Excessive Force or Necessary Restraint?
Police brutality has remained one of the most serious human rights violations in the United States. In the last few years there have been a number of cases where a white police officer has used excessive force that resulted in the death of a member of the black community. Some say that racism was the cause; however, the media has a lot to do with it too because the more attention they give to the situation, the more they shape the public’s opinion. Through research we seek to find ways to possibly end this widespread brutality of law enforcement. However, can we really trust the police and the laws that are set in place to protect us? By answering that question, we can determine what the causes and effects …show more content…
In recent years, the police have come under serious scrutiny for police brutality, and this has been underscored by the presence of video camcorders. For example, the riots in Los Angeles would probably be the representative of some of these actions, as would the salient case of Rodney King. This case, was given much publicity, unlike the communal riots, the selection riots did not involve clashes between white and black civilians. Rather, they involved black ghetto residents and police. Particularly ignited by real or perceived acts of police brutality, but were generally confined to the ghettos. The primary activities of these riots were looting and destruction aimed at white-owned businesses. The first major insurrection riot took place in Harlem in the summer of 1964. Reacting to the killing of an unarmed black teenager by an off-duty white policeman, thousands of Harlem residents went on a rampage, pillaging white-owned businesses and hurling rocks and bottles at New York's riot police. Other major riots followed, in the Watts section of Los Angeles (1965) and Chicago (19 66). the country experienced 164 racial disorders in 128 cities, including Detroit, where 32 blacks and 10 whites died in the …show more content…
On the 12 of September 1977 Steve Bantu Biko died in his prison cell in Pretoria. His death sparked national and international protest. The police interrogated them at security police headquarters in Port Elizabeth about their alleged involvement in distributing "subversive" pamphlets in the area. Biko died at the age of 30, from brain damage sustained after a physical struggle with his interrogators, inadequate medical care, and inhumane treatment. Peter Jones was released 533 days later, in February 1979. Amidst the physical struggle, the policemen punched Biko, beat him with a hosepipe, and ran him into a wall, after he collapsed. The policemen then chained Biko upright to a security gate with his arms spread out and his feet chained to the gate, in a crucifixion position. He was left chained to the gate, later laying him on the floor, and didn’t call a doctor for 24
Police brutality has remained one of the most serious human rights violations in the United States. In the last few years there have been a number of cases where a white police officer has used excessive force that resulted in the death of a member of the black community. Some say that racism was the cause; however, the media has a lot to do with it too because the more attention they give to the situation, the more they shape the public’s opinion. Through research we seek to find ways to possibly end this widespread brutality of law enforcement. However, can we really trust the police and the laws that are set in place to protect us? By answering that question, we can determine what the causes and effects …show more content…
In recent years, the police have come under serious scrutiny for police brutality, and this has been underscored by the presence of video camcorders. For example, the riots in Los Angeles would probably be the representative of some of these actions, as would the salient case of Rodney King. This case, was given much publicity, unlike the communal riots, the selection riots did not involve clashes between white and black civilians. Rather, they involved black ghetto residents and police. Particularly ignited by real or perceived acts of police brutality, but were generally confined to the ghettos. The primary activities of these riots were looting and destruction aimed at white-owned businesses. The first major insurrection riot took place in Harlem in the summer of 1964. Reacting to the killing of an unarmed black teenager by an off-duty white policeman, thousands of Harlem residents went on a rampage, pillaging white-owned businesses and hurling rocks and bottles at New York's riot police. Other major riots followed, in the Watts section of Los Angeles (1965) and Chicago (19 66). the country experienced 164 racial disorders in 128 cities, including Detroit, where 32 blacks and 10 whites died in the …show more content…
On the 12 of September 1977 Steve Bantu Biko died in his prison cell in Pretoria. His death sparked national and international protest. The police interrogated them at security police headquarters in Port Elizabeth about their alleged involvement in distributing "subversive" pamphlets in the area. Biko died at the age of 30, from brain damage sustained after a physical struggle with his interrogators, inadequate medical care, and inhumane treatment. Peter Jones was released 533 days later, in February 1979. Amidst the physical struggle, the policemen punched Biko, beat him with a hosepipe, and ran him into a wall, after he collapsed. The policemen then chained Biko upright to a security gate with his arms spread out and his feet chained to the gate, in a crucifixion position. He was left chained to the gate, later laying him on the floor, and didn’t call a doctor for 24