This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
By Giannie Agrispin ’26
Imagine you’re home alone. It’s late at night and you suspect someone is trying to break in. As almost anyone would do, you call the police to your home.
Subsequently, while in your home, the police officers feel threatened by your statement “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which you say while holding a pot with boiling water. The officers shout and tell you to drop the pot. You respond by saying, “I’m sorry” and “Don’t hurt me.” In return, an officer shoots you. You’re left dying, with no immediate help.
This is essentially what happened to Sonya Massey in early July in Illinois.
She was one of thousands of people who have fallen victim to some form of police brutality.
Police brutality is a growing issue in today’s world. Its victims suffer injuries and, in the most extreme cases, have their lives stolen.
According to reporting by The Guardian in August, 31 U.S. law enforcement agencies disclosed whether people were armed when they faced police force. On average, 83% of people subjected to force across those jurisdictions were unarmed. The majority of the people who are killed this way aren’t accused of violent or serious crimes, The Guardian reported, noting that fewer than 40% of the use-of-force incidents were related to violent crimes.
Since George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, more than half of the aforementioned agencies have reported increases in the use of force. Agencies that have high rates of arrest for low-level crimes tend to have higher percentages of police using force.
“There is a lack of broad accountability,” Salimah Hankins, adviser to and former director of the United Nations Antiracism Coalition, told The Guardian.
In the majority of incidents, police officers are able to get off the hook with no charges and no accountability after incidents involving the questionable use of force.
When it comes to overall police brutality, racism plays a role. Sam Levin of The Guardian reported that, in 2023, 290 people killed by police in the United States were Black, making up 23.5% of all victims. Levin added that, in 2023, Black people were killed by police at a rate 2.6 times higher than white people.
Not all police officers have bad intentions, but many law enforcement agencies are plagued by corruption. Racial status shouldn’t play a role in how officers are viewing use-of-force situations, but too often it does.
When did hatred start outshining love?
Officers should be required to have more training on how to react appropriately. No one should ever be put in a situation in which they fear for their lives merely because they are in the presence of a police officer. Police officers are supposed to protect us, not instill fear.
Where is the Accountability for Police Brutality Rooted in Racism?
This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
By Giannie Agrispin ’26
Imagine you’re home alone. It’s late at night and you suspect someone is trying to break in. As almost anyone would do, you call the police to your home.
Subsequently, while in your home, the police officers feel threatened by your statement “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which you say while holding a pot with boiling water. The officers shout and tell you to drop the pot. You respond by saying, “I’m sorry” and “Don’t hurt me.” In return, an officer shoots you. You’re left dying, with no immediate help.
This is essentially what happened to Sonya Massey in early July in Illinois.
She was one of thousands of people who have fallen victim to some form of police brutality.
Police brutality is a growing issue in today’s world. Its victims suffer injuries and, in the most extreme cases, have their lives stolen.
According to reporting by The Guardian in August, 31 U.S. law enforcement agencies disclosed whether people were armed when they faced police force. On average, 83% of people subjected to force across those jurisdictions were unarmed. The majority of the people who are killed this way aren’t accused of violent or serious crimes, The Guardian reported, noting that fewer than 40% of the use-of-force incidents were related to violent crimes.
Since George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, more than half of the aforementioned agencies have reported increases in the use of force. Agencies that have high rates of arrest for low-level crimes tend to have higher percentages of police using force.
“There is a lack of broad accountability,” Salimah Hankins, adviser to and former director of the United Nations Antiracism Coalition, told The Guardian.
In the majority of incidents, police officers are able to get off the hook with no charges and no accountability after incidents involving the questionable use of force.
When it comes to overall police brutality, racism plays a role. Sam Levin of The Guardian reported that, in 2023, 290 people killed by police in the United States were Black, making up 23.5% of all victims. Levin added that, in 2023, Black people were killed by police at a rate 2.6 times higher than white people.
Not all police officers have bad intentions, but many law enforcement agencies are plagued by corruption. Racial status shouldn’t play a role in how officers are viewing use-of-force situations, but too often it does.
When did hatred start outshining love?
Officers should be required to have more training on how to react appropriately. No one should ever be put in a situation in which they fear for their lives merely because they are in the presence of a police officer. Police officers are supposed to protect us, not instill fear.
Sources:
https://thetriibe.com/2024/09/perspective-sonya-masseys-death-teaches-us-the-importance-of-love/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/08/2023-us-police-violence-increase-record-deadliest-year-decade
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/08/05/sonya-massey-sangamon-county-sheriffs-office-report/74682521007/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/28/police-use-of-force-violence-data-analysis?scrlybrkr=2f2e0402