Early&Tendler1

HuttonTendler&BrooklynnEarly
JohnKubler
English114B
9May2015
Justice&EqualityAllLivesMatter
LetsfaceitreportsofpolicebrutalityarespreadingacrossAmericaatanincreasing
rate.Themediaisconstantlycoveringcasesofbrutality,whichhasrecentlyledtoanumerous
amountofriots.And,judgingbythetrendoverthelastfewdecades,nothingisbeingdoneto
preventthesebrutalattacks.Hence,inrecentyears,anincreasingnumberofcitizenshaveturned
tothemediaasanoutlettoraiseawarenessagainstpolicebrutality.TaNehisiCoates,awriter
forculture,politics,andsocialissuesandanationalcorrespondentat
TheAtlantic
,wrotean
articleentitled,NonviolenceasCompliance,wherehestates,Now,IturnonthenewsandI
seepoliticianscallingforyoungpeopleinBaltimoretoremainpeacefulandviolent.Inother
words,despitetheriotinginBaltimoreforthedeathofFreddieGrey,anAfricanAmerican,who
diedinpolicecustodyfromabrokenneck,themediaisstillaskingthecitizensforpeaceinthis
crucialtime.SomeadvocatesagainstpolicebrutalityarguethatthisisanalarmingtrendClaire
Groden,awriter/reporteratFortuneMagazinewroteanarticleforTheNewRepublic,entitled,
DontLetPoliceKillingsofUnarmedBlackMenBecomeAnotherForgottenNewsFad,
wheresheelaborates,Whitepoliceofficersshootingunarmedblackmenshouldnotbeanews
trendbut,liketheplightofundocumentedimmigrants,apersistentnationalstory.Ifracismand
brutalityarehallmarksofAmericanpolicing,thenreportingtheseissuesbecomesahallmarkof
Americanjournalism.Thisshowshowjournalistsarededicatedtoreportingthesestories,in

Early&Tendler2
ordertoseejusticeisservedandhowracismhasbecometheleadingissueinpolicebrutality.On
theotherhand,
EliseCooper,afreelanceauthorfocusingontheconservativepointofviewon
issuessuchasnationalsecurity,wroteanarticleontheAmericanthinker.comentitled,
SupportingthePolice,whereshestates,
SincetheNYPDareconsideredthemeltingpotof
lawenforcement,itislaughablethattheyareaccusedasaninstitutionofbeingracist.Themen
andwomenthatmakeupthepoliceforceareadiversecrosssectionofthepopulation.
Approximatelyfiftypercentofthoseservingareminorities.

Hence,wecanunderstandwhythe
pressureisquicklyrisinginthemediaandhowitrelatestoothersocialinjustices,suchas
racism,abuseofpower,andtherighttofreedom.
However,thisincreasingtrendofviolenceraisesanumberofuniqueethicalquestions.
Doesthemediasfocusonpolicebrutalityhaveapositiveornegativeeffectoncitizens?Isthere
acorrelationbetweenofficermisconductandracialprofiling?Isitmorelikelyforpolicetouse
excessiveforceduetotheauthoritytheirpositionholds?Thesequestions,inturnalludetoa
broader,morefundamentalissuethatallofusshouldcareaboutthatrelatestothebasicrightsof
citizensinallfreesocieties,namely,therighttofreedom.ThemainideaofMichaelJacksons
song,TheyDontCareaboutus
,
illustratesthelackofequalityandthesocialinjusticeof
policemisconduct.Ourgroup,HBTENEARLY,focusedonthissongforourprojectmedia
entitled,Justice&EqualityAllLivesMatter.OurgroupmembersconsistofBrooklynnEarly,
ourwebmaster,andHuttonTendler,ourGraphicDesigner.Theanswertothesequestions
shouldbeobvioustopeopleinoursocietythiscountrywasfoundedontherighttofreedom.
Policeofficialsareabusingtheirpowerwhilecitizensarehavingtheirsstrippedfrom
themselves.Furthermore,themajorityofthesevictimsarecommonlyfoundtobeAfrican

