Martin Luther King Jr. once stated that, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Dr. King, a strong leader during the Civil Rights Movement, heavily enforced civil disobedience to defy racist Jim Crow Laws through sit-ins, marches, boycotts, and many other operations. Many of these actions often led to bloodshed and violence. One particular group, the Black Panthers, manifested their ideals through committing harmful actions. They carried arms on themselves whilst patrolling areas looking for instances of police brutality.
Martin Luther King wanted to spark emotion in both the African American and white audience. He wanted to spark the emotion in the African American for them to join the non-violence movement. Dr. King said, “but there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth” to bring emotion in fellow African American to the growth of racial equality. He wanted to spark the emotion in the White community to lessening the aggressiveness by giving insight on the everyday life of the African American. In paragraph 10 he quotes, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity”.
Annotated Bibliography Books Dudley, William, et al., editors. Police Brutality. D.L. Bender, 1991. • Police Brutality gives information on how police brutality is a widespread issue in the United States and explains different controversies and cases that relate to police brutality. • The editors of this book include activists and nonfiction authors who provide reliable information on what happened during different incidences of police brutality and the viewpoints and controversies that come with it.
During the 1960s, there were many defending and peaceful riots in order to make change in the United States. The Black Panthers thought that rights should be granted the same as any other American, as well as to list various impacts of how low class African Americans face of being unlisted into the military, police brutality, and equal housing (Doc 8). Similar to the SDS, they wanted to change society to be free for everybody, balanced as one country for individuals to have the same rights as white Americans. African Americans were feeling as if freedom did not exist in America, a country where it was fought for
Campaigns such as the failure of peaceful protest in Albany, a heavily segregated city in the South, taught leaders of the movement such as Martin Luther King how to tackle future campaigns and what ideas should be implemented at Birmingham. Protests in Albany began in the early 1960s, when black students began voting registration drives, petitions and polls trying to bring about change regarding segregation. They called in Martin Luther King, who was regarded highly as a hero and a leader for the civil rights movement, to assist in encouraging and persuading people to become involved in the protesting. He led a march of 287 African-Americans through the town in an example of his famous peaceful protesting, and they were all arrested ‘peacefully’ too. Laurie Pritchett, the local head of law enforcement, treated the black prisoners from the protests in a kind and dignified way, and had the media report on how polite and peacefully he was treating the prisoners.
In paragraph twelve King says, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize, and even kill your black brothers and sisters with impunity…”, it is hard to imagine witnessing such brutality and the lack of justice that followed for African-Americans and their families (12). Birmingham, Alabama, reputed for its high rate of police brutality against African-Americans and as being one of the most segregated cities in the country (5). Because of the latter, African-Americans felt the need for direct action and started peacefully demonstrating; their peaceful demonstrations met opposition in the form of police and angry dogs (43). Dr. King himself was a victim of violence at the hands of police and guards at the jail.
Martin Luther King Jr. tried to talk to the people of the community and enforce the idea of nonviolence, but it did not work. This attack sparked the Watts riots in 1965. In 1966 at the civil rights march in Chicago people began to throw bricks and bottles. The marchers caught them and threw them back. This act indicted that nonviolence was not going to work in the North anymore.
N.W.A.- Fuck tha Police was made because police officers forced the group to lay face down in the street with guns to their heads. In the 80’s police brutality was at high, and young African American teens were there target.
Humans are programmed to create communities, and communities create institutions. Unfortunately, our American institutions are failing to adapt to the ever-changing world. The ‘community” of America continues to change every minute of every day and American institutions, not only remain the same, but are falling behind. Many institutions in America have failed, but are utilized still.
One of the more charged debates at this time in Minnesota is the actions of Police officers. In the past couple of years, Minnesota police have made headlines in incidents such as the deaths of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, and most recently, Justine Damond. This has created a distrust of the police force that shouldn’t be there and can be fixed. This past summer, I went on a mission trip to Detroit, where I was blown away by what I saw and heard. I learned about the past in Detroit, which is plagued by racism and police brutality, most notably in the riots of 1967.
Police officers are entitled to care and protect the citizens of the country? In recent news, white male police officers have corrupted their use of power and used unnecessary, excessive force against African American males. Police brutality with African Americans resulted in the Walter Scott case, Michael Brown case, Trayvon Martin Case, and Eric Garner case. The following cases are referred to as racist to the public because of white male police officers are doing avoidable acts to African American males. The justifications induced rioting and protesting in the community of the African American males.
Police Brutality in the United States of America Police brutality has been a problem in the United States of America for a long time. The regulations that cops should abide by hasn’t changed, but the actions of officers have. Police officers have a different view of the rules that they should follow. The power that police have has gone to their heads, and they take advantage of the power. Police are needed in America because of how society is, but there are things that the police do that shows a complete misuse of their power.
At what point does enforcing a law with physical or verbal force turn to abuse or just simply go to far? This muddy subject means many different things to many different people. Is it the point when even after someone is captured the beating continues? Police brutality is considered to take place when someone in law enforcement is over enforcing a law or using excessive force? This can come in the form of verbal or physical abuse.
This report is showing light to the communities’ response to police brutality particularly in the black communities and also their encounters with police officers. Police brutality is physical violence and great cruelty demonstrated by a police officer. Police brutality and misconduct have existed for many decades and it even has been broadcasted in news stories over America, but nothing has changed. It has happened predominantly to African Americans in lower-income states. Police officers are given slaps on the wrist for taking a life or injuring an innocent person.
Police Brutality is an ongoing problem and existent concern in the United States and should be resolved immediately. Law enforcement must function as an element that consists of organized and civilized officers. The presence of police brutality is becoming more of an issue as society grows. The problem posed by the illegal exercise of police power is an ongoing reality for individuals of a disfavored race, class, or sexual orientation. Police brutality must be stopped so that police do not forget who they are serving – not themselves, but the public.
