful death settlement in September 2016. Her cell phone video, which clearly shows Encinia escalate the confrontation and perjure himself, was never shown during the civil trial.

What Happened to Sandra Bland?

Bland had so much to live for, according to her family, who, like many people around the world, believe there is more to the story than what’s been told. They do not believe that Bland took her own life, especially while incarcerated over such minuscule charges.

Bland’s mugshot caused many speculations that she was dead when the photo was taken, prompting officers to release footage of her walking around her cell and sitting up for the photo. Yet, with so many other cover-ups and “altered” videos, can we really believe what we see? What happened to Sandra Bland? Was it a suicide or something more sinister?