WHY IT MATTERS: Race and Policing
WASHINGTON — THE ISSUE: Policing in the United States’ minority communities has been a flashpoint since the deaths of Michael Brown in Missouri, Tamir Rice in Ohio, Sandra Bland in Texas and others. The increasing number of graphic photos and videos depicting the deaths of black men, women and children at the hands of police officers has sparked unrest around the nation. The perception that law enforcement officers are rarely, if ever, punished for what some consider unethical behaviour, brutality and even criminal acts against black Americans has led to the rise of new social and civil rights movements like Black Lives Matter.
Police in turn have complained of being unfairly stereotyped as the enemy by minority communities in which they serve. They have noted that they’ve increased monitoring of officer behaviour through cameras placed in their vehicles and carried by officers during interactions with the public and increased training for officers and personnel.
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WHERE THEY STAND