Oct 18, 20203 min read

The Epidemic of Police Brutality in Black Communities

Updated: Nov 4, 2023

Written By: Tosin Ajogbeje / Date: 2020/10/18

One would think that the COVID-19 pandemic will abate the inhumanity placed in diverse and racialized communities. Research claims that blacks are more likely to be harassed than Whites in the U.S. In this context, why are fair discussions about racism against the Black community often discouraged? Why do darker people and black communities historically struggle the most? What roles do we play as human beings and a race to prevent these struggles from happening? This form of discourse should be explored further.

Let’s Talk About Police Brutality

Police brutality is the excessive and most times the illegal use of force against civilians by police officers. Historically, forms of police brutality range from physical violence, verbal abuse, illegal arrests, assaults, torture and extra-judicial killings in many countries.

Police brutality is not just an ideology, but an unlawful act by police that breaches the right to be free from discrimination, the right to security and the right to equal protection under the law. Strict international laws and standards do exist against the police using lethal force. Only when lethal force is extremely necessary, the police can make a decisive judgment call to act responsibly. However, what we have seen around the world is a completely different narrative.

The world continues to confront racism and fight police related killings of unarmed black people. No one can forget the incessant police brutalities in the U.S., especially unarmed people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. After the gruesome incident of George Floyd, every race became more conscious of the long-standing racism and discrimination that black people experience daily.

Black people have a long and bitter history of violent encounters with white police officers, but it does not stop there. Nationwide protests are known to spark police assaults. According to Amnesty International, hundreds of protesters were killed by police offers in Iran’s November 2019 protests. Another case is that of Hong Kong protests, where police officers resorted to unlawful use of lethal weapons and tear gas on protesters throughout 2019 and 2020. And who can forget “the Egypt uprising of 2011”. When the unarmed citizens of Egypt held massive demonstrations against poverty, corruption and political oppression, they were faced with police brutality.

Police often resort to violence to control the crowds. In cases like this, you might consider that police brutality is prevalent everywhere. The power battle between civilians and elected leaders is never endless. Sharp exchanges between community leaders, politicians and citizens are bound to happen. But when a community has experienced great suffering, it pushes people to the streets. Fighting for what they deserve and “own” is a form of protest that is difficult to overlook. Again, the picture is clear as police brutality is a huge concern around the world.

My home country Nigeria is currently facing what I call, “a time for a revolutionary and progressive change”. Nigerians are calling for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS), a police unit that was formed to combat armed robbery, but has now faced claims of extortion, harassment and killings in the nation. Many Nigerians continue to speak about prevalent human rights violations they have experienced in the hands of the police. For example, some say that they have been falsely accused of being criminals, and for that reason they get slapped or beaten, jailed and killed without any proof. Of recent, thousands of protesters in Nigeria, including celebrities in and out of Nigeria continue to fill the streets and tweet about disbanding the squad. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation is yet to address socio-economic issues that creates an unstable society.

How else can you explain this #EndSARS protest?

It seems more loaded than police brutality. Nigeria has the potential to be a world leader, but issues like infrastructural slump and corruption have caused a lot of damage. Because of massive pressure, the Inspector General of Police recently announced the dissolution of SARS and the re-emergence of a reformed SWAT team. Now what is this? When public institutions are inept, there should be a call to action to act right. With the unlawful stop-and-search tactics carried out by police units like SARS and other “crime fighters”, it is obvious why international celebrities and global citizens are speaking out now.

It is evident that Nigerians want a better Nigeria. It is obvious Nigerians want to see a transformed government that will enhance funding to strengthen the country’s institutions, ranging from employment, education, transportation, health sector and many others. Learning from the Global South and developed countries would be worth considering to build a stronger economy. In the wake of the new “racial” epidemic, the world strives to rescue itself from staying on its knees and help fight for positive change.

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