trait. One, then, must take into account that race related police brutality can be caused by prejudices and bigoted teachings at home, the influence the media holds to provide or combat racial stereotypes, and prior experiences and or noted statistics for a certain group of people. For instance, black males are eight times more likely to end up in prison than a white male (Civil Rights). The normality of this injustice must be outlawed because of the internal harm it causes the community. Police brutality is a nationwide dilemma.
Although most cases of police brutality occur south of the Mason Dixon Line, this is the imaginary line which divided the North and South during the tine of slavery, and states with histories of racism and segregation, police brutality happens throughout the United States of America. The influence of people and the media, ignorance, and the unwillingness to accept others can explain why this happens. One can also look at statistics and come to the conclusion that minorities are not favored amongst police officers. Because being colored is a metaphysical dilemma that many have not learned to accept, all minorities, African Americans and Latinos especially, almost always seem to “fit the description: There is a statistic which asserts that minorities are two to four times more likely to be stopped, questioned, frisked, ticketed, etcetera while driving or walking by
police.
The police cause an unhealthy fear by the people of these communities. Mothers and fathers must teach their sons how to survive when encountering the police rather than speaking highly about their protection. Friends and family members must fear for one another’s lives because they are afraid that their friend, brother, cousin, etcetera “may be next.” The victims of police brutality are said to disrespect the force and cause upheaval amongst the communities. The authorities, however, never question how a community must respect the force and keep the peace, when the people can only fear them and only see them as legalized murderers. Nevertheless, as W.E.B Dubois once said, “A system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect (On the System).” It is up to those who truly seek justice for all to stand up to law enforcement, to help mold the system as well as to help and protect all.
There is not easy solution to end the injustice of police brutality. There are, however, some solutions to further terminate the practice. The best route to take is education. Education and knowledge are truly where power comes about. This education, then, should be used positively to teach equality. Teaching equality and, not only tolerance, but also, acceptance and acknowledgement of the differences of others and welcoming them will better the future and help those with bigoted thoughts rise above them. This can be accomplished with the help of the government as well as race organizations such as the NAACP. This education does not require money, money rather, is only and asset. In this age of technology, social media and Google searches are the main way people communicate, voice their opinions, and answer their questions. Such websites are completely free and are some of the best ways to voice concern and educate others who are ignorant of the atrocities that are happening in their own backyards. The outcome of this would be the education of all. This education would not only increase empathy for others. This will ultimately end the cycle.
Education would be one of the best ways of overcoming this because it is applicable to all ages. Younger children are more susceptible to knowledge. Children are like sponges; they soak up preconceived notions and regurgitate the beliefs of their parents. So, bringing this welcoming spirit and teaching it to children will help to make the world more welcoming and accepting of minorities instead of stereotyping others. This program can also allow minorities to share their experiences. A person of racial minority status, who shares their dealings, will warrant another minority to voice their concern and happenings. This, in turn, will create more allies, as more people will understand and want to do something to help. Furthermore, if one were to take this concern to a media outlet, such as the radio, they would reach those without social media. One person, however, cannot do this alone. It will take solidarity to get this to work. Other themes of Catholic Social Teaching that this possesses are life and dignity of a human person, option for the poor and vulnerable, as well as rights and responsibilities and participation. This is social action because knowledge and teaching all is affecting the entirety of the issue. It also gets to the root of the problem. Giving someone else knowledge is also giving them power. This, then, is an example of power with.
There are also various solutions that have both and direct action and social action application. For instance, one of the best solutions to prevent police brutality from even happening would be to train the police officers better. It has been proven that officers who are trained within the community are more likely to empathize with them and less likely to use the fit the description mechanism (NPR). This is because the officers are able to get to know the community and the people living within the community. Furthermore, during such training, officers should be shown proper techniques to handle people. This may not necessarily lower the number of police brutality cases, however, it will make police officers more accountable for their actions. This means a police officer will be taught a variety of ways to enforce the law without brutally harming or killing their victims. So, when they choose to stray away from their training, the proper repercussions will have to take place. Repercussions such as being removed from the force and tried by a colorless and blind jury of one’s own peers will have to ensue, because this officer becomes a criminal when he or she decides to go against training and assault or kill someone. This is direct action because one is specifically targeting the police system. Nevertheless, social action can be applied as this is changing laws across the country to help the people.
This solution is very doable. Many people are looking to make the justice system truly “innocent until proven guilty even if the race is always guilty (NPR).” Changing the police system and government, then, would take two steps. The government officials would have to pass a bill, and then, the constituents would have to vote to make it law in each state. Training within the community would probably not require money, however, that statement is not guaranteed. This is because all officers would need to be trained. The outcome of this solution will offset the possible cost. Police training will be uniform. This means that all states will have to use the same tactics to incriminate a suspect. If the suspect becomes too hostile, and is unarmed, then the police will have no right to take out his or her automatic weapon. If the suspect is armed and is using the weapon to impose threat on the officer, then the officer will have the option of shooting the suspect in the leg so that they do not harm them fatally. This creates truly fair law and blind justice. All criminals will have the same force used against them no matter what race they identify as. If an officer does not comply, then he or she must be removed at once and all other proper incrimination shall follow. This would show that there is truly “justice for all.” According to the Ave Maria, the themes of Catholic social teaching that go along with this solution are solidarity, life and dignity of the human person, option for the poor and vulnerable, rights and responsibilities, and participation. This solution shows power with because the officers will have to come together with the people and share power. There is power to incriminate the guilty on both ends.
Police brutality is an injustice in the world that must be eradicated. Somehow, race related police brutality must be eliminated and thought of as an outright act of violence. Though one cannot change someone else’s point of view, he or she could change their way of thinking. This could be done through education. Education would allow the officers to empathize with those they were serving, as well as realize the effect that they have on other’s lives. Another solution would be to create set rules the officers must follow. The officers would have to think about their actions and the impact they will have on their jobs. In these difficult economic times, no one can stand to be without a job. Through education and police training within the community, the officers will learn to empathize with the community as well as interact with the community. The church calls those in power to act and pass laws which respect and value human life. Hopefully the officers who have performed an act of violence will repent and pay homage to his or her victim.