Florida International University (3)

Black Lives Matter

Penylane Alvarez

Florida International University

July 18, 2020

Abstract

We live in a world where we are taught that all lives matter and we should value every life. However, with the happenings that we see all over the world happening then one may argue that black lives matter. There is a history of blacks being treated as the less superior race for so long. This can be dated back to when Africans were taken from their home continent made to travel miles and miles away to become slaves in a foreign nation. When most did realize that they could fight for their rights and equality, many started demanding for better lives including the need to stop being slaves. Although Black Lives Matter is a new term that was founded in 2013, the demand to treat black lives better started way back and it gained momentum around the 20th century. This is attributed by the factor that some African Americans had gotten formal education and had learn they could fight for equality. Black Lives Matter is a movement that has brought to light the plights of black people especially in the united states. In order to fight police brutality several measures have been taken including recommendation on the implementation of body cameras by police on duty which could record how the officers deal with people.

Keywords: police brutality, Black Lives Matter, police policies, body worn cameras

Introduction

Black Lives Matter is an anti-racist advocacy organization that was established in July 13th 2013. The movement was established after the death of Trayvon Martin who was a young black man. Trayvon Martin had visited his father Tracy who lived with his girlfriend in Sanford, Florida a neighborhood that mostly had white residents. On a Sunday night while he was returning back from getting a snack, George Zimmerman an officer who was not on duty that night stopped him and asked him to show his credentials. Zimmerman was suspicious of the fact that Trayvon was in the neighborhood and he had stopped him. Zimmerman reported that he had fired the gun in self-defense (Ince, 2017). Thousands of people would later demonstrate the next day on learning about Trayvon’s death as many African Americans claimed that the police were killing many unarmed young men and using the excuse of self-protection to shift blame to the victim. This was the incident that resulted in Alicia Garza, Opal Tomato and Patrice Cullers to begin the advocacy group. This paper will examine the impact of the Black Lives Matter especially when it comes to police brutality and the use of police body cameras in preventing police brutality cases. This paper will examine the impact of the Black Lives Matter especially when it comes to police brutality and the use of police body cameras in preventing police brutality cases.

During the 20th Century when most African Americans had begun fighting for their lives they were already undergoing discrimination. Several leaders begun advocating for better treatment some notable names including Langston Hughes, W.E.B Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X among other leaders. These leaders were mobilizing African Americans to stand up for themselves but in doing this they were met with obstacles. One particular incident that portrayed how police brutality was towards African Americans was during the Montgomery protests (Monica, 2018). This protests had been triggered by the arrest of Rosa Parks who had refused to wake up on a seat meant for a white person. People rioted because of her arrest and several others but the protestors were meat with police force. The riot also included children who were not spared. This violence was televised and many people got to witness how African Americans were treated and they got pity from this (Williamson, 2018).

Review of Previous Research

The stereotypes that exists against the African Americans is the greatest contributor as to why there are high rates of police brutality towards African Americans. According to Charles (2015), Most people believe that African Americans are violent and they are also likely to be armed. Police tend to profile Africa Americans and when they are stooped they are treated with so much hostility as compared to whites. In most cases they will be asked to remove their documentation just to prove they are American citizens. Although this may be a measure that is to keep the nation safe, this may not be done to whites as compared to minorities (Charles, 2015). African Americans are often perceived as criminals and thus armed. It is for this reason that when police officers stop them, they often require them to put their hands where they can see as most officers think that the “suspect” may reach out for a weapon. There are several people that have been shot as they tried getting their identification with police officers thinking that they may be trying to get a weapon.

