In 2018, Lasou Kuyateh was pulled over in New York for turning without signaling. When police searched his vehicle hoping to find drugs, an officer’s body camera conveniently went off for several minutes. It turned back on just in time for him to “find” a blunt.
The blunt was “in plain sight,” but hadn’t been found by a previous officer who searched the same area. The bodycam did overhear officers saying they “have to find something,” though.
In Miami, where 85% of crimes go UNSOLVED, officers spend their time harassing, profiling, and arresting Black people.
Policing is extremely racially biased. Here’s something else they do.
Baltimore’s police have made a CAREER out of planting evidence. In 2018, it was reported during a major corruption trial that they kept replica guns to plant on people in case a cop shot someone.
These cases highlight an everyday reality of police abuse.
Even if you haven’t done anything “wrong,” you’re not safe. Police routinely target Black people and make the case for us to be criminalized. It’s important we call out corruption and put an end to the negative consequences it has on Black lives.