Ongoing U.S Police Brutality and Corruption Discussion Thread

Someone in the comments at LGM suggested that all African-Americans (and probably other minorities) should start livestreaming police interactions on FB, given what happened to Philando Castile. That way the interaction is preserved when cops do things like lose their body cameras or destroy cellphones on the scene. Probably a good idea.

― a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Thursday, July 7, 2016 2:21 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"These people who are trying not to die should have to work harder so they don't die"

I think at this point we all know what the issue is -- we've known for 50 years.

Way, way longer. We've known since the US brought slaves to their country. Blacks have been treated like second rate people ever since they set foot on American soil.

Not directed at you specifically, but come on.

xps yes

The specific activism against police brutality outside the south dates back 50 years, was my point... Obviously things were even worse before then

"we've known since" = the mainstream left has had no excuse not to be aware since

it's more than 50 years

Ok so that redoubles my point that we are long overdue for action on the federal level.

I don't watch TV news but my wife said the Sterling shooting video played like six different times while she was at the gym. Such a disturbing and fucked up reality to live in on multiple levels.

Maybe in the era of non-24-hour cable news it would seem less ghastly, like when you still had that moment of "now we will all sit down and find out what is happening in the world" and there was some quasi-appropriate air of seriousness to it at least.

Ok so that redoubles my point that we are long overdue for action on the federal level.

― Treeship,

Raher hard when it's state agencies running the show. Governors and state legislators bear first responsibility.

maybe there could be a way for federal civil rights enforcement powers to be increased legislatively, but mostly I think this has to come from the states, and ultimately it's better if it does. Not that I have much faith in Louisiana, unfortunately.

I thought that the "militarization" of the police, which includes certain kinds of tactical training wildly inappropriate for 99% of police work, was spurred by federal initiatives. Our whole concept of "policing," as a nation, needs to change.

I think that's more relevant to the responses to protests than to these traffic stop/911 call shootings. These are ordinary cops using ordinary chokeholds and ordinary handguns. But tbh I don't know the history to what extent the ultra-aggressive, shoot-first-ask-questions-later, cop safety at all costs, civilian-as-enemy style of policing derives from federal initiatives.

this is rosenberg on hot 97, obv a little theatrical but does get at the point about how police WON'T EVER even slightly criticize the most blatant terrible actions and even cold blooded MURDER done by another cop, it's so infuriating...but the caller here does that same goddamn song and dance "well we don't have all the facts we need to wait blah blah fuckin blah"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R07RyFN1cdY

The police in many areas tend to be overwhelmingly from the same right-wing middle class base that buys into and promotes the images of all black men as "thugs" that in turn help these cops become so shook and hateful that they can murder during a routine traffic stop where there is no actual danger to them. They practice apologetics for each other and come from communities that further apologize for them and reinforce their hate. The hemming and hawing is just the uncomfortable cpublic face of privately believing these cops most likely did the right thing.

Although I think it's also true that this mentality probably subdues some cops who might otherwise think the shootings are wrong into keeping quiet.

yeah i think you're right on both counts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gO8loTTJms

fwiw it's never a bad time to take a look at the policy platform and legislative information promoted here:
http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision

there's a gofundme for the family

https://www.gofundme.com/castilevalerie

cool to see sean daley (aka slug from atmosphere) put down $500

Campaign Not Found
We're sorry, but the campaign URL you entered cannot be found.

hmmmm shit i hope that wasn't someone scamming....

There was briefly a message up about them having had some trouble setting it up and there having been another page. Possible there was duplication, or maybe one of them was fake, IDK.

From one of our best friends:

Since school has let out, when I see pre-teen/teenage black boys grouped together in (our progressive neighborhood) doing absolutely nothing but enjoying each other's company, I get knots in my stomach, and think, I must keep (redacted) busy at that age. Why? Because my heart feels that hanging out with your friends in a group is not a safe situation for black boys, even in my area. Then listening to the MN woman, and hearing their little girl tell her, '...it's okay mommy, I'm right here...' nearly broke my heart. I've been wondering when to start teaching Thomas that in five years, definitely in ten, he won't be looked at as cute and innocent. Starting today, to a child that never has experienced racism directly, at least that I know of, I will start ingraining in his mind the fine lines he must walk because of his heritage, which unfortunately, extends far beyond law enforcement. But with the police, no matter what the situation, even a 'routine' traffic stop, he can never trust a police officer, he must always be on guard, and never think a situation will end where he will walk away physically (and emotionally) okay...only because of the color of his beautiful, brown skin. (redacted) is only 7, but right now, he hangs on to every single word I say, and takes it to heart. I thought I had more time...but I have to start now. This angers me to tears.

