The definition of police brutality according to Wikipedia is, the deliberate use of excessive force, usually physical, carried out during law enforcement activities with the population. This type of behavior also includes verbal attacks and psychological intimidation by a police officer. Over the years, police brutality has increased a great deal in the African American community. According to usatoday.com, the Justice Department finds that cases in which police, prison guards and other law enforcement authorities have used excessive force or other tactics to violate victims ' civil rights have increased 25% (281 vs. 224) from fiscal years 2001 to 2007 over the previous seven years. I found this statistic in an article written seven years ago,
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Per the Denver Post, more than three out of five African Americans say they or a family member have personal experience being treated unfairly by police, and that their race is the reason. The very first time that I heard about police brutality was when the police attacked Rodney King in Los Angeles California. On March 3, 1991, Rodney King was caught by the Los Angeles police after a high-speed pursuit. After King was caught, the officers pulled him out of the car and beat him brutally, while an amateur cameraman by the name of George Holliday caught it all on camera. The four L.A.P.D. officers involved were eventually indicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and also excessive use of force by a police officer. Sadly after a three-month trial, the predominantly white jury acquitted the officers, which inflamed supporting citizens and sparked the violent 1992 Los Angeles riots. Honestly when I initially heard this story, I honestly didn’t think much of it because it didn’t affect me. I felt extremely sorry for what Rodney King, and his family experienced. Although, some people may feel that he deserved to be assaulted after the high speed chase I don’t, I still think the police’s actions were inexcusable, and immoral. The ironic thing is, years later I had no idea that the Rodney King beating would have a completely different effect on my view of …show more content…
In my opinion, there isn’t any. There’s a lot of hostility given from the police for an unknown to man reason. I feel that law enforcement has built bad habits by using their power for the wrong reasons, and because of this it’s caused that great divide be them, the justice system, and the African American community. After a thorough evaluation of policing tactics, I believe the only way to overcome police brutality amongst minority communities is for the community to educate themselves on their rights, and by also voting. With that being said, the way the police go about their methods of policing should change as well. A famous rapper once said, “We can’t change the world, unless we change ourselves.” This is a powerful statement that completely applies to the law enforcement tactics in America. Hopefully over time, the world will adapt, and embrace change a little more, because if things stay the same I really don’t have much hope for the human
Per the Denver Post, more than three out of five African Americans say they or a family member have personal experience being treated unfairly by police, and that their race is the reason. The very first time that I heard about police brutality was when the police attacked Rodney King in Los Angeles California. On March 3, 1991, Rodney King was caught by the Los Angeles police after a high-speed pursuit. After King was caught, the officers pulled him out of the car and beat him brutally, while an amateur cameraman by the name of George Holliday caught it all on camera. The four L.A.P.D. officers involved were eventually indicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and also excessive use of force by a police officer. Sadly after a three-month trial, the predominantly white jury acquitted the officers, which inflamed supporting citizens and sparked the violent 1992 Los Angeles riots. Honestly when I initially heard this story, I honestly didn’t think much of it because it didn’t affect me. I felt extremely sorry for what Rodney King, and his family experienced. Although, some people may feel that he deserved to be assaulted after the high speed chase I don’t, I still think the police’s actions were inexcusable, and immoral. The ironic thing is, years later I had no idea that the Rodney King beating would have a completely different effect on my view of …show more content…
In my opinion, there isn’t any. There’s a lot of hostility given from the police for an unknown to man reason. I feel that law enforcement has built bad habits by using their power for the wrong reasons, and because of this it’s caused that great divide be them, the justice system, and the African American community. After a thorough evaluation of policing tactics, I believe the only way to overcome police brutality amongst minority communities is for the community to educate themselves on their rights, and by also voting. With that being said, the way the police go about their methods of policing should change as well. A famous rapper once said, “We can’t change the world, unless we change ourselves.” This is a powerful statement that completely applies to the law enforcement tactics in America. Hopefully over time, the world will adapt, and embrace change a little more, because if things stay the same I really don’t have much hope for the human