Police BrutalityAgainst

African Americans

Miriam HolbrookSW 620December 4, 2014

A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM

1,217 deadly police shootings 2010-2012; 313 African Americans in 2012 alone Inconsistent reports “Undetermined” 71%

Of African American boys/men ages 15-19: Killed at a rate of 31.17 per million Whites? 1.47 per million African American teens 21 x more likely to be killed 41 young teens (under 15) killed 1980-2012; 8 were white.

Ratio: White/Black OfficersThe 22 cities in the US with more than 600,000 people: In every case, whites are overrepresented on the police force

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/police-staffing/

From the start…Profiling in Pontiac on Thanksgiving:

http://www.cnet.com/news/two-phone-standoff-after-cop-stops-man-for-walking-with-hand-in-pockets/

Representation Breakdown

Eric Garner: 43, NYCKilled July 17; No Indictment

Possibly selling loose untaxable cigarettes

John Crawford III: 22, OhioKilled August 5; No Indictment

Shopping atWalmart,

AirSoft BB Gun

Michael Brown: 18, FergusonKilled August 19; No Indictement

Jay WalkingTheft of small cigarsShove store staff member.

Kajieme Powell: 25, St. LouisAugust 19; No Indictment

Walking with steak knife; Likely suicidal

About 20 Seconds after police arrive

Police statement does not match video

Tamir Rice, 12; Cleveland November 22; Pending Indictment?

At part with his air soft gunUnder 2 seconds

Milton Hall: 49, Saginaw, MIKilled August 2012; No Indictment

Surrounded by 8 police officers who eventually shot off 46 rounds, hitting Hall 14 times

White Backlash, Absence- Two different worlds?

Apologize? Really?

Need more than cameras

 Eugene Robinson:“There are two justice systems in this country: one for black Americans and one for everybody

else.”  Commissioner Charles Ramsey:

As simple as this: Comes down “to just treating people with respect”

Al Sharpton: Policing: “The biggest civil rights issue of our

time” 

“We need to stop sending only police to solve a multi-pronged problem. We need jobs, better housing, and youth programs. But the only thing we ever get is police.”