Early&Tendler3
American.Byraisingawarenesstotheseissues,allowsustofindawaytoreducethem.Hence,
havingapopulationthatisconcernedandwellinformedaboutthesesocialinjusticeshelpsguide
thefuturecourseofbrutalityandmisconductinourcountry.
Soitappearscrucialforustodaytoaskthemoreimportantfundamentalquestion:What
shouldweexpectfrompoliceofficialsinthefuture?Wewouldnthavetoworryaboutsucha
questionifjusticewasbeingserved.Therewillalwaysbetwosidestoastory,thepolicearent
alwaysbadandthecitizensarentalwaysgood.However,whenthecourtsareacquittingguilty
officersandarrestinginnocentpeople,istherereallyanyjustice?ThemoreimportantthatI
wouldliketoinvestigateistowhatextentthistrendofracistpolicebrutalityheadliningmediais,
damagingtooursociety.Thisistherealchallengeinassessingtheimpactthistypeof
exploitationhasonus.Whatdoesitsayaboutusasacommunity?
ToexplainJacksonsargumentinhissong,TheyDontCareaboutus,wewere
assignedseveralprojectstohelpillustrateourtakeonit.Ourgroupwasonlyassignedtomakea
graphicnewsletterandawebsiteexplaininghowourvideowouldhavelookedifwehadan
editor.Ourgraphicnewsletterhasinformationonthefirstpageabouteachmemberofthegroup,
thesong,artist,andourthesis.Thesecondpagehasthelyricstothesongandapictureofpeople
protestingagainstpolicebrutality.Thethirdsixthpageshaveourargumentsandclaimsfromthe
lyrics.Onthethirdpage,wetookthelyric,Everybodyallegation,inthesuit,onthenews,
everybodydogfood.Thislyricshowshowpeoplearebeingaccused,fromthepoliticalofficeto
celebrities.Everythingisexploitedonthenews,anditsclearthatthewaypeoplearebeing
treatedisinsignificant.Thenextlyric,Jewme,sueme,everybodydome,kickme,kikeme,
dontyoublackorwhiteme,explainshowpoliceofficersareusingracismtoantagonize

Early&Tendler4
citizens.Heisbasicallysaying,sticksandstonesmaybreakmybones,butnamescannever
hurtme.Onthefourthpage,thelyrics,Tellmewhathasbecomeofmylife,Ihaveawifeand
twochildrenwholoveme,Iamthevictimofpolicebrutality,nowImtiredofbeingthevictim
ofhate,explainhowJacksonisavictimofthisunlawfulactandhowitisaffectinghislifeat
home.Wealsoincludedthelyrics,Yourerapinmeoffmypride,oh,forGodssake,Ilookto
heaventofulfillitsprophecy,setmefree,becauseitillustrateshowJacksonturnstoreligionas
anoutlettostaystrong.Onourfourthpage,webroughtinthelyrics,Tellmewhathasbecome
ofmyrights,amIinvisiblebecauseyouignoreme?Yourproclamationpromisedmefreeliberty,
nowImtiredofbeinthevictimofshame,Theyrethrowingmeinaclasswithabadname,I
cantbelievethisisthelandfromwhichIcame,youknowIreallydohatetosayit,the
governmentdontwannasee,butifRooseveltwaslivin,hewouldntletthisbe,no,no,
becauseitshowshowourfreedomisbeingtakenfromusandhowweneedsomeonetostandup
fortheAfricanAmericansinourcommunities.Forourlastargument,Somethingsinlifethey
justdontwannasee,butifMartinLutherwaslivin,hewouldntletthisbe,no,no,thisagain
showshowitiseasyforpeopletolookawayfromtheproblemsandifwejusthadsomeonelike
KingorRoosevelt,thingswouldntbethisway.Lastly,ourfinalpageshowsourconclusion
explainingthesocialissuesrelatedtopolicebrutalityinJacksonslyricsandhowourvideo
wouldhavelooked.

Sincewedidnothaveamusicvideotoillustrateourargumentonpolicebrutality,the
websiteprovidesanumberofvisualsandvideostosupportourthesis.Thetitlesofthewebsiteis
AllLivesMatter.ThepagelabeledBackgroundcontentcontainsourthesisstatement.Ialso

Early&Tendler5
explainedthecontroversialissuesbehindpolicebrutality.Thereisalwaysaproandconside
whenitcomestoasocialissue.Noteveryoneseespolicebrutalityasanissue,infactsome
peoplewouldagreethatpolicebrutalityisnothingmorethanthemediastrivingtodiscreditthe
reputationoflawenforcement.Thisportionofthewebsiteisinteractivebecauseitdisplaysthe
manyargumentsforandagainstpolicebrutalityandallowstheviewerstodecideforthemselves
wheretheystandontheissue.Ofcourse,therestofourwebsitestrivestopersuadeandinform
viewersthatpolicebrutalityshouldnotbejustifiedanditsnegativeeffectsonsociety.Themost
importantpartofthispageisthesectionwiththemusicvideoandtheslideshownexttoit.The
slideshowisfullofreallifeimagesofpeopleprotestingagainstexcessivepoliceforceaswellas
imagesofvictims.Theseimagesareveryimportantbecauseitisvisualevidencetoourclaims.
AlsothemusicvideoisMichaelJacksonsTheydontcareaboutus.Thisisthesong
andvideothatournewletterisbasedon.In1995,Jacksonreleasedhissongthatreceivedmuch
controversybacklash.Thevideoshowsclipsoflawenforcementapplyingexcessiveforceand
riotsagainstpolicebrutality.ItisclearthatMichaelJacksonwasfedupwiththeinconsistencies
inequalityandrepeatsallIwanttosayisthattheydontreallycareaboutus.Heevenadmits
thathehasbeenavictimofpolicebrutality.Thissongsymbolizesapleatorecognizethatthere
isnoequalityandminoritiesareconsistentlybeingtreatedimmorallybylawenforcement.This
videoisaclearillustrationofourargumentsandclaimsonpolicebrutality.

