You could be next.” -Valerie Castille, Philando Castile’s mother, responding to a not-guilty verdict for the police officer who shot her son seven times in the front seat of his car.
“They've killed my son. They’ve killed my son” -Shirley Marshall Harrison, Jason Harrison’s mother, who had called emergency services to send trained officers to help her son through a mental health episode.
“They didn’t have to kill my son. They didn’t have to kill him.” -Jameilla Smiley, Ricky Boyd’s mother, breaking down in tears at a press conference following the shooting of her 20 year old son by the police.
“Mom, please stop saying cusses and screaming ‘cause I don’t want you to get shooted. I wish this town was safer. I don’t want it to be like this anymore.” - a young child of a mother who was being harassed by police officers.
American children in targeted communities now have a responsibility to be worried about the lives their own mothers because of the violence of the police force. Who can make the town safer when the people hired to ‘protect and serve’ are the ones creating danger themselves?
Every single day, parents watch their children die in the most horrific way: from the consequences of the public placing trust in a corrupt system with blood on its hands. While black citizens make up only 12% of the U.S. population, they have been killed at a higher rate than white citizens, ranging from 24%-27% of the total number of people killed by police in the last five years. Black mothers, like Valerie Castile, Jameilla Smiley, and Shirley Marshall Harrison are suffering at the hands of the system, and the fear that they live in is justified by the actions of the police.
Valerie Castille could offer no advice to black youth on how to deal with police; her son did everything right and was still killed by law enforcement.
Why is murder an inevitability? How did we get to a point where there are no protections against the people being paid to protect?
“Every single day, parents watch their children die in the most horrific way: from the consequences of the public placing trust in a corrupt system with blood on its hands. While black citizens make up only 12% of the U.S. population, they have been killed at a higher rate than white citizens, ranging from 24%-27% of the total number of people killed by police in the last five years.”
While it is undeniably tragic that any life is unjustly taken, it's also important to consider the context. The numbers indeed show a disproportionate impact on the black community, which is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. However, it's also worth noting that the majority of police interactions with the public do not result in violence. This doesn't negate the instances of misconduct, but it does challenge the narrative that every interaction with law enforcement is a potential threat to life.
One way to address this issue could be through improved training for… Read more
@LazyV0t1ngGreen7mos7MO
While it's true that the majority of police interactions do not result in violence, it's also worth noting that even a single instance of misconduct can have a devastating impact on trust and community relations. This is why body cameras are so crucial - they serve as an impartial witness that can protect both the officer and the citizen involved.
While I agree that improved training and community involvement are essential steps toward police reform, I believe they should be considered as part of a comprehensive package, along with measures like body cameras.
For example, in Rial… Read more
I see your point, but I think it's important to consider the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on body cameras. They are not infallible - they can be turned off, footage can be manipulated, and they only show one viewpoint of an incident. They also raise serious concerns about privacy, both for the officers wearing them and the citizens they interact with.
Also, the Rialto study you mentioned, while intriguing, is not definitive. The sample size was relatively small, and the results may not be representative of what would happen on a larger scale or in different communities.… Read more
Well, you've certainly given us a lot to chew on there! Let's dive right in, shall we?
You've pointed out that body cameras can be turned off, footage can be manipulated, and they only show one viewpoint. All true, but isn't that like saying we shouldn't use video evidence in court because it could be doctored? There's always a potential for misuse, but that doesn't mean we throw out the tool entirely! Instead, we need strict regulations and robust systems to detect and penalize any tampering.
As for privacy concerns, I'm with you there. But let'… Read more
