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Do you know how bad police brutality has been in the past years? Police brutality is the excessive use of force used by police. Police brutality affects not only the victims but also our communities as they can feel fear and be targeted by police officers. Most of the people who have been killed by officers are colored people, which can bring out the question if these killings are due to racism. According to Nicole Hannah-Jones, “Young black men are 21 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than young white men.” People of color have a higher risk of being victims of police brutality, which makes it difficult for them not to feel any fear or paranoia towards police officers when encounter one.
Police brutality is an issue that happens in many different places around the world, but mostly in the US. “Among the 100 largest cities in the U.S., more than 80 of them had at least one case of a police officer killing a civilian in 2018. By sheer numbers, Phoenix, Houston, and Los Angeles had the most such cases,” (security.com). We can see that the US has a large number of police killings, making us one of the most affected states with police brutality. Bringing up the issue of police brutality is so important because we need to speak up for our safety and the safety of our communities as many people are at risk of being victims of unnecessary use of force. This specific issue might not be talked about a lot on the news, but many cases just have not been talked about, but are still out there, which is why we need to all be informed of what’s happening in our communities. Even though police officers are supposed to be looking out for the safety of our communities, over the past years, many officers have failed with their unnecessary use of force causing victims to feel fear. Not only fear, but these victims can also develop potential psychological effects such as high levels of PTSD.
Police brutality has not only been a recent issue, but it has been going on for many years in history. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Jim Crow laws were developed and established between the North and the South to separate whites from people of color, specifically, African Americans. “For about 80 years, Jim Crow laws mandated separate public spaces for blacks and whites, such as schools, libraries, water fountains, and restaurants – and enforcing them was part of the police’s job. Blacks who broke laws or violated social norms often endured police brutality,” (Hassett-Walker, 2019). As we can see, Jim Crow laws were strictly enforced by police, and if laws were to be broken or violated, there would be police brutality involved towards the people of color. The unnecessary use of force toward people of color is something that has been going on for a long time and has increased throughout the years. Most of these policemen enforcing the Jim Crow laws were mostly white men. In addition, Connie Hasset-Walker also mentioned, “For the past five decades, the federal government has forbidden the use of racist regulations at the state and local level. Yet people of color are still more likely to be killed by the police than whites.” Although it might be forbidden for police officers to use any racist actions towards individuals, that does not mean they will not.
Most of the deaths caused by police brutality are white officers towards people of color, specifically African Americans which is why it is understandable that they feel fear. There are many different events where it is seen that policemen have enforced these acts, but back in 1955, a civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for not giving up her seat on the bus, as she was in the all-white section when she was a person of color. “Two policemen came on the bus, and one asked me if the driver had told me to stand…He wanted to know why I didn’t stand up, and I told him I didn’t think I should have to stand up. I asked him, why did they push us around? He said, ‘I don’t know, but the law is the law and you are under arrest,” (achievement.org). The discrimination that was enforced was really big, as it brought a lot of injustice towards people of color, such as Rosa Parks when she was arrested for sitting in the all-white section of a public bus. It is to see that policemen have been enforcing segregation for many years, and although it is not a law anymore, many still enforce it with their unnecessary use of force causing many deaths. The United States is very diverse with people from many different countries and many different cultures, but that isn’t the same for the police departments across the US.
Many of the policemen are white males, and there aren’t many people of color as policemen. Even in cities where there is a diversity between Hispanics and other races, it is more likely to find white policemen. “Cities in Los Angeles County with large Hispanic populations, like West Covina and Pomona, have mostly white police departments. In parts of Orange County, like Buena Park, Tustin and Garden Grove, growing Asian and Hispanic communities are also policed by mostly white departments,” (Ashkenas and Park, 2015). Many cities are full of many different races but are still being patrolled by mainly white officers, which shows the big diversity gap there is in the police departments across the US. Probably having more Hispanic, Asian, and African American officers can help communities feel safer rather than targeted. It is seen throughout the years that most of the police brutality incidents that have happened have been with white policemen, which can bring the question of rather it is racism or not. The United States is very diverse with people from many different countries and many different cultures, but that isn’t the same for the police departments across the US.
Many of the policemen are white males, and there aren’t many people of color as policemen. Even in cities where there is a diversity between Hispanics and other races, it is more likely to find white policemen. “Cities in Los Angeles County with large Hispanic populations, like West Covina and Pomona, have mostly white police departments. In parts of Orange County, like Buena Park, Tustin and Garden Grove, growing Asian and Hispanic communities are also policed by mostly white departments,” (Ashkenas and Park, 2015). Many cities are full of many different races but are still being patrolled by mainly white officers, which shows the big diversity gap there is in the police departments across the US. Probably having more Hispanic, Asian, and African American officers can help communities feel safer rather than targeted. It is seen throughout the years that most of the police brutality incidents that have happened have been with white policemen, which can bring the question of rather it is racism or not. “A second approach to understanding the behavior of police officers is psychological….This approach highlights variation among officers in their behavioral predispositions, a variation that is obscured by the sociological approach. This perspective also underlies many propositions (or suppositions) about behavioral differences related to officers’ race, gender, and educational background..,” (Worden, 152)
As mentioned by Robert E. Worden, the way policemen act can be due to the difference in their race and the way they were educated. They of course all come from different backgrounds and different families in which they were all educated in their way, which is why they have different approaches to people. It can be said that the conflicts that have been going on for years, for example, the Jim Crow laws and segregation, can be one of the reasons why white officers seem to target people of color more than anyone. Policemen might not only be racist against individuals, but they are also very corrupt and negatively use their power. There have been many incidents where policemen use violence and excessive force with individuals who are not armed and not a sign of threat at all. In an article by the Stroud Law firm injury law, it is mentioned that “while most police officers take that pledge seriously, there are some who abuse the power given them to fulfill selfish personal desires. Abuse of power by a law enforcement officer could include the use of excessive force, placing a citizen under false arrest, an unlawful murder.” As mentioned, not all officers are abusive and corrupt, but those who abuse their power in many different ways, which include unlawful murder and excessive force which fall under police brutality. When policemen abuse their power, they not only illegally attack and intimidate these victims, but they also make them feel fear because they will feel like they can’t do anything against this abuse since police have huge power and authority. This type of abuse can cause many people to feel fear and also feel targeted by policemen or any law enforcement.