According to data that was obtained from the FBI, in the year 2013, more African Americans were killed as they accounted for 31% of killing that were conducted by law enforcers (Carney, 2016). This is quite a huge number proving that police brutality is quite a huge social issue among the law enforcers. There are several instances that have been portrayed by the media on how ruthless the law enforcers have reacted to minorities. Trayvon Martin who led to the birth of Black Lives Matter movement is just a tip of the iceberg. In 2020 only, we have seen how law enforcers have reacted towards the African Americans. May 25th, 2020 was one outrageous day for the black community and other people after George Floyd a defenseless man was killed. George Floyd had been arrested for allegedly having a counterfeit $20 bill and the law enforcer who arrested him had him pinned on the ground as he knelt on his neck. A recording is shown of George begging the officer to get off him as he could not breath his last words “I Can’t Breathe” it is these words that have been used by the BLM to try and demand accountability including the officers being charged with murder. Breonna Taylor is another case that has caused so much anger among African Americans and has contributed to the movement also garnering so much support.

Anderson (2018) acknowledges of the systemic racism that seem to propagate police brutality. There are laws that have been pointed out that seem to propagate the police brutality especially towards African Americans. One such rule is the stop and search movement where police officers can stop the citizens to ensure they do not have any weapons concealed or are American citizens. This rule however seems to only apply to minorities especially African Americans. An African American is likely to be stopped and searched as compared to African Americans. Some of this stop and searches have resulted in death of some African Americans. An example of this scenario happened on New Year’s eve when Oscar Grant who was 22 years old was stopped by the police officers on their way home. Oscar was stopped and he complied, however, he was shot from the back. Oscar is just one case but there are so many case where policies created by law enforcers have been used to target African Americans (Anderson, 2018.

Policy Effectiveness

Black Lives Matter has been able to make some strides when it comes to championing for rights of blacks. There are accounts that have been set up where people donate money that is used for bail money for protestors that are arrested or for lawyer charges who defend families suing the law enforcers. The movement has shaken the world as now even footballers with leagues such as the Premier League taking a kneel before each game to show support for the BLM. BLM is also pushing for changes in policies as well as mandatory adoption of technological advancements such as police Body Worn Cameras that may help reduce police brutality cases (Nicole, 2015). Police brutality cases have proved so hard to challenge because of the Blue Code of silence whereby law enforcers cannot give out information of any wrong doing of a fellow officer. Most officers even end up committing perjury as they are ready to lie on the stand for their colleagues. This has often led to lack of enough evidence to prosecute the law enforcers most just getting transfers or suspensions which is a slap on the wrist considering the crime committed. An example is the case of Officer Franci Livoti who had been accused of killing Anthony Baez. The judge was unable to convict him citing that the officers that had testified on the stand had lied. In cases where it is the officers word against a civilian without evidence, an officer is likely to win because they are seen as morally right and law abiding citizens (Dorothy, 2012).

Police body cameras are always there to enhance transparency and accountability among police officers and citizens too. They are used to record the cases of brutality on citizens. With the availability of these body worn cameras there would be a reduction in the number of complaints made against the police officers. This is because the law enforcers can’t work or act out of anger or inappropriately due to monitoring of their activities. therefore, the number of assaults by police officers reduces and consequently making it safer for citizens to carry out their day to day activities without fear (Braga, 2017).

Body Cameras help to prove any misconduct allegations and the good conducts of a cop, thus can be said that they are used as a tool for strong support from the public and also police training. The videos recorded by the cameras can be used to serve as an example to new or even existing officers. We can get to show either the bad or good that a recruit did and the consequences that they got to serve later. This will help them maintain discipline while at work. The cameras can also be used to enhance security in areas that are not covered by CCTV camera. This makes sure that the crimes in many areas would reduce with a significant percentage making citizens feel more secure (Wooditch, 2020).

