Persuasive Essay On Police Violence

In the Ferguson, Missouri case involving a white police officer (Darren Wilson) shooting an unarmed African American teenager (Michael Brown), the worldwide media immediately claimed that the officer shot Michael Brown for no reason besides the color of his skin. Many rumors and assumptions spread like wildfire after white police officer Darren Wilson was found innocent by a judge of having purpose to shoot Brown.

Making sure that every officer has a body camera will cut down on brutality and excessive force, making it safer for the officer and the civilian or suspect. With proper tranning it will create more accountability and cost will also be cut from false accusations creating better edvidence.

Police brutality is a controversial issue that has recently been in the news, but seems to have always been an issue in America. Police brutality refers to the intentional use of verbal or physical attacks directed towards individuals by the police force that result in false arrests, sexual abuse, or death. (Dudley, William 13.) Most of these actions are linked to racial profiling: the targeting of individuals for suspicion of crime based solely on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. (Dudley, William 13.) Statistics about how often racial profiling and police brutality occurs, movements such as Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, and police reform efforts are just a few points as to why this topic is so controversial today.

Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on August 2014, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in Ferguson, Mo. Brown, an 18-year-old African-American was fatally shot and killed in the street shortly after robbing a convenience store. The disputed circumstances of the shooting of the unarmed young man sparked existing tensions in the majority-black community and law enforcements in Ferguson, Mo. The event received considerable attention in the U.S. and elsewhere, attracted protesters from outside the region, and generated a powerful debate about the relationship between law enforcement and African Americans and the police use of excessive force. The shooting prompted protests that shaken the area for weeks. The announcement of the grand jury that they decided not to indict Mr. Wilson set off another wave of protests. Many police officers have defended Wilson, pointing out that officers patrolling violent neighborhoods risk their lives, while demonstrators saw the case in terms of racism and police brutality. However, Brown’s killing and the following events in Ferguson became a national controversy touching on much larger national issues of race, justice, and police brutality. While the specifics of the Brown shooting involved is not clear, the situation would have been dramatically different had Wilson worn body camera which would have recorded the actual event. With new body camera technology

First let’s discuss how this situation came about. Why are there protests against police brutality? Most of everyone has heard of the 2014 Ferguson protest. This protest was to find justice for a young man named Michael Brown. Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white male police officer, Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014. According to writer German Lopez, Wilson claimed Brown was not being cooperative and charged at him. Eyewitnesses claim differently. According to an eyewitness Brown surrendered, but that still did not keep Wilson from firing his gun. Brown had committed a robbery earlier that day and Wilson recognized him, which is the reason Wilson pulled him over. Unfortunately, there was not enough evidence for the grand jury and the Department of Justice to file any charges against Darren Wilson. (Lopez). This created a big uproar for the community and most

The shooting left the Blacks in the city of Ferguson in a state of outrage. Anger raced through the veins of the citizens which prompted a series of demonstrations, which spread rapidly across the country. Brown’s death sparked protests and discussions about race and the abuse of police power in society. Protests began to flare after the Ferguson police officer was not indicted. St. Louis grand jury brought no criminal charges against Darren Wilson, who shot Michael Brown fatally in nearby Ferguson. The decision of

On August 4th, 2014, an eighteen year old boy by the name of Michael Brown was killed by Darren Wilson. Mr. Wilson was an officer of the Ferguson Police Department. He was a twenty-eight year old white male and was accused of killing Michael out of racial hatred. This case was examined but not enough evidence was accumulated to charge Mr. Wilson with the murder of Michael (Moylan). This act of violence touched many people’s hearts but made many people angry. It was thought that the FPD was being racist when Michael was killed because of statistic after the investigation. The arrest rate in seven felonies in the FDP decreased by over fifty percent and the police commissioner stated that overall crime decreased. (Newsday) After these statistics were reviewed, some thought it was time for repercussions. This in turn was the reason behind

On August 9, 2014, a young, unarmed, 18 year old, black man named Michael Brown was shot to death six times by 28 year old, white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, a town just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Some say Officer Wilson was protecting his life, I call it police brutality. The brutality has led to an uproar of all day protesting and looting, and cops and even the National Guard are working double time to keep everything under control. There are many things that led up to the shooting.

