They are being recorded. They are under intense scrutiny. And they still don’t care.
As demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism entered their 10th day, law-enforcement agencies in cities and towns across America continued to batter peaceful protesters and do everything in their power to prove why departments desperately need to be overhauled.
In Buffalo, N.Y., The Bronx, Austin, Tex., Vallejo, Calif., and Los Angeles, cops have seriously maimed or killed civilians with little-to-no justification in recent days. It just adds to a long and growing list of abuses that have also taken place in Louisville, Atlanta, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.
Those who defend the police always declare it’s just a few bad apples that are spoiling the bunch. But we aren’t watching one miscreant here and there. We are witnessing out-of-control police relishing the opportunity to attack and assault civilians and journalists.
In Buffalo on Thursday, police shoved a 75-year-old man to the ground, and then left him laying there as blood poured from his head. Initially, police told the public that he tripped and fell. Once again, the cops were shown to be lying and covering their own asses after local journalists posted a video of the incident online. Two officers have been suspended.
In the Bronx on Thursday, police caused mayhem when they decided to start violently arresting peaceful protesters, who were out after the city’s 8 p.m. curfew. Online videos even show medics in scrubs being detained.
In Austin, a 20-year-old North Texas University student was seriously injured after he was hit by a police-fired projectile Sunday night. Justin Howell suffered brain damage and a fractured skull, according to several published reports. As bystanders were carrying Howell in an attempt to seek medical attention, an online video shows police shooting at them.
And in Vallejo, an unarmed 22-year-old man who was kneeling and had his hands in the air was shot and killed by police Monday night. An officer mistakenly thought Sean Monterrosa was armed. He actually had a hammer in his pocket.
In the Los Angeles area, there have been so many incidents of excessive force by police over the past week, it's difficult to keep track of them all. The Los Angeles Times tried and needed three reporters to write one lengthy article about it.
Donald Trump threatened Monday to unleash the U.S. military into the streets of American cities, but what’s the point? We already have a militarized police force pretending to be infantrymen and women, with disastrous consequences. All over the country, in video after video, we see peaceful protesters being manhandled by police.
What kind of men shove a septuagenarian to the ground and leave him there bleeding? What kind of men arrest medics in scrubs? What kind of men fire projectiles at individuals carrying an obviously injured individual? What kind of men repeatedly shoot first and ask questions later?
American policemen.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that more than 10,000 arrests had been made in nine days. That number cannot possibly exclusively represent rioters and looters, not even close.
The videos don’t lie. Our eyes don’t lie.