There's evidence.
As thousands of people (in America and all over the world) gather to protest police brutality, hundreds of people use the excuse of 'the bad apples' or 'they should have complied' or 'they were only trying to diffuse the situation' to justify the violence with which the police has met the protesters. Of course, #notallthepolice, because sweeping generalizations are the territory of IMPOTUS and there ARE some good apples (as Bob pointed out).
But there are police apologists. Galore. The next time someone tries to tell you that the problem is the protesters or the looters, please make sure you drop by my blog and you get this handy spreadsheet that has collected more than FOUR HUNDRED instances of police brutality during the protests. And those links to twitter also have a backup of the videos they contain. Because there needs to be hard evidence of what the police has done when IMPOTUS and his lapdog Barr have unleashed them onto the American public.
Of course, one of the things that people very conveniently forget (or choose not to remember) is that Policing as we know it today has it origins on white supremacy. So nobody should be surprised by the police being violent against the public. Policing in America was born out of the creation of slave hunters:
The racist roots of formal policing in America, in both the North and the South, make the case that the 13th Amendment applies. Through the institution of slavery, white supremacy birthed and nurtured modern-day policing. Police forces were created to perpetuate white supremacy. Formal policing in the South developed in the 1700s as slave patrols. The principal tasks of slave patrol policing were to terrorize slaves to deter revolts, capture and return runaway slaves, and discipline slaves who violated any plantation rules. Slave patrols had significant and unfettered power within their communities that derived from Slave Codes. Slave patrols would forcefully enter homes to look for criminal activity—harboring escaping slaves—or just because they could.
So when people talk about the 'one bad apple' or about how 'they deserved it'. Just show them the videos. It's the best way to shut them up. If one video does not convince them, maybe ten will? How about forty? How about four hundred? You know that sometimes not even four hundred instances of police brutality will convince somebody who worships the thin blue line. Then you'll know that it's time to sever times with that person or people. Because you will know that it's more than willful ignorance what's guiding them. It's pure, undiluted, blind racism. They like the status quo. They don't mind that 'Law and Order' means that POC need to know their place. And there's nothing you can do about that. Except protest.
#BLACKLIVESMATTER
XOXO
_en_una_actuacio%CC%81n.png)
I know I’m privileged. I know that racism exists. And I know that not all police officers are bad, and applaud them for the job they do and putting their lives on the line for us. However, as recent events have shown, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The tactics employed against the protestors are reprehensible. And there’s something to be said for the herd mentality. Look at the events in Buffalo where the 72 year old man was shoved, fell down and cracked his head against the pavement so hard it was heard across the street. The two responsible officers were suspended, so the whole task force resigns from the detail? Look at the fucking evidence!
ReplyDeleteThere has to be a deep dive into police actions. From the top down. They have to remember they are sworn PEACE officers. The defund the police movement is all about reallocating some of the money currently spent on policing to other efforts currently laid upon the police that they are ill-equipped to handle, like mental health issues. It’s time for a review.
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
The Buffalo man situation was a disgrace. And then Twitler weighed in and it became a shitshow, of course. The PoPo has grown used to plushy retirements and money for brutality. Defund the motherfuckers.
DeleteXOXO
FUCK DA POLICE!
ReplyDeletePigs.
DeleteXOXO
The police departments need to start vetting their officer applicants more thoroughly, including their social media presence before hiring. Then, if they are hired, every police officer needs to follow strict guidelines like, oh, I don't know, no shooting of unarmed black men, no chokeholds while a black man cries that he cannot breath, no mob of officers beating down a black man. Do that, lose your job, lose your pension. Stand by and watch while others do those things? Lose your job, lose your pension.
ReplyDeletePolice the police. Make it safe for the good ones to point out the bad ones.
OMG Bob. Did you read that it takes longer to train as a barber than as a policeman? A fucking manicurist? Any racist bigot can become a policeman. Any good ol' boy can get to decide who is within the law and who is not.
DeleteThey go into the force knowing they're untouchable and that their backs are covered.
If the one hundred bad apples do not point at the bad one, there's one hundred and one bad apples...
XOXO
Law enforcement has always had a problem with over zealousness, and not just in regards to color. All you need do is look at how Irish immigrants were treated in New York at the turn of the century. It's the institution itself which has problems. They've been known to abuse their authority throughout history.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's a power game. They get their kicks by kicking others. You do need to be a little sociopathic to be able to show that disdain for others. You are right. They've always been about abusing that power. It probably gives them a rush. Have you seen them pepper spraying protestants... just because?
DeleteXOXO
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell, holy crap on a cracker. It worked! Switching to IE worked. So.... I couldn't agree more. I have a friend who is a cop. He abhors those who try to get around the rules. He's finally high enough up that he can report shit and not have to deal with repercussions of the "blue line" bullshit. - Pat, WHK xoxo
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteOh, there's some good cops, as Bob say. But the system has been created to promote impunity. Cops cannot be sued because they're doing their job, remember?
The thin blue line.... and they can get away with murder. Literally.
XOXO
May these dudes get tossed in prison - No exit!
DeleteA great post and one to be heard. Thnaks for sharing it. I told bob on his blog i have two friends who are cops and one is a gay cop in DC. He definitely has it harder then my other friend here. I don't know how he does it...buy Gavin is one of the sweetest people I ever met and is probably is what is needed more in cops. Both my friends knelt and protested with the marches. Two of Gavins co officers were suspended by the chief, for giving him a hard time for protesting with the march. He said there needs to be HUGE changes and reform from the top down....and quick. Some days he feels he should hang it up....but it's his passion and dream. I feel sorry for him really. And he's only just turned 30. I told him he should stay and hopefully be the change.
ReplyDeleteOh, there are good cops around. Dedicated and honest. And the gay ones do have it harder. It's a hierarchical, patriarchal, white cisgender male paradise. The change has to come from within, of course. And good, well trained cops do need to stay and implement change!
DeleteXOXO
Drastic reform is needed alright.
ReplyDeleteOh, they are going to sit and think hard and long.
DeleteThe whole system is corrupt with power and no oversight.
XOXO
also in Italy there's racism!
ReplyDeleteOh, honey.
DeleteItalians invented Fascism during WWI so I totally believe you...
XOXO