Police Brutality Should Be Taken Seriously by The Government

Police brutality remains one of the most serious humans right violations in the United States. Over these past years police have acted out in brutal ways that makes us question our own police force and the safety of all citizens especially African Americans. Many police officers break procedure by abusing power fatally chokings suspects, and engaging in unjustified shootings.

Police officers have more powers than the average citizen; they have the power to arrest, seize property, and use deadly force. Many officers have abused these powers. In most of these cases, officers have only been suspended or given probation, this seems like a minor punishment for such an unjustifiable crime. Police officers have gotten above the law and are now able to abuse their powers as they wish. For one i find this truth to be extremely terrifying. In May, “The Washington Post” analyzed that “385 fatal police shootings in the United States that had occurred so far in 2015” (Wong), Brutality has mostly been attributed to certain shortcomings in recruitment of police officers, training, and management.

Most of these incidents happen with African Americans. Many examples of these horrific actions is Eric Garner, 43, was killed after he was put in an illegal chokehold for 15 seconds by a white police officer – allegedly for selling loose cigarettes. Garner said “I can’t breathe” (Mueller). 11 times as he was held down by several officers on a sidewalk. Garner’s death sparked peaceful protests across the nation, with demonstrators adopting the phrase “I Can’t Breathe” as a symbol and slogan of protest. This was all caught on camera and. In December 2014, a grand jury opted not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death. This shows the corruption in the system and that justice is not served for these incidents.

The Civil Rights Movement has been the target of numerous incidents of police brutality in its struggle for justice and racial equality, notably during the Birmingham campaign of 1963-64 and during the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. Media coverage of the brutality sparked national outrage, and public sympathy for the movement grew rapidly as a result. Martin Luther King Jr. criticized police brutality in speeches. During this time, the Black Panther Party formed in response to police brutality from disproportionately white police departments that were perceived as oppressing black communities. The conflict between the Black Panther Party and various police departments often resulted in violence with the deaths of 34 members of the Black Panther Party and 15 police officers. In the United States, race and accusations of police brutality continue to be closely linked, and the phenomenon has sparked a string of race riots over the years. Especially notable among these incidents was the uprising caused by the arrest and beating of Rodney King on March 3, 1991, by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department. The atmosphere was particularly volatile because the brutality had been videotaped by a bystander and widely broadcast afterwards. When the four law enforcement officers charged with assault and other violations were acquitted, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots broke out.

In conclusion to all these incidents police brutality should not go unheard or forgotten over the years. Therefore there are many Many police officers break their authority by fatally chokings suspects, abusing power, and engaging in unjustified shootings. Police officers should be not abusing their power instead helping the community Police brutality is something we have to deal with on a daily basis. We all have to come together as brothers and sisters and stop these horrific things from happening.

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