The Police Involved Shooting Of Michael Brown Has Changed

Police brutality and office involved shootings have sparked national debate and created a strain between police officers and citizens. Recently, there have been more home videos that display acts of aggression by police officers. These police officers often use excessive forces or a condescending tone towards people of color which is why there needs to be a better way to mend police and civilian relationship. People should be able to trust the police in their communities rather than fear them.

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.

The brutality of the police force has been a long worldwide problem, but especially between the years of 2012-2016. Black people are being unjustly beaten and shot in plain sight for doing nothing while being unarmed. Journal of African American Studies “Blacks are viewed as deserving of harsh treatment in the criminal justice system” (482). “Black males with more “Afrocentric” features may receive longer sentences than blacks with less Afrocentric features like lighter skin and straighter hair”(482). Nowadays it is important to know about the police force. It’s important to know our rights as citizens and be careful around cops. Not everybody is good, but not everybody is bad also. In The New York Amsterdam News 21 people were killed by Chicago police in 2008. Entire families were being attacked. They believe it’s because of their skin color and how they are different. The year of racism started off with the world seeing the police murder of Oscar Grant. “The media have pushed people away from hearing the issue of police brutality, and it has fallen off of the radar screen.”(2) “You can’t give in. They will try to make an example out of you, try to break your spirit!”(2) African Americans say do not trust the cops with anything. “They will ruin you.”(2)

The heated issue of police brutality and police officers violating civil rights has extensively covered media headlines for several years. Hundreds of people are killed every year by police officers, and many of these cases bring up issues of police brutality. More often than not, it is usually a white police officer and an african american offender encounter that sparks media attention. The shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri is just one of these cases that has caused a major divide in the United States. Michael Brown was fatally shot by Officer Wilson after an unfriendly encounter in the streets. Those who believe that Officer Wilson made the right decision in shooting Michael Brown, point to the fact that the grand jury chose not to indict him. Although Darren WIlson was not charged after the shooting of unarmed Michael Brown, some people believe that his actions were unlawful and he should have received some sort of punishment for his wrongdoing. Acknowledging all of the facts of the investigation, Officer Wilson did not act properly in the circumstances of the time.

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

a few years now, police brutality has become an extremely controversial topic and has raised many debates and questions about law enforcement and civilians. Police brutality has been common for decades. However after the death of African Americans such as Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile, many other African Americans have rose up in protest and anger. The anger stems from these men dying at the hands of police which the civilians believe they died from situation that should have been handled differently. Cases like these have caused a major divide with African Americans and law enforcement. Many people wonder where the relationship between the two went wrong and how police brutality became such a big issue that seems impossible

Within the past year, law enforcement officers across the nation have come under intense scrutiny for police encounters that have resulted in the use of force and police involved shootings. Every time a person of color is killed by a police officer, the media broadcasts the shooting nationwide, inciting hate, anger and racism. Nothing productive is achieved when the media focuses on officers killing people of color. Instead, trust, faith and respect is lost from the public, and law enforcement officers are feared. People fear that when they encounter the police, they will be shot because of who they are. Sadly, all officers across the nation deal with the harsh scrutiny that has resulted from the actions of few. Majority of officers are good, hard working individuals who would put their life on the line to save and protect human life. Yet, on a daily basis, officers across the nation are disrespected and hated, simply for the job they do and who they represent. Despite recent events, police brutality is not an issue; law enforcement officers are still deserving of the public’s trust and this trust can be rectified with the understanding of use of force, increased community policing and continued use of force training for officers.

On August 9, 2014 Officer Darren Wilson with the Ferguson Missouri Police Department was on his way to a reported strong-arm robbery at a local convenience store in the city. While on his way, he observed two African-American males walking in the middle of the roadway (#1). Officer Wilson realized the pair matched the description given of the suspects from the robbery call in which he had been dispatched. While still in his patrol vehicle, Officer Wilson drove up to the males, and began speaking with Michael Brown. Officer Wilson told Brown to not walk in the lanes of traffic (#1).

