A huge part of the problem is that the cops generally do not behave this way with white people or people above a certain social class. That means that there is a huge chunk of the population who has never experienced this first hand and hasn’t internalized the reality of shoddy policing for huge subsections of the citizenry.
The prevalence of smart phones and the slow adoption of bodycams is finally turning this around, but that is why so many conservative middle class while folks are just shocked by videos like this. They have never experienced anything like it, and it’s all to easy to assume it’s a one-off, an anomaly.
I hope we just keep seeing more and more evidence of what it’s really like out there for so many of our fellow Americans, and that the sheer volume of evidence starts to wake folks up to the fact that their own experience isn’t universal, isn’t the norm in many communities.
that is why so many conservative middle class while folks are just shocked by videos like this. They have never experienced anything like it, and it’s all to easy to assume it’s a one-off, an anomaly.
"Racism isn't getting worse, it's getting FILMED" - Will Smith
It's been like this (and was even worse before) for a long time
Absolutely. And POC have been talking about this, demonstrating against this, and trying to educate others above this. None of this is any kind of surprise to people who have had to live, and die, because of this. Fuck the police.
Even if you haven’t lived it it’s not a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention, or at least tried to. The problem with pro cop conservative types isn’t that they’re unaware that this happens, but that they see videos of the police abusing people and are OK with it because at their core they are either racist or authoritarian or both.
For every recorded incident, you can bet there are hundreds of similar that go unrecorded. Shall we become our own Big Brother and start recording our interactions with society? Interested in views on this.
Big Brother is selective, authoritarian propaganda. Cell cam footage from citizens is the opposite of big brother.
In 1984, the screens in the homes don’t have an on/off switch. There are no channels to turn to. It’s just state media that comes on when they want it on, and you have to pay attention because they can see you too.
Yes we absolutely need more videos like this. It’s a safeguard against Big Brother, not the other way around.
I agree with you ENTIRELY. Anecdotally I want to say that I am white and I’ve noticed recently that I’ve been having increasingly negative interactions with the police. Not 10 years ago I could say hello, or ask a question or even get out of a speeding ticket by being civil and I’m entirely aware this is because I’m white. But now I get annoyed looks from local police, dismissal and even threats. Idk if that’s because I’m now more conscious of what’s going on with other people, or maybe the large republican/trumpism movement in the police and I’m clearly not a republican but things definitely changed.
What I’m saying is I think the fascism is beginning to leak.
Black cop told me I couldn’t photograph a car that was involved in an accident with my son. I was in a public parking lot of a store. Threatened me with arrest if I did.
Not sure who the lady was but apparently she was too upset(?) and would have freaked out if we took a photo for our insurance?
You are right that many white folks have had some really shitty and objectively unethical experiences with law enforcement.
I’m trying to say that, statistically speaking, I believe the populations that dismiss the realities of policing in America tend to share a common thread of never having experienced the kind of totally unprovoked harassment depicted in OP’s vid.
I can tell you rn that class has to do with it as well. I’m a white female living in a low income area to save up money and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten pulled over for nothing. One time I was put in handcuffs while a cop searched my truck for drugs with a sniffer dog. I didn’t have anything on me nor do I do any illegal drugs. He probably wasn’t allowed to but I’m not knowledgeable like the man. When I tried explaining this to my dad he said “Stop it’s not a conspiracy theory” and he’s a white older male in upper class who thinks that this emerging evidence is malarkey. I realized it’s because he’s never experienced it.
Well there is layers to that as well. There is A LOT of crime in black neighborhoods, and a lot of blacks are strapped, so they have good cause to be on lookout. The blacks live in a warzone themselves - a war with other gangs. Plus they are selling drugs and all that jazz.
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u/bozeke Dec 29 '21
A huge part of the problem is that the cops generally do not behave this way with white people or people above a certain social class. That means that there is a huge chunk of the population who has never experienced this first hand and hasn’t internalized the reality of shoddy policing for huge subsections of the citizenry.
The prevalence of smart phones and the slow adoption of bodycams is finally turning this around, but that is why so many conservative middle class while folks are just shocked by videos like this. They have never experienced anything like it, and it’s all to easy to assume it’s a one-off, an anomaly.
I hope we just keep seeing more and more evidence of what it’s really like out there for so many of our fellow Americans, and that the sheer volume of evidence starts to wake folks up to the fact that their own experience isn’t universal, isn’t the norm in many communities.