A big majority of these cases are towards people of color. “The police stopped him because of a call about a “Black man, black clothing.” Then the encounter went south — a scene emblematic of racialized policing that is all too familiar. Despite being cooperative with the officers, Officer Jordan Nelson, without warning, grabbed one of Bills’ arms and violently kicked his legs out from under him, smashing his face into the concrete,” (Wilcox, 2018). This case of a black man who lived in Kansas City, Josh Bills, is an example of police excessive use of force, as well as police brutality. This man was walking by his home, as he was approached by Kansas officers. Bills did not act aggressively, or disrespectfully, instead, he greeted the policemen. Out of nowhere, the policemen started to hurt Bill, as mentioned, without there being a problem in the first place. Smashing someone’s face into the concrete, and kicking their body is extremely excessive and unnecessary, especially when the individual is not showing any signs of aggressive behavior towards any of the officers. This here is showing how policemen/officers abuse their power in situations they shouldn’t.
Policemen should not use any physical contact or excessive force in situations where it is not needed, because they are increasing police brutality, as well as harming victims that have done nothing wrong at all. Police brutality is such a big issue and needs to be stopped and reduced to help out many communities, especially people of color. Police brutality can be a factor that causes issues to both victims and communities with people of color as they can feel targeted, due to the huge number of police brutality against people of color, to experience mental health issues. “Boston University’s School of Health and the University of Pennsylvania released a study that found the high rate of unarmed African Americans being killed at the hands of police has caused more incidents of depression, stress, and other mental health issues among blacks,” (Thurau and Wald, 2018). Police brutality causes stress and mental health issues for both victims and members of the community. There have been a lot of innocent deaths of African Americans due to police officers. Although many might not think it affects others, it does as it brings fear and the question of whether they can be a possible target for policemen or not. Some potential mental health issues that can be caused are PTSD and distress. “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event,” (mayoclinic.org).
Being a victim of police brutality can cause PTSD to victims, due to the assault done by the policemen. PTSD can not only happen to the victims but also those around them and their community, as they can feel fear and also feel some type of trigger due to the event. To conclude, police brutality is a huge problem around the world, but especially in the US. This is an issue that has affected a lot of people, but specifically people of color. Some policemen use unnecessary force in situations against individuals, which most of the time, are not a threat. The fact that policemen abuse their power and attack innocent people is just disgusting, and there should be a change to that because they are supposed to be protecting our communities, not harming them. Police brutality does not only physically affect these victims but also mentally way due to the mental health issues that can be caused by these events. There should also definitely be more diversity in the police departments so that the communities can feel safe and also feel comfortable going to the policemen, instead of feeling attacked or targeted, as most police departments consist of mainly white officers. Overall, we should all stand up for our communities to reduce and put a stop to the police brutality that happens in our communities, to prevent the deaths of innocent people, as well as to protect our families.
Works Cited
- Page Akpan, Nsikan. “Police Militarization Fails to Protect Officers and Targets Black Communities, Study Finds.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 21 Aug. 2018, www.pbs.org/newshour/science/police-militarization-fails-to-protect-officers-and-targets-black-communities-study-finds.
- Ashkenas, Jeremy, and Haeyoun Park. “The Race Gap in America’s Police Departments.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Sept. 2014, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/09/03/us/the-race-gap-in-americas-police-departments.html.
- Hassett-Walker, Connie. “The Racist Roots of American Policing: From Slave Patrols to Traffic Stops.” Chicago Reporter, 11 June 2019, www.chicagoreporter.com/the-racist-roots-of-american-policing-from-slave-patrols-to-traffic-stops/.
- “Law Enforcement Abuse of Power: Southaven Injury Lawyer.” The Stroud Law Firm, stroudlawyers.com/civil-rights/law-enforcement-abuse-of-power/.
- Maguire, Edward R., and David Duffee. Criminal Justice Theory: Explaining the Nature and Behavior of Criminal Justice. Routledge, 2015. Norwood, Arlisha. “Rosa Parks.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/rosa-parks.
- “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 July 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967. “Rosa Parks.” Academy of Achievement, 10 Dec. 2019, www.achievement.org/achiever/rosa-parks/.
- Thurau, Lisa H., and Johanna Wald. “Police Killings, Brutality Damaging Mental Health of Black Community.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 15 Sept. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/spotlight/2018/09/14/police-brutality-damaging-black-communitys-mental-health/1218566002/.
- Wilcox, Gillian. “Police Brutality Against Black Kansas City Man Caught on Video.” American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 12 Oct. 2018, www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/police-brutality-against-black-kansas-city-man-caught
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