12 shots fired in mid day August 9, 2014 in Ferguson Missouri where 18 year old unarmed African American male Michael Brown was shot and killed brutally by a white police officer also known as Darrell Wilson. Headlines for this case were very dramatic as this was a popular topic throughout the United States in 2014 and also 2015 mainly because of the interracial conflict between law enforcement and Black America. Headlines for this case were very dramatic, the media abused his racial defense drawing the attention of all black American across the country. This case sparked a lot of negative attention resulting in riots, protest and many passionate debates throughout the majority of African American communities. These riots led to numerous interracial wars between the law enforcement and predominately black communities all over the U.S, protest went on for months. Social media channels and news broadcast stations continued discussing the racial relations between African-Americans and law-enforcement while waiting on trail. This case was a tragedy to the Ferguson community, family, friends and supporters. “hands up” was publicized immediately advocating to stop killing unarmed BLACK men, also hoping to seek justice.

From the discussion, it is clear that the police officers employ more deadly force than African- Americans males. This discussion has provided many incidents that show that police use deadly force against African-American males. The shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American male by police officer Darren Wilson is a case in point. Chief of police, Tom Jackson initially refused to acknowledge use of excessive force by his men by, instead, preaching reconciliation. He later apologized to the Brown family, a gesture seen as an admission of guilt, before tendering his resigning soon afterwards.

While law enforcement plays a large role in the everyday lives of American citizens, many people distrust and fear the police officers that have promised to “serve and protect” them. Although some people may view the dejection and anger aimed at police as illogical or even ungrateful, these feelings are not unfounded. Trust between the police and their communities has been eroded by controversial shootings, including Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile. The deaths of these men and other cases of police misconduct have led to cries of outrage and demands for police accountability from American communities (Brooks). And while the police undoubted have one of the most important and dangerous jobs in the country, their work should be held up to the highest possible standards due to the life or death circumstances and consequences that their work involves.

Michael brown died 150 feet away from the car even though it was said he died only 35 feet away from the car. There was signs that there was a fight between Michael Brown and officer Wilson. Now given those facts I still would have to agree with officer Wilson because it was reported that Michael Brown was suspected of robbing a store not far from that apartment complex. The police have a video of a man that matches the description of Michael Brown reaching over the counter and grabbing cigarettes then when he tries to leave the store manager that was 2 feet smaller than him try to stop the theft but was easily pushed around and unable to do anything to stop

On the blood-stained pavement lies the body of Michael Brown, an unarmed black eighteen-year-old. Bullet casings surround the area as an officer, Darren Wilson, lowers his gun. On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. One hundred eight days later, on November 24, 2014, the St. Louis County prosecutor revealed that the jury reached the verdict that Mr. Wilson would not be charged for his crime. The jury made its decision based on personal testimonies and blurred images, which are both grossly inaccurate sources in comparison to the improved evidence that can be provided by body cameras.

These days, police are often stereotyped as aggressive, corrupt beings. The growing hatred for police officers widens the divide between citizens and law enforcement, causing tension and intensely aggressive feelings on both ends. The recent shootings of young African-American men have also added to the societal hatred of law enforcement. Through media exposure, these shootings have been portrayed as cruel, often times revealing the victim to be an unarmed man.

In a world where we can upload anything to the internet as our “facts”. We have transformed the way News is told, it is no longer the fact-based information we were once accustomed to receiving. The News has now become what most would consider entertainment television, with the most captivating stories making the headlines with social media becoming one of the biggest outlets for News. Focusing on the most triggering events going on in the world, with an emphasis on those involving law enforcement. Questioning how Police Officers do their job and why are there so many Black individuals being arrested or shot by Police Officers. It draws to question, is the media’s portrayal of Officer-involved incidents igniting racial