What’s wrong with this sentence?“Seventeen people arrested during an anti-police brutality demonstration that turned into a riot are facing charges including mischief, theft, assault and possession of weapons...”
So, they were protesting police brutality by engaging in violence...that sounds about right.
According to the Toronto Star:“Police were pelted with bricks, bottles and food during the annual protest, organized by the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality, a Montreal group.”
There was also vandalism done to police cars, other cars, and store windows, with a grand total of $200,000 in damages.
But unfortunately, the Toronto Star article doesn’t mention the event leading up to the protest.
About a week before, in the same park where the protest was held, 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva was killed and two other men were shot and wounded when police attempted to make an arrest.
A CBC article states:
“The park [where the first shooting occurred] is in a predominantly Haitian neighbourhood where tensions between police and young people run high, according to residents. ‘The police are always creeping around here, hassling people,’ one unidentified youth told CBC News as he stood in front of a looted butcher shop.”
I don’t know what’s more ironic: being arrested for assault while participating in an anti-police brutality protest, that police brutality seems to occur more in places where people are already suspicious of (and under suspicion by) police, or, that people who are supposed to uphold the law don't appear to be subject to it themselves.
Just recently, surveillance footage was released of two police officers using excessive force on a 15-year-old girl.
Deputy Paul Schene defended himself by claiming the girl kicked her shoes off at him, causing "bruising, bleeding, and pain" as well as a "blood filled pocket." You tell me if his reaction was understandable (although I seriously doubt you will).
Obviously, not all police officers like to use their power to beat people up for no reason, but how the hell can they be police officers if they do!?
And if they're the police, who will police the police?
(Question care of The Simpsons.)
Posts
The lack of controls on Police is because there is no structure to question them (as you mockingly point out). The fact is that there needs to be a better structure put in place and the gang-mentality needs to be removed from police work.
ReplyDeleteIt's good they can depend on each other, but they shouldn't think of it as Police vs. the world, as it seems many do.