Atlanta saw a lot of action in the major uprising that swept the nation following the murder of George Floyd. Between the pandemic and police brutality protests, the situation was sensitive - to say the least. Then police officers made the situation even worse.
During a night of protests, Atlanta police officers attacked two Black students that were minding their own business. Taniyah Pilgrim of Spelman and Messiah Young of Morehouse were pulled from their car and tased by police. The cops were charged, but still things got worse.
Former Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe, and Officer Devin Brosnan, shot and killed Rayshard Brooks the day before he planned to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. He was shot in the back! These officers, too, were charged. Now, the police force has gotten angry.
Police officers, not used to seeing consequences for their actions, are upset. Reports of cops walking off the job, calling in sick, and not responding to calls plague the city. Now the mayor is asking them to “honor their commitment” to the community. But it’s not so simple.
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!