Minnesota fucking Nice.

I would move to all this Reykjavík, why because it look intersting.

I feel like however far away we are from genuine police reform, this is one of the rare areas where social media seems to have performed a valuable civic function insofar as it has expanded the awareness, general level of coverage, and moral outrage over a critical issue that was previously dismissed, marginalized or otherwise ignored. Obviously cops in America have been killing black people for as long as there have been cops in America, but the degree and scale of it was not previously apparent to a lot of (mostly white) people, and now it's something that confronts presidential candidates of major political parties. At some point, god willing, this is going to turn into actual political action.

http://www.justiceinpolicing.com/policy-reforms/

shakey <3

Guy in Iceland: Dear United States, please demilitarise your police. They are making you less secure, and making your society appear barbaric and hopeless.

Me: Dear Iceland, we're working on it -- it's deeply entrenched -- and will let you know when we've made progress. Thanks.

Icelandic dude: Dear United States, we know you're doing your best. We've got your back. Let us know if we can help.

Burn. :(

also: "appear"

this motherfuking narrative i'm seeing go around right now comparing this shit to black on black crimes in the inner cities is disgusting . bout to lose it atm!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmyjbeCXEAA8grR.jpg

Dixit Beyoncé.

Icelandic dude: Dear United States, we know you're doing your best. We've got your back. Let us know if we can help.

Burn. :(

― augh (Control Z)

so would that be an... ice burn?

I've never seen Obama look so dejected.

From one of our best friends:

Since school has let out, when I see pre-teen/teenage black boys grouped together in (our progressive neighborhood) doing absolutely nothing but enjoying each other's company, I get knots in my stomach, and think, I must keep (redacted) busy at that age. Why? Because my heart feels that hanging out with your friends in a group is not a safe situation for black boys, even in my area. Then listening to the MN woman, and hearing their little girl tell her, '...it's okay mommy, I'm right here...' nearly broke my heart. I've been wondering when to start teaching Thomas that in five years, definitely in ten, he won't be looked at as cute and innocent. Starting today, to a child that never has experienced racism directly, at least that I know of, I will start ingraining in his mind the fine lines he must walk because of his heritage, which unfortunately, extends far beyond law enforcement. But with the police, no matter what the situation, even a 'routine' traffic stop, he can never trust a police officer, he must always be on guard, and never think a situation will end where he will walk away physically (and emotionally) okay...only because of the color of his beautiful, brown skin. (redacted) is only 7, but right now, he hangs on to every single word I say, and takes it to heart. I thought I had more time...but I have to start now. This angers me to tears.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 July 2016 19:03 (4 hours ago) Permalink

This takes me back to talks my mother had with me growing up, and makes me realize that it's gonna be time to have a similar discussion with my own son soon. My talk with him may need to be more intense as a result of recent events. I pray the talk HE has with his children (if he has them) someday can be as mild and insinuative as my mother talk with me was.

Man, the cycles. They don't stop.

Obama's comments that I read (what was posted to his Facebook page anyway) was disappointingly milquetoast.

reports on twitter of two police shot, by someone with a rifle, after the protests in dallas had ended : /

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20160707-shots-fired-during-downtown-dallas-rally-2-officers-reportedly-injured.ece?hootPostID=ca83751d11f2a214e8fdaf224a07ab3f

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdyYjuavxWE

3 officers dead, 3 in critical condition, two in surgery ....

Two snipers...from elevated positions... No suspects in custody

Fucking hell

Shot by snipers. Very strange

ah xp

what can you say? seems like nothing has changed since ferguson. shakey is 100% otm about Black Lives Matter being the only impactful social movement to come out of the social media era. but this shooting is inevitably going to pivot the national conversation to some Blue Lives Matter shit. just miserable

well, we can always pray that it's a wingnut provocateur.

that video is insane

xp

no I think it's Dan's Option #2 starting to play out, people just can't take this shit any more and it's war, fuck the pigs

I sincerely hope that it works out better than he speculated in his original post if that's what's happening here

could be some wingnut dumbass, for sure, I guess I hope so?

2. There is a violent uprising against municipal and state police forces, incurring large casualties on both sides and triggering a response from the state/federal level that fundamentally changes the way policing works in this country. I do not predict that any changes from this admittedly unlikely scenario would go well for victims.

― volumetric god rays (DJP), Wednesday, July 6, 2016 5:15 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

so about that o_O

Snipers shooting at cops at a protest - someone definitely wants to start some shit.

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

jesus christ