Police brutality has been a bigger conversation in society since 2019. The death of Mr. George Floyd started the new revelation for conversation around the topic of police brutality against people of color which has been needed for centuries. Many other deaths have sadly occurred since then, like Beonna Taylor but many more have occurred before then like the death of Trevon Martin. Many protests and memorials have begun to sprout up for the deaths of people who have been victims of police brutality, as their families have become the biggest voices for this conversation. No one should ever lose a loved one especially to the violence of people who should be obeying the law. Many people believe this is a new turn in the civil rights movement for African Americans because the fight for equality still goes on.
As an Ohio State Student, I believe we still see the issues of police brutality today on and of campus. Around my apartment, I get many notifications on my Ring Camera of crimes that take place where police officers wrongfully accuse a person of color. We have seen protests at The Union for a change in the Ohio State Police and Columbus Police on campus. This Change involves Extra training, different types of emergency calls, (like social workers), and more. Students have become the voice, to hopefully be more powerful than those who are not heard, that should equally be voiced.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the first African Americans to fight for Civil Rights. He believed no matters one’s race, people are people and they should be equal. As we know Dr. King was sadly killed fighting for what was right. Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail spoke of the abuse and oppression he faced in the county jail for speaking out about his rights. He worked alongside Mr. John Lewis, who continued the fight when Dr. King couldn’t anymore. In March Volume I, Mr. Lewis fought peacefully to end the abuse of power from police as we still are in 2021. Sadly, Mr. Lewis recently passed away but saw the regression we as a society has made to the Civil Rights Movement. He believed all of the effort people such as himself, Dr. King, Rosa Parks, and many others put into stopping racism didn’t do anything, and we are going back in time today with police brutality.
“Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.”
― Lewis on political change in Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change
(quote)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/01/us/derek-chauvin-trial-jury.html
In the case of the Murder of Mr. George Flloyd, Derik Chauvin, the ex-police officer was found guilty. The 12 jurors were identified for the first time. In the time of this story, they still remain anonymous and want to stay on the “down-low” side, because of the pressure of the trial. Derik has been convicted to 22.5 years in prison for murdering Geroge Flloyd.
Gianna Flloyd, George Floyd’s daughter, on the arms of Mr. Floys long-time friend, Stephen Jackson, saying“My Daddy Will Change The World”.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12111-013-9246-5
Case study of the Racism and Discrimination associated with police brutality and Black people via the National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project (NPMSRP). This case study talks about important concepts like Critical Race Theory (like we have learned in class), and other causes for why police brutality may occur and exist. This graph shows the percentages of police brutality over decades in the twenty-first century.
References:
Bogel-burroughs, Nicholas. “Jurors Who Convicted Derek Chauvin Are Identified for First Time.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Nov. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/01/us/derek-chauvin-trial-jury.html.
Chaney, Cassandra, and Ray V. Robertson. “Racism and Police Brutality in America.” Journal of African American Studies, Springer US, 12 Jan. 2013, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12111-013-9246-5.
Lewis on political change in Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change
“Watch George Floyd’s Daughter Say ‘Daddy Changed … – Youtube.” YouTube, Entertainment Tonight, 3 June 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Kj_ZqufQM.