Police Brutality Ferguson Essay

Submitted By ceeveex23
Words: 699
Pages: 3
Open Document
Christina Varghese
CL English 101
May 4, 2015
Mixed Essay Police Brutality: Ferguson Case Have you ever sat down on a concrete pavement before? While doing so, have you ever seen an innocent ant crawl by you? It doesn’t harm you or pose a threat but you feel entitled to use your feet to harm it and kill it. Well, this scenario equates with many modern news about police brutality. It’s the wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, by a police officer. It simply means that police officers use their authority and power to harm without cause. So can it be said that police brutality is bullying? I don’t see why not. The biggest case in media recently was the investigation of the Ferguson case. Michael Brown was an eighteen year old black teenager that was killed on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. He was unarmed, and was suspected of stealing cigarillos in a store nearby. He began to walk down a couple of streets but was unaware that pilfering a box of cigars would lead to his demise. A twenty-eight year old white Ferguson police officer, Darren Wilson, heard the description of the thief from the store and positioned his S.U.V to block Michael and also traffic. Michael stood at the window of the vehicle. An altercation between Officer Wilson and Brown occur and the officer fires two shots from inside the vehicle. One grazed Brown’s thumb, while the other missed him. By instinct, Brown begins to run and Officer Wilson follows him on foot. Brown stops eventually and turns toward Officer Wilson, who stopped as well. Brown begins to move toward Officer Wilson and he began to shoot Brown several more times. Brown’s fatally wounded, and later dies.
Many rumors and justifications have been made on both Brown and Officer Wilson’s behalf but no conclusion can suffice the death of an innocent, black man. Now, take a moment to analyze the situation with me. Was this a form of police brutality? Did this happen because of the color of Brown’s skin? I believe the answer to both questions in this case are rhetorical. This shooting of Michael Brown not only became a cry of help for modern day racism, but also plays a significant role in the protests and riots against police brutality today. The Ferguson case was taken to court and no charges were filed. However, Wilson resigned from the police force with no severance. He would never be a police officer again. Brown did have several other offenses on his record from before, but it doesn’t change the fact that he was predominantly innocent now. Brown stole a pack of cigars. People steal on a daily basis, but does that mean someone should be
Show More

Related Documents: Police Brutality Ferguson Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

2015 Police Brutality Trust in our justice system has been shaken by the recent conspicuous stories of police brutality in our media. Sadly the general public has been exposed to anti-police propaganda that brainwashed the common people's mind thinking there is no good cop. Police put themselves in life or death situations, they protect us from all harm; what they do is so important yet it often goes unnoticed. According to the author of "The Cop Mind", "Nothing excuses specific acts of police brutality…

Words 1734 - Pages 7

Police and Racism Essays

Current events-response to Ferguson Contrary to popular belief, racism started way before slavery did and it still very much exists today. Some people might view this just as a “strong liberal hippie piece of trash opinion who doesn’t know anything about the world,” well those people underestimate just how much of the world the aforementioned “liberal hippie” has actually seen and understood. Racism is still very much alive today. While some areas of the Ferguson case might be gray and blurry…

Words 395 - Pages 2

Civil Disobedience In America

the protestors in Ferguson, Baltimore, and other places where there have been riots protesting police brutality have a duty to obey the law?” by drawing off of Joseph Raz, John Rawls, and Martin Luther King’s interpretations of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws or commands of a government; it is a symbolic violation of the law, rather than a rejection of the system as a whole. I shall argue that the protestors in Ferguson, Baltimore and other…

Words 784 - Pages 4

To Serve and Maybe Protect Essay

alleged victim of police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria, came into conflict with police officers on August 15, 2014. Police officers started to seize motorcycles from civilians; the riders resisted, and as a result the policemen began shooting sporadically. Was this type of force necessary? Although police officers should have the prerogative to use necessary force while dealing with criminals, police officers who abuse this and use excessive force need to be punished. Police brutality exists as the use of excessive force on criminals…

Words 2025 - Pages 9

Essay on Police and News Outlets

Martinez RHT 102 Media Coverage In recent years police brutality has increased in the United States, after the last events in Ferguson, MO, and some others in New York, NY. Santa Fe, NM, and Los Angeles, CA. it seems that instead of serving and protecting, police departments have become departments of violence. This is what the media have instilled us. Police brutality is not a novelty, it already existed from years ago but unnoticed until now. Ferguson, MO was just the beginning, soon we know by means…

Words 1257 - Pages 6

Research Essay Assignment

Flashpoint Ferguson ). Crimes of police brutality a broken justice system, has failed to give the proper sentences of crimes motivated by racial and bias beliefs. This practice has continued to break hearts of families whom have been victimized by the corruption of the united states justice system. Ivelys Ortega Ivelys Ortega "brutality." Dictionary.com Unabridged . Random House, Inc. 03 Apr. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/brutality >. *Police [puh­lees ] …

Words 490 - Pages 2

Police Shootings

and bad. Police brutality is something that has become increasingly constant. Whether it’s covered by your local news channel or social media, the public is no longer turning a blind eye. Every year, the number of people affected by police brutality increases. The Washington Post reported “nine hundred and fifty-two people have been shot and killed by police in 2017” (The Washington Post, “Police Shootings 2017 Database”). This is not only a problem for those affected by police brutality, but for…

Words 580 - Pages 3

Black Panther Movement Analysis

Lives. These movements both grew out of frustration with rampant police brutality in black communities. They founded at a time when police brutality and oppression of black people was sensationalized by media. During the 1960s, you repeatedly saw black people getting attacked by policemen, police dogs, and water hoses on television and in newspapers. Today, you repeatedly see black people getting gunned down and brutalized by police officers on social media. Both movements formed soon after political…

Words 1128 - Pages 5

Police Brutality Research Paper

Police Brutality Police brutality is a real problem in the world. Police use excessive force when dealing with misdemeanors against all races. Police kill people instead of just arresting them, police don't just use brutality against blacks, and they use unnecessary force to the detain people. Police kill people under false suspicion because of a racial bias. Ramarley Graham was shot and killed on February 2nd, 2012. He was believed to have possession of illegal narcotics so a police officer…

Words 615 - Pages 3

Police Brutality Research Paper

Police brutality is a well-known issue that cannot be ignored. In today’s time, social media brings out the best and worst of police officers. There is an argument that not all cops are bad. Although that is true why are some of the good cops just letting the bad things happen and not reporting their fellow officers to the higher authority. police Brutality is a continuous issue and existent worry in the United States and ought to be settled instantly. Police brutality is a major issue not just for…

Words 833 - Pages 4