In August 9th 2014 an unarmed teen by the name of Michael Brown was shot and killed by an officer who felt he was threatened by the unarmed teen, who later didn’t have much evidence to back it up. Hours after the killing, people started roaming the streets with posters quoting “black lives matter, no justice no peace.” After hours and hours of peaceful protests the  streets of Ferguson turned to chaotic devastation when a group of people noticed the police officer was not put into custody. Riots broke out and destroyed majority of the city, many have speculated that's the reason behind  recent police brutality today. Following the act, the courts officially decided that it was not the fought of Darren Wilson, but rather a misconception of the public’s view, and the lack of evidence. Also, Police Brutality, first recorded from the labor workers of the Pullman strike brutally beat the peace striking workers without any morality served. After the brutalities of the Pullman strike, the Textile strike was enacted. Immigrant workers protested peacefully against the owners of the company, which

Excessive force and police brutality have become common terms for anyone keeping up with today’s current events. In 2014, the media covered numerous cases of excessive force that resulted in the deaths of several people of color (Nelson & Staff, 2014). The most widely covered cases by the media in 2014 were of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black male shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri; and Eric Garner, a 43-year-old black male in Staten Island, New York who was put into a choke by police officer Daniel Pantaleo until he lost consciousness and stopped breathing (Nelson & Staff, 2014). These cases brought attention to the seriousness of police brutality and the curiosity of how often it occurs (Brown, 2015).

Police officers nowadas are being portrayed as the opposite of their job description and it has been in the media’s attention that police officers in general have been abusing their power in non-violent situations whether it be in a small town or a big city, but today the news is now covering incidents of police brutality within the elementary through high school levels. Nowadays, there are children growing up that are becoming exceptionally defiant and difficult to control in the learning environments. This lead to the point that not even their parents could do anything about. Are Student Resource Officers, “SRO’s”,abusing their power and using them incorrectly? The SRO’s should be used to control any violence and drug use, not to intervene with a situation that a teacher is capable of handling.

A story of a young African American male being shot and killed by a white police officer recently launched a nation-wide debate on the rift between communities and their local law enforcement. Although a small town, Ferguson has been under the national microscope. From individuals sharing their opinion on various social media platforms to personal involvement from the federal government, this case has redefined the mindset with which citizens view all police officers. The case of Michael Brown brought to light the dire need for transparency and accountability with police departments throughout the United States.

There is enough evidence to show that police officers are using an excess of force, and in some occasions, lethal force in their daily routine. It is now normal for people to get scared when they are in the presence of a police officer. It is not a coincidence because these police officer have created their own reputation. Recent incidents involving police officers shooting innocent people are raising doubts about how police officers are trained, and the credibility in the Unites States Justice System. Ginger Otis in Police Still ‘Have a License To Kill’, a Year After Eric Garner Was Choked to Death, Says His Mother, shows many controversial cases such as Eric Garner’s case where he was choked to death by a police officer in New York city. Also, Michael Brown an unarmed black teen that was shot to death in Ferguson, MO, or Tamir Rice a 12 year old boy that was playing with a toy gun in Cleveland, and several others. Also, it includes the decisions of the Grand jury on some of the cases where only two officers were charged. The discomfort of the community became present and they started movements like “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” in the Brown’s case and “I Can’t Breath” in the Garner’s case. Unfortunately, this issue has not stopped, and people still get hurt by police officers. Decisions of the Grand jury are putting in danger the credibility of the United States System Justice. Garner’s mother stated, “It doesn’t matter if you wear blue jeans, a blue suit or a blue uniform, if

Black Lives Matter began as a social media hashtag that later transformed into a social movement after George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year old black boy. The social media hashtag did not pick up until November 25, 2014 (Demby); the day police officer Darren Wilson was not indicted after shooting and killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year old black boy. Quickly after the decision was heard, “#blacklivesmatter” came to life via thousands of protestors. Unfortunately, this was not the last injustice to cause a Black Lives Matter protest. Shortly after, about a week and a half later, another grand jury decides to not indict another officer for the murder of Eric Garner. Eric Garner was put in a chokehold that eventually led to his death in NYC, even though the NYPD prohibits use of chokeholds. When the decision was made to not indict the officer, thousands of protestors took to the streets of NYC, Dallas, and several other major cities. The murders of Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and several others sparked similar, if not larger, protest across the country.

Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on Aug. 9, 2014, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in Ferguson. “Three minutes - that is how long it took from the time Officer Darren Wilson confronted teenager Michael Brown at 12:01, and 12:04 when other officers arrived on the scene to find Brown dead. Those three minutes, and the fallout that followed, have been the source of protests, headlines and general unrest in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri” (P 2). But what exactly happened in that time is still a source of confusion. Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson were leaving Ferguson Market and Liquor. Surveillance videos show Mr. Brown stealing some cigarillos. While they walk along West Florissant Avenue in