Photo by Bilgin Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Six Months after the death of Michael Brown and just days after the release of the Department of Justice's 102 page report of systematic abuse of the Ferguson African American community by the Ferguson Police Department, where does this leave us?
Many in this country feel that the death of unarmed black teenagers in this country is inexplicable. Even worse, after their deaths, both sides paint pictures of what could or should have happened without being physically there to account for what happened.
The release of the Department of Justice (DOJ) report seems to validate those whom wholeheartedly feel injustices directed at their communities daily. The DOJ report highlights many of the abuses of power used by the Ferguson police department against African Americans in the salacious report.
Below are Just Three Outrageous Examples of Police Misconduct:
1. Man Tasered By Ferguson Police While Having A Seizure
Many in this country feel that the death of unarmed black teenagers in this country is inexplicable. Even worse, after their deaths, both sides paint pictures of what could or should have happened without being physically there to account for what happened.
The release of the Department of Justice (DOJ) report seems to validate those whom wholeheartedly feel injustices directed at their communities daily. The DOJ report highlights many of the abuses of power used by the Ferguson police department against African Americans in the salacious report.
Below are Just Three Outrageous Examples of Police Misconduct:
1. Man Tasered By Ferguson Police While Having A Seizure
"In August 2011, officers used an ECW device against a man with diabetes who bit an EMT’s hand without breaking the skin. The man had been having seizures when he did not comply with officer commands."
2. Details Reams of Racists E-mails sent by Ferguson PD
A November 2008 email read in part that President Barack Obama wouldn't likely be president for long because "what black man holds a steady job for four years." And then in April 2011, another email depicted Obama as a chimpanzee.
Another email joked that African-American women should use abortion to control crime.
May 2011 email: "An African-American woman in New Orleans was admitted into the hospital for a pregnancy termination. Two weeks later she received a check for $3,000. She phoned the hospital to ask who it was from. The hospital said: 'Crimestoppers.'"
A March 2010 email mockingly read: "I be so glad that dis be my last child support payment!" Month after month, year after year, all dose payments!"
October 2011: An email included a photo of a group of topless, dancing black women, seemingly in Africa, with the caption: "Michelle Obama's High School Reunion."
A December 2011 email included jokes playing on offensive Muslim stereotypes
3. All incidents reported of Police Canine's being released and biting individuals involves black residents
"Canine officers use dogs out of proportion to the threat posed by the people they encounter, leaving serious puncture wounds to nonviolent offenders, some of them children."
The DOJ report includes many other cases and examples of violated civilian rights. While rioting rarely produces progressive results, the dismissal of the continuous hurt and anger of particular communities like Ferguson across the United States results in individuals believing they have no other options. Change begins in communities at grassroots so that the government finally pay attention. This is a continuous struggle in the fight for not only equality in the nation but a chance at equitable access in the right and privileges for ALL PEOPLE.
To Read the Full DOJ Report: http://: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1681202-ferguson-police-department-report.html
To Read the Full DOJ Report: http://: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1681202-ferguson-police-department-report.html
Written By: Lauren B. I @laurenbeal
RSS Feed
