POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE EFFECT IT IS HAVING ON AFRICAN AMERICANS

Black and brown lives are being killed, tested, and ignored. A closer look into brutality cases, and the justice system.


THE ROOT OF IT ALL 
Police brutality is a misconduct by officials who disregard rules which cause excessive or deadly force toward civilians. Other forms of police brutality are verbal, false arrest and racial profiling.

Police brutality in America has ranged over 50 years according to the Smithsonian. African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S population and are victims of police brutality 40 percent of the time. Several different studies report that Black men are nine to 16 times likely to be killed by police than anyone else.

Several cops beats Rodney King on Sunday, March 3, 1991. No conviction was ever grated in this case. 

During the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's more than half of the protest and sit-ins were peaceful, but due laws such as Jim Crow, officers used aggressive tactics such as water canons and police dogs to dismantle large crowded areas.

The 60’s is said to be the era were most outlets began documenting police brutality.  Modern technology has allowed for cases of brutality and wrong-doing to be tweeted or streamed live via Facebook. Many outlets believes technology has held more officers responsible but the number related to brutality have differ.

A NATIONAL CRISIS

Oscar Grant was shot in the back by BART policeman, 28, while lying down on the platform of a railway station on New Year’s Day. What seems to look like an execution, the officer claimed he had thought he had his taser in his hand, rather than his gun.Including multiple witnesses and footage, BART policeman was convicted two-years of involuntary manslaughter, not facing a murder charge or voluntary manslaughter.

Tamir Rice was shot and killed by police within two seconds upon arrival because they believed he had a gun while playing in the park, it turned out to be fake. In the aftermath of the shooting, it was revealed that the former officer, 26, had been deemed an emotionally unstable recruit and unfit for duty upon hire.

Eric Garner lies on the ground on the streets of New York on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Eric Garner was not killed due to a weapon. Garner lost his life due to a NYPD officer putting him in a choke hold for 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. After removing his arm from around Eric’s neck, NYPD  proceeds to push his face into the ground as multiple officers try to restrain him. Having lost consciousness, Eric lies on the ground for seven minutes until ambulance arrives.Although NYPD policy prohibits the use of a choke hold technique, Staten Island grand jury declined to indict the officer who used a choke hold on Eric.

Sandra Bland was pulled over for a failure to signal. she was found hanging in a jail cell three days. Activists say the officer had no right to arrest her, and family members state that she would not taken her own life. The officer turned off his body camera as he did not have probable cause to detain Bland. The officer who arrested Sandra was charged with perjury after Sandra was found dead. A judge later dismissed that charge on the condition that the officer resign from Department of Public Safety, surrender his police license and agree to never reapply.

LOCAL VICTIMS

Desmond grimes 15-year-old died from being tased while riding his ATV. He crashed into a pick up truck and died instantly. Michigan state trooper thought he had a gun in which the young man did not.

Brennan Walker missed his bus and asked for help in the neighborhood since he did not have his phone. He rings the doorbell, of retire firefighter Jeffery Zeigler and he gets a shotgun appears at the door and immediately took his shot. Luckily, Brennan got away. 

Artell Dickerson was killed by police in front of bar on 8 mile road. Artell was standing in front of a building with other commotion taking place. He walked away and one of the officers started shooting and directly shot him, he goes down to the ground. The officer runs over to shoot him five more times. He did not have any weapons nor start any commotion.

ACTIVIST GROUPS

Black Lives Matter Fighting for black liberation. Affirms and Uplifts the black community Stand as one united

http://detroitcoalition.org/

Detroit Coalition Detroit Founded October 22, 1966 To show powerful, visible local, national, and international protest against brutality and violence. Unite everyone Support those who were affected by police brutality. 

https://www.newdetroit.org/

New Detroit Believe in racial equity and racial understanding bringing benefits to everyone no matter their race: Income, Education, Health and Safety

Police car patrolling the campus of Oakland University on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018.

Officer Giles stands in his office on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018.

                  Interview with 
Oakland University Police


"I’ve noticed many students of color here are more comfortable with me being here and that's all that matters.” -Officer Giles


POLL ANSWERS FROM FACEBOOK

What’s your take on police brutality?  Do you know anyone who's been a victim of police brutality? What top news story made you more aware of what was happening?

“It’s sad and there’s too much of it going on.” -Keiette Moore “Terrible, and mainly toward African Americans. It’s a shame you’re still considered a minority in the land of the free.” -Gerald Allen “I feel like police brutality is another form of modern-day slavery.” -Khadijah Ama “Seem to have reached an all-time high especially against the Black community and I think it’s disgusting.” -Marquin Stanley “Police brutality exists, is condoned among law enforcement and ignored by the judicial system. Police brutality isn’t a problem created by the people who are on the receiving end of it” -Margina Cohen “Police brutality is not only the excessive force used by cops and misconduct of cops but also anything that is unnecessary by cops to me. It is condoned by law enforcement even encouraged and the cops are protected by the judicial system. They are coached on what to say so the ruling can go in their favor. The laws and policies that are supposed to protect us from police brutality are rarely enforced” -Sierra Devoe Two individuals said "YES" “Trayvon Martin.” -Keiette Moore “The Rodney King story.” -Gerald Allen “All of them, but Michael Brown and Trayvon  Martin are the ones that set it off for me though.” -Khadijah Ama “Philando Castile.” -Marquin Stanley “We are bombarded with way too many incidents to remember”-Margina Cohen

WHO IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

According to mappingpoliceviolence.org  nearly 1100 people have been killed by police in 2018. A report published by a British Medical Journal, Lancet, concluded that when officers killed an unarmed black person it damages the mental health of those of color within that state.

Police brutality has not just hurt the victims but taxpayers are footing the bill, especially citizens who live in impoverished communities see a hike in their taxes more. Seven of the cases presented have resulted in two convictions, one mistrial and 17.5 million dollars in settlement cost.

Police departments who have adopted the use of ‘all other means before shooting’ have seen a 25% drop in the killing of civilians.

99 percent of brutality cases have no criminal conviction, which 69 percent of the cases are of unarmed people. Criminal Justice policies and practices have targeted black people to capitalize off of the 13th Amendment that states “citizens cannot be enslaved unless convicted of a crime.”

Dan Korobkin of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said, “It’s a stark reminder that police brutality has real consequences, not just for the victims who are physically hurt by it, but for the residents of the community that the police supposed to be serving.”

 Men place their hands together in unity to end police brutality

Created By: Aliyah Media