The freedom of association is the human right to congregate and express and sponsor a collective opinion without the fear of discrimination and/or authoritarian intervention (Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948). This right was violated during the Ferguson arrest, when peaceful protesting lead to authorities attacking groups with tear-gas, stun grenades and smoke bombs (Al Jazeera America). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states that every human has entitlement to each freedom listed, without exceptions. The Ferguson authorities made an exception to this rule, and proceeded to shoot an unarmed African-American without fair reason. The community protested to the evident racism from the Ferguson Police due to violation of human rights, and their opinion was further repressed by the authorities with aggression. These violations bring reference to the problems the United States are facing …show more content…
Colonists began enslaving Africans during the 17th century, when they were first introduced to America at the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 to labour in crop production. During this period, African slaves were deemed as three-fifths of a whole person for taxation reasons (History.com). This was the first of many instances of racial superiority against African-Americans in America.
Although freed African-American slaves were granted legal status from the passing of three amendments (Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Fourteenth), the Supreme Court authorized the legal separation of the races in 1896, as it did not breach the Fourteenth Amendment (Library of Congress). Although racial discrimination began in the early 17th century, it was still apparent in the late 19th to mid 20th centuries until racial segregation was abolished in the