Baby steps in dealing with systemic racism
New York Times article
If this passes it is a baby step in dealing with the increasing militarization of law enforcement that I see directly correlates to the excessive use of force and killings by the police. The use of military weapons, clothing, and language in our neighborhoods and on the streets is bringing a war-zone like mentality. Our neighborhoods are not war zones and the police should not be soldiers killing first and asking questions later. They should be protecting and de-escalating situations not firing rubber bullets at people and expecting them to remain calm.
Quote from the New York Times article":
“It is clear that many police departments are being outfitted as if they are going to war, and it is not working in terms of maintaining the peace,” Mr. Schatz said in an interview.
CNN reports that “more than 17,000 members of the National Guard are standing ready to support local law enforcement. That represents approximately the same number of active duty troops deployed in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.”
New York Times article
I found out from this article that Jefferson Davis’ birthday is a state holiday in Alabama, and I’m from Alabama. I either didn’t know or I knew at one point and forgot. Regardless, it got me to google-ing petitions for abolishing it as a state holiday. Then it got me to Southern Poverty Law Center’s facebook page where they had recently posted a 2019 article “Whose Heritage? Public Symbols of the Confederacy” where it gives an update on a 2016 report identifying Confederate symbols that have been removed and still stand (1747).
This might seem like an old topic but it’s still relevant because 1747 symbols are still up. And because we can't talk about systemic racism (and further police violence against black lives) without addressing the very visible symbols of white supremacy still out in plain sight all over this country.
Quote from the New York Times article
“In the same way people may view the police as the front face of the state, Confederate symbols are seen as the front face of a white supremacist ideology,” said Susan Glisson
Oh & I also recently learned about tours given at The University of Alabama (my alma mater) about the history of slavery on campus. The tours— Hallowed Grounds: Race, Memory, and The University of Alabama are not currently going probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic but once they resume I want to take one to learn more. I am ashamed that I wasn’t aware of the history, either that or due to my white privilege I ignored it, while I attended. I also plan to go to The National Memorial for Peace and Justice; The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration (in Montgomery) when it opens back up.
After reading both articles I felt compelled to reach out to my Congressman and Senators and emailed them my thoughts:
I'm asking you to please support Senator Schatz in his move to include an amendment in the annual defense policy to shut down the program transferring military-grade equipment to police departments. This is one small baby step into dealing with the epidemic of excessive use of force by the police. I also want you to hold hearings on the use of excessive force by law enforcement and racial violence. Also, I don't know what kind of power you have with this but, I want to see Jefferson Davis' birthday stop being viewed as a state holiday in Alabama. What are you doing in regards to symbols of the Confederacy being displayed? The Southern Poverty Law Center identified 1,747 Confederate monuments, place names and other symbols still in public spaces. We can't talk about systemic racism without addressing the very visible symbols of white supremacy still out in plain sight all over this country.
What you can do
as always you should educate yourself. SPLC’s article has a detailed google doc detailing where every single confederate symbol is located
share with others
contact your representatives and tell them what you want them to do
sign petitions
donate to organizations like SPLC
Next
I’m going to look into my local police department’s practices, specifically their body camera usage (if they have them) and ask about whether they include the 8 policies that the Police Use of Force Project have gathered from extensive research as to meaningful protections against police violence.
The following is taken from Police Use of Force Project’s website. Just a couple examples of what they found in their research. This is unacceptable. Join me in contacting your local police department and ask them about these policies. Cultural shifts to end excessive force by means of trainings in implicit bias, mindfulness, and de-escalation is not cutting it. Plus, why would they change their behavior if they are not held accountable and have consequences for their actions. I noted in the last post that MappingPoliceViolence.org found that 99% of killings by police from 2013-2019 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime.
28 of the 100 police departments reviewed explicitly prohibit chokeholds and strangleholds (including carotid restraints) or limit these tactics to situations where deadly force is authorized.
25 of the 100 police departments reviewed require officers to report all uses of force including threatening another civilian with a firearm.
June 3: And look the very next day activists that I follow on instagram shared 8cantwait.org. It’s a beautifully well-made and technology-onpoint website. It’s run as a project from Campaign Zero (pic below), the same as Police Use of Force Project (to the right) & mappingpoliceviolence (that I’ve already mentioned). How great is this resource! I went to the site. Didn’t see my city listed, was able to submit it within seconds. I found another city in my state and data instantly came up with the policies being implemented AS WELL as including contact information for that mayor. Amazing work!
Source: Police Use of Force Project
Response from Senator Shelby
