Through out semester we have talked about the topic of racial discrimination. For me when I think about racial discrimination my first thought is one police brutality. This is a topic that was thrust back into the public eye following the death of George Floyd by police officers in Minnesota this May. Following said event there was protest in cities not only in the United States but also worldwide. Most recent in the wave of protest are those currently taking place in Nigeria.[1] Police brutality as defined by Wikipedia is “ excessive use of force by law enforcement can be legally defined as a civil rights violation, where law enforcement officers exercise undue or excessive force against a subject.”[2] Then when you take a look at the history of modern police you can see that police brutality is rooted into the system. Police were originally groups formed to track and stop runaway slaves in the South and to control immigrants in the North.[3] Fast forward to the 50s and 60s during the Civil Rights Movement which challenged not only segregation and racial discrimination but also police brutality. Where activists were meet with beatings or attacks from police dogs. For example the March across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama where marchers including John Lewis were met with brutal attacks by state troopers.
Or police would sit by idle as activists were attacked by whites. An example being the Freedom Riders who were attacked by a mob armed with pipes, chains, and bats. That even though police were warned hours earlier they only arrived after the assault had begun [4]. Then taking a look at current America where African Americans make up 13 percent of the population but account for 24 percent of those fatally shot by police.[5] Where black kids are taught what to do when stopped by police to show that they are no threat. As an institution founded on racism it is not surprising to see those who work in it carry out racist acts. So it is not a few bad apples it is the entirety of which the institution was built on.
Sources:
[1]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/17/nigeria-women-protesting-against-police-brutality
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality
[3] https://www.insider.com/history-of-police-in-the-us-photos-2020-6
[4] https://www.insider.com/history-of-police-in-the-us-photos-2020-6#federal-and-state-police-forces-were-born-in-the-early-1900s-9
[5] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/long-painful-history-police-brutality-in-the-us-180964098/
Such a sad but eye opening post to read about. It breaks my heart that young Black children are learning how to respond when questioned by the police due to so many unruly and unjust violent police brutality against Black Americans. To think that the police officers are made to protect Americans and to reinforce the law are doing the exact opposite and have made themselves into the villain in so many cases is so upsetting. I think that the police need to have substantially more training and more restrictions to ensure that Americans are not only being treated equally, but are protected equally.
Love how to chose to discuss police brutality. I find this a very important topic to acknowledge because many African American are dying and it is getting swepped under the rug because its from the people who are suppose to be protecting us.
Thank you for sharing impressive videos about police brutality! In my opinion, the police have been a central part of racial injustice in the United States for a long time. The wars on crime and drugs continue to produce disproportionate and unfair enforcement in especially black communities which lead to serious and long-lasting distrust towards nation’s law and public system. I hope they can make some changes to pursue racial equality.
Hey, Great post!!!!!!!! I think you really nailed some important facts and historical moments about police brutality and events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement. Your post stood out to me because we share similarities in our post when it pertains to police brutality, racism, and systemic injustices amongst African Americans.