Though they may be of so much of benefits, there are also disadvantages where they negatively affect police officer’s mental health since it is well known that nobody does well under constant surveillance. It also affects the safety of police officers this is because they may get into contact with people that don’t like to be filmed therefore they may turn to be violent towards them. This poses danger to their careers and also may damage the police- public relationship. Though efficient, they are also unreliable this is because of its insufficient battery length especially in cold weather where the battery life diminishes quickly. It tends to be expensive too this is because other than equipping the police departments with cameras, they also have to cover the costs of training, data storage facilities, maintenance costs and also the extra staff to manage the video data. Even though they cannot change the way the police officers approach their jobs it makes it easy to monitor the activities that are carried out. Therefore, we see that their benefits are more than their disadvantages. The implementation of body worn cameras is very important.

Policy Recommendation

Advocacy movements have been a great part in trying to establish the need for equality in our country. Black Lives Matter need to be applauded for the good work they are doing. There is need to also conduct sensitization to the members who get to participate in this advocacy groups need to do it peacefully. The aim of the Black Lives Matter movement is to offer sensitization to ensure that police stop the killings but use of violence may not actually end up yielding the result it is thus important for BLM campaigners to utilize peaceful means as that is their MO.

On police body cameras, there should be policies on when police can record for example during confrontation or arrests. These policies may range on guidelines as to when police may use the body camera, how they need to handle the device Body worn cameras being an introduced technological device, some may need training for example on ways they can ensure that the data is not deleted. Officers need to be given training on how they operate the camera without deleting of any data. Discretion on when to turn on cameras may be offered and officers need training to ensure they are able to use the device correctly. However, cameras may also always remain on as long as a law officer is on duty or patrol, cameras may be switched off when police officers finish their shift or are addressing a matter that is private and not related to his line of duty. All footage needs to be later on reviewed to determine if an officers story rhymes with the footage. The review of the footage is to not only identify police brutality cases but may offer the police department insight on what goes on during officer’s patrols.

In conclusion, Black Lives Matter is an advocacy group that has brought change. When it started nobody thought it would have the impact it has now. The group has received several challenges including formation of a campaign “All Lives Matter” a campaign to shadow them. Although it is true that all lives matter, it is for a fact that black lives are much more threatened and experience brutality. Body worn cameras will definitely be the best way in reducing police brutality as it will help record police interaction with citizens. In case of wrongful shootings, the video footage on the cameras will definitely be used as evidence to determine the truth. There is hope in the feature that blacks and other minorities will be treated better by the law enforcers.

References

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Braga, A., Coldren Jr, J. R., Sousa, W., Rodriguez, D., & Alper, O. (2017). The benefits of body-worn cameras: New findings from a randomized controlled trial at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. National Criminal Justice Reference Service, 1-66.

Carney, N. (2016). All lives Matter, but so does Race: Black Lives Matter and the Evolving Role Of Social Medis. Sage Journal, 44-49.

Charles, D., Himmelstein, K., Keenan, W., Barcelo, N., & White Coats for Black Lives National Working Group. (2015). White coats for black lives: Medical students responding to racism and police brutality. Journal of Urban Health, 92(6), 1007-1010.

Dorothy C., Kathryn H., & Walker K. N, (2015). White Coats For Black Lives: Responding to Racism and Police Brutality. Journal of Urban Health, 88-102.

Ince, J., Rojas, F., & Davis, C. A. (2017). The social media response to Black Lives Matter: How Twitter users interact with Black Lives Matter through hashtag use. Ethnic and racial studies, 40(11), 1814-1830.

Monica, S. T. (2018). An Analysis of Black Lives Matter and other Twitter Hashtags related to political or social issues. Pew Research Center, 50-62

Nicole Pagowsky, N. W. (2015). Black Lives Matter: Race, Policing and Protest. Wellesley College, 34-40.

Williamson, V., Trump, K. S., & Einstein, K. L. (2018). Black lives matter: Evidence that police-caused deaths predict protest activity. Perspectives on Politics, 16(2), 400-415.

Wooditch, A., Uchida, C. D., Solomon, S. E., Revier, L., Connor, C., Shutinya, M., … & Swatt, M. L. (2020). Perceptions of body-worn cameras: findings from a panel survey of two LAPD divisions. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 1-28.