We all are George Floyd now
Our children are at risk on the streets in every community across the country. It is unnerving to watch police brutality continue toward the protesters over the past few days after George Floyd’s murder.
Injuring a 75-year-old man and not assisting him, police officers continuing to put a knee to the neck, shooting and killing a woman in her home, and Tasing young teens in a car are just a few of the many incidents that demonstrate the racists views and actions of police officers.
They continue to display how they do not respect the lives and rights of others.
The statistics are startling. In 2019, 24 percent of all police killings were of black Americans, when just 13 percent of the U.S. population is black.
These officers are the real criminals and they need to be held accountable.
The movement we are seeing now for racial justice has been needed for many years and people in places of power need to listen.
Systemic injustice is hurting everyone.
Police officers must remember that they are held to a higher standard. The police have a sworn duty to protect the lives and property of the communities they serve, and just like in any profession, you have bad and good officers.
Disciplining a police officer has been practically nonexistent. Aggressive and racist police officers have been allowed to remain in their positions, even when community members stand up against the atrocities. Many police officers have been allowed to literally “get away with murder.”
For the president of the United States to bring in the military to squelch protesters is more evidence that police brutality is supported and will continue.
People are afraid of the unknown or shy away from things that they aren’t familiar with.
This is one reason why a thorough vetting process for hiring police must be quickly implemented. The inner-city departments must hire men and women from their own communities.
Other communities must recruit and hire minority officers. The police training academies must look at how they are training the officers and implement a training module on how to serve minority communities.
The Police Review Board needs to be revamped and strengthened to address the officers that are not protecting and serving the communities. And a police watch group must have a strong presence in all communities.
So far, the past and present Norwalk police chiefs have focused on becoming part of the community and attend events that represent different cultures and races.
As any other community, Norwalk has its share of good and bad officers.
We have experienced issues in Norwalk with racial profiling and aggressive officers. Through the work of the NAACP, we have been able to bring concerns to the mayor and police chief to address problems and concerns in a timely manner before they seriously escalate.
We have to hold our leaders and police officers accountable. They must stand with us and not against us.
The code of silence, protecting their own and their brotherhood, is putting all of us at risk. Covering for an officer that is out of control or abusive is detrimental to our society.
The stereotypes, biases, and racist acts by the police must stop. Everyone should be viewed equally, officers should have empathy toward everyone and live up to their pledge.
If they can’t, it is time to leave the force.
We are in this together!