Police Brutality A Nation Of Free And The Home Of The Brave

America, once considered the land of the free and the home of the brave, is a nation cloaked in fear of those they pay to protect and serve. Police militarization in a post-9/11 era has led to constant tales of abuse of authority by police departments nationwide. The issue is threefold. First, police brutality is growing as a national problem. The people charged with making the streets safer for ordinary citizens are becoming the enemy of the people, the villains, who consider themselves judge, jury, and executioner. Secondly, even the smallest police departments are armed with military grade weaponry. And, thirdly, police regularly violate the civil and human rights of citizens, even committing criminal offenses against them. It is no†¦show more content†¦M-16 s and Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles (MRAPs) raise very serious questions, as this equipment is created for use in a war-zone. The magnitude of these weapons can change the mentality of the police, brut ality has been present through our society before this equipment was ever acquired. What is this equipment believed to change? The pubic is in greater fear of the police seeing them resemble military personnel. The police were created to protect and serve the people of our nation and now as they are purchasing military assault weapons it brings into question the objective of the enforcements. Police abuse surfaces as one of the most profound human rights violations possible in the United States. Unwarranted shootings, fatal choking, severe beatings, and rough treatment have all exacerbated the problem of police brutality within America. In the New York Times report Eric Garner, a black, adult male, broke up a street fight. Instead of commending him, the police questioned him and accused him of selling untaxed cigarettes. When Mr. Garner denied any wrongdoing the police used physical force against Mr. Garner. The physical altercation ended with Eric Garner asphyxiated due to the choke hold (Goldstein, Schweber, 1). The officer clearly violated Eric Garner s rights by this obsessive use of force. Everyone has the right to fair and equal treatment. As citizens of the United States we are innocent until