America is irreparably tainted by the original sin of slavery. While it yearns to be recognised as a post-racial society, racism consumes every aspect of a person of colour’s existence, and yet is so amorphous in its omnipresence that it is notoriously difficult to address. It haunts in the steps of minorities, whether in the subtle form of racial microaggressions, or the loud, screaming form of unarmed African American teenagers being gunned down in the streets. While the latter receives the most public attention and administrative scrutiny, it bears mentioning that the impact of these shootings is more potent in what it represents when the perpetrator is the police, especially since racial discrimination is most toxic in the criminal justice system.
Police abuse remains a standout amongst the most genuine human rights infringement in the United States. It is one of the most important issues that we face as a country right now, are our civil servants truly doing what they swore to do? Police are meant to keep our minds at ease to “Serve and Protect” our civilians and keep crime rates down. But in the wake of events that have happened in the United States lately it seems as though the media has been reporting many cases of police mistrust directly correlated with police related violence. According to recent studies, since 2015 police have killed almost two African Americans each week, resulting in one hundred and two unarmed deaths (The Economist 2015). However, at least three times as more whites have died due to law enforcement in the last two years (Richardson 2015). Cops should be trained to handle a response better rather than take their anger out or think that they can do anything just because they work for the law. Police brutality against African Americans is a serious societal problem that affects many states across the US. It implies the use of unauthorized, illegal, unfair, unnecessary, and otherwise unwarranted violence or brutality by police officers against civilians, regardless if they are breaking the law or not. The issue has gained special prominence in recent years thanks to the numerous killings of young black people that have been perpetrated by police officers.
When racial bias in criminal justice is considered alongside other socio-economic and political factors, it is apparent that ostensibly-neutral regulatory policies cumulatively have the effect of relegating minority to poverty and crime, without the recourse to opportunities for improvement. Since 1999, increasing numbers of unarmed African Americans have been killed extrajudicially by law enforcement. This lack of accountability is symptomatic of the belief that Black lives are inherently less valuable, which allows for their continued subjugation and severely undermines the confidence of minorities in law and order. Recognising the causes for this deep mistrust of authority makes it apparent why suggestions to increase community policing are considered ineffective and counterproductive solution to reduce crime in poor inner cities (Robertson 2013).
Lately, police activities, especially police abuse, have come from the perspective of a wide, open and primary eye. While natives stress over shielding themselves from offenders, it has now been demonstrated that they should likewise watch out for the individuals why should assume secure and served. These measures are necessary to shield ourselves from police exploiting their positions as law requirement officers with more noteworthy tolerant rights than individual natives. On account of this huge differential, all nationals must make a confirmed move from physical severity, rights infringement, and data misuse. Issues emerge; be that as it may when one side is advised what to do by another, as there will undoubtedly be clashing perspectives.
The most prominent action taken is one called “#BlackLivesMatter”. The media is simply fueling the “#BlackLivesMatter” movement by doing this and creating more violence between the police and African Americans (Trending 2016). The hashtag was created by Alicia Garza with two of her sisters, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi. This movement serves to call attention to the belief that black lives are targeted for termination. As more African Americans became aware of the movement, the hashtag was taken to the streets through a “Black Lives Matter Ride” and led to more recognition by mainstream media, large corporations, and even campaigns. As more African Americans and more law enforcement officials are being killed, the “#BlackLivesMatter” hashtag continues to reappear all over the news and social media. Whenever an African American is murdered by someone of another race, the “#BlackLivesMatter” movement comes into action to call out the injustice on social media and on the news.
In conclusion, brutality has been for the most part ascribed to particular deficiencies in enrollment of officers, preparing, and administration. Police misuse specialists and some police authorities agrees that officers who either have great records of abuse or outstanding records of grumblings from people in general. Most urban areas are careless to what should be done to alter the police offices in their groups, which is the reason there is a minimal activity to roll out improvement. Individuals have quite recently figured out how to endure police ruthlessness to a particular degree.