“Not all cops” are bad, some like to say. Or maybe we just need to get rid of the “bad apples.” These reform-minded folks often try to help the police do better - but frequently, it backfires in the worst way. These examples offer us a guide to what NOT to do.
Hours after Chicago Police Board President Ghian Foreman praised CPD’s “professionalism,” he was severely beaten during a protest. Now he’s one of many others that has had to file a complaint against the officers he once praised. And his case isn’t the only one.
Derrick Sanderlin worked with San Jose police for years, training them to reduce bias and trying to facilitate understanding. He did all this only to have a riot gun fired on him by police at a recent protest, bursting his testicle - now he may never be able to have children. He feels differently now, saying “it’s clear this isn’t working.”
Countless protesters have also been attacked after gestures of peace and friendliness with the cops. Kneeling, hugging, and praising the police doesn’t guarantee your safety. If you’re Black, the message the police are sending is clear.
If these cops had a commitment to the community, Black people wouldn’t be victims of relentless police brutality in the first place. We’re attacked and killed because we’re Black, and clearly they’re upset because things might be changing. But that’s not our problem!