Police brutality is a human rights violation, and involves law enforcement abusing their power for personal gain or profiling. Most Police departments in the United States carry the slogan, “We serve and protect”, or something similar; however, this is typically not the case. Enforcement of law has existed even before the Ten Commandments (the Code of Hammurabi in 1780 BCE), and abuse of power has been a recurring theme for police ever since. From countless anecdotal reports, as well as formal studies and surveys, most people would agree that Police officers, especially in the United States, are drunk with power – and they aren’t sobering up any time soon. A police force used to be a guarantee to communal safety, and tax dollars well spent – Now they are only “respected” because they have a monopoly on fear.
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is stated that everyone has the right to live, to be free, and to feel safe. Basically, you and everyone else have the right to feel safe in the presence of Police forces, assuming you are in accordance with your local laws. Most people have had a negative encounter with law enforcement once in their lives, regardless of whether they were doing something illegal or not. This prior experience with prodding, assertive, and sometimes aggressive officers often reinforces the paranoia people get when they observe those easily distinguishable vehicles, badges, or uniforms. Article 9 of the UDHR also states that you can not be arrested, held in jail, or thrown out of your country for no good reason, although this happens on a daily basis. During the recent NATO summit in Chicago, as well as the G20 summit in Ontario a couple of years ago, thousands of police were arranged in large blue walls of riot shields, tear gas grenades, and automatic rifles (in Canada!). Civilian rioters, including women, teenagers, and the elderly, were often inundated by the violent waves of blue if they did not stay behind police borders, and were often taken to temporary detainment camps. Some captives in the camps reported being deprived of food and water for four hours or more, not having adequate bathroom facilities, and being questioned for treason.
Anthony Kapel “Van” Jones is an environmental adviser, civil rights activist, signed a petition calling for nationwide resistance against police, he accused police of misusing policies to torture. He has an organization called ‘Ella Baker Center for Human Rights’, which works on the defense and findings of alternatives to violence. It’s a non-profit organization that formed in 1996. Methods that were used to attack this issue included the offices in state’s to hire , discipline, supervise or discipline police officers, particularly those officers who have repeatedly committed police brutality and other misconduct, formulate rules that limit the use of force by the police, and developing “early warning systems” to identify officers with high rates of citizen complaints. Main obstacles that make this situation worse would citizens being scared or not being aware of what the police do, another would be bad cops moreover.
Reform of law is not a viable option for the prevention of police brutality; officers are supposed to be enforcing those laws in the first place, and for the most part, they do. However, Police officers are above the law if they choose to be, so creating preventative legislature would only incite them to physically express their opposition. Police watch systems, established in most metropolitan cities, allow civilians to report Police misconduct to the government, and inform the public on how to effectively deal with law enforcement in the event of a dispute or abuse of power. Most of these groups advocate the use of audio recorders, and if legal in your state, video recorders, to peacefully document interactions. Informing the public is a step in the right direction, but wouldn’t informing officers themselves be effective too? Do people need to be constantly monitoring them? Must they be treated like children? Should we start with the people who are causing the problem?
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is stated that everyone has the right to live, to be free, and to feel safe. Basically, you and everyone else have the right to feel safe in the presence of Police forces, assuming you are in accordance with your local laws. Most people have had a negative encounter with law enforcement once in their lives, regardless of whether they were doing something illegal or not. This prior experience with prodding, assertive, and sometimes aggressive officers often reinforces the paranoia people get when they observe those easily distinguishable vehicles, badges, or uniforms. Article 9 of the UDHR also states that you can not be arrested, held in jail, or thrown out of your country for no good reason, although this happens on a daily basis. During the recent NATO summit in Chicago, as well as the G20 summit in Ontario a couple of years ago, thousands of police were arranged in large blue walls of riot shields, tear gas grenades, and automatic rifles (in Canada!). Civilian rioters, including women, teenagers, and the elderly, were often inundated by the violent waves of blue if they did not stay behind police borders, and were often taken to temporary detainment camps. Some captives in the camps reported being deprived of food and water for four hours or more, not having adequate bathroom facilities, and being questioned for treason.
Anthony Kapel “Van” Jones is an environmental adviser, civil rights activist, signed a petition calling for nationwide resistance against police, he accused police of misusing policies to torture. He has an organization called ‘Ella Baker Center for Human Rights’, which works on the defense and findings of alternatives to violence. It’s a non-profit organization that formed in 1996. Methods that were used to attack this issue included the offices in state’s to hire , discipline, supervise or discipline police officers, particularly those officers who have repeatedly committed police brutality and other misconduct, formulate rules that limit the use of force by the police, and developing “early warning systems” to identify officers with high rates of citizen complaints. Main obstacles that make this situation worse would citizens being scared or not being aware of what the police do, another would be bad cops moreover.
Reform of law is not a viable option for the prevention of police brutality; officers are supposed to be enforcing those laws in the first place, and for the most part, they do. However, Police officers are above the law if they choose to be, so creating preventative legislature would only incite them to physically express their opposition. Police watch systems, established in most metropolitan cities, allow civilians to report Police misconduct to the government, and inform the public on how to effectively deal with law enforcement in the event of a dispute or abuse of power. Most of these groups advocate the use of audio recorders, and if legal in your state, video recorders, to peacefully document interactions. Informing the public is a step in the right direction, but wouldn’t informing officers themselves be effective too? Do people need to be constantly monitoring them? Must they be treated like children? Should we start with the people who are causing the problem?