Theanalysispagecontainsfourchartsthatsupportourclaimaboutthelackof
consequenceonpolicebrutalityandthelargeamountofAfricanAmericansthathavebeenin
victimsofexcessivepoliceforce.ThefirstgraphisapiegraphonNYPDstopsbetween

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20042012accordingtorace.FiftytwopercentofthestopstheNewYorkPoliceDepartment
madewereofAfricanAmericansandonlytenpercentofWhiteswerestopped.Thegraph
underneathitshowsthecorrelationbetweenpolicestopsandrace.In2010,ofthe601,285stops
madebytheNYPD,32,375stopswerewithAfricanAmericanswholookedsuspicious.Thisis
nocoincidence!Racismstillexistsandithasbecomemotivationforexcessivepoliceforce.
Onthefollowingpage,Iincludedafewpolicebrutalitycases.ThefirstoneIincluded
wasthefamousRodneyKingcase.Thistookplacein1991,whichshowshowexcessivepolice
forcehasbeenaroundfordecades.Kingwasbrutallybeatenbyfourpoliceofficersafterhewas
resistingarrest.Videoshootageshowshimbeingtasedandbeatenmultipletimes.Onlytwoof
thefourofficersinvolvedwereconvictedandtheothertwowereconvicted.Thatmeanstwo
officersreceivednoconsequencefortheiractions.Thisiswhatmakesitseemlikesomelivesare
moreimportantthanothersbecauseanAfricanAmericanmalecanbeharassedorevenkilledby
aWhitepoliceofficerandtheofficerwillmostlikelybeacquitted.Whatdoesthattellour
society?
Blackfamiliesscholar,CassandraChaneybelievesthatBlacksaremorelikelytobethe
victimsofpolicebrutality.MostpolicebrutalitycasesinvolveaBlackmaleandaWhite
officer.Thispatternofinjusticeshouldbeaddressed.Thereputationthatlawenforcementhasas
heroesisslowlybeingdiminished.However,officersarestillbeingacquittedforexcessive
policeforce.WellknownscholarinFederalJurisdictionandCivilRightsSusanBandesadds
thattheresilienceofpolicebrutalitythrivesoncompartmentalization,failurestoact,and
deflectionanddenialofresponsibility.Inotherwords,policebrutalityisslowlybeing

Early&Tendler7
normalized.Alsobecauseofthelackofconsequencesagainstitofficerswhoareinvolvedin
brutalityincidentswillmorethanlikelybeexonerated.
Inconclusion,membersoflawenforcementaregivenaresponsibilitytoserveand
protectcitizens.Withgreatpowercomesgreatresponsibility.Howeveroverthelastthree
decades.policehavebeenresponsibleforexcessiveforceandevendeath.Therehasbeenan
increaseofpolicebrutalitycasescirculatingthemedia.Eitherthisisaresultofbettertechnology
oracaseofpowerbeingabusedbypoliceofficers.Somemayarguethatitisthemediathatis
onlyhighlightingthejobofapoliceofficertobenegativeandmalicious.Ontheotherhand,
peoplebelievethatpolicebrutalityisanissuethatreallyaffectsthelivesofminorities.The
policebrutalitycasesthatareonthenewsandinothermediainvolvesanAfricanAmericanmale
andaWhiteofficer.ScholarsevenagreethatmostBlackpeoplearestoppedorharassedbythe
copsasaresultofracismandintimidation.Raceseemstobethemotivationbehindexcessive
forceandharassment.Theworstpartofit,isthatmostofficerswhoareinvolvedinpolice
brutalitycasesareacquitted.Theyarentbeingpunishedfortheirwrongfulactions.Ifthe
governmentisntwillingtostoptheinjusticethenwhois?Thissuggeststhatsomelivearemore
valuablethanothersifeverytimeaminorityisharassedorbeatenbyanofficer,thereisno
consequencetowardstheabuser.Communitiesaretakinginitiativetoriotandstandupforequal
rightsandprotection,however,theseriotsareonlyleadingtomoreviolenceanddeaths.Itis
clearthatvoicesarentbeingheard.Thereshouldbeanendtopolicebrutalityandriseinjustice
andequalityforeveryone.

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WorksCited
Bandes,Susan."PatternsofInjustice:PoliceBrutalityintheCourts."Buff.L.Rev.47(1999):
1275.Web.May11.2015
Chaney,Cassandra,andRayRobertson."RacismandPoliceBrutalityinAmerica."Journalof
AfricanAmericanStudies,17.4(2013):480505.WebPdf.May11.2015
Coates,TaNehisi.NonviolenceasCompliance.
TheAtlantic.
TheAtlanticMonthlyGroup,27
April2015.Web.8May2015.
Cooper,Elise.SupportingthePolice.
Americanthinker.
31December2015.Web.9May2015.
Groden,Claire.DontLetPoliceKillingsofUnarmedBlackMenBecomeAnotherNewsFad.
NewRepublic.
5December2015.Web.9May2015.