Cops and Protesters: Victims of the Same System and How the Past Can Help Us

These past few months have tested our moral values as it pertains to social progress. We have worked on diagnosing the problems that members from our communities face on a regular basis and have attached those narratives to our own set of values. This approach has resulted in competing voices as people express their opinions about what should happen when faced with death and other extreme situations. We do this far from establishing a foundation of empathy, a dangerous way to deal with humanity. Minorities, women, homosexuals, elders, the handicapped and other groups that historically have been placed on the margin of socio-political power depend on protest and calling out injustices in order to ensure social progress. So, the recent outpour of the discontent should be embraced as an opportunity to reach consensus on issues that have long kept certain people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder and forced to continuously engage with law enforcement officers who have sworn to the protect and serve. It is no mystery that a significant portion of those encounters have resulted in police brutality, mistrust and the other shittiness that usually accompanies a dysfunctional relationship. Along with this relationship, the criminal justice system that it belongs to is undoubtedly fucked up. From the prosecution to the war on drugs to the private prison complex, multiple layers of this system has disproportionately impacted men of color. This notion is empirically supported and accepted among the professionals who extensively study the system itself. It is important we accept the fact that lady liberty’s scale tilts away from certain people which has resulted in destructive outcomes that at times can be described as inhumane. Once we accept this as truth, we will feel the desperation that comes with such oppressive practices and empathize with a community that has experienced unpaid labor, restricted voting, ineffective education, and violence. Again, these are well-established facts. With empathy, we'll be able to build the courage to accept responsibility and then do something about it. To help decide why and how to do “something,” look at history. 

Civil unrest and the social movements are nothing new, and we can make sense of today’s events by studying past ones. This provides an empathic perspective at real problems faced by real people who desire real solutions. Merely dismissing us as thug-sympathizers or police-bashers will not result in improvements.  Please understand that the struggle is real supported by written, photographed, and video mediums. And for those protesters and civil activists who wish for drastic changes, we must empathize with law enforcement and get a scope of their experiences which have led some to entirely dismiss the oath they took. We must understand the multiple elements that foster police’s hyper-masculine culture that perpetuates many of these problems. The good ones need to step up and admit that their fellow officers are falling victim to a cutthroat system. A difficult job has become even more dangerous because cops do not address the wear and tear of their culture. They are struggling to stay above water just like the 'hoods they "protect" and in reality, the real enemy is the greater criminal justice system (lawmakers, public policy, private sector, etc.) which maintains control of both groups. 

The first part of this essay describes how extraordinary normal protesting is and how these demonstrations reflect systemic issues. Also, it explores crucial ideas that any protest must embrace in order for the movement to manifest into something greater. And lastly, police culture is examined and its impact on officers. Please consider that policing is a small fraction of the criminal justice system. The entire judicial world needs a serious face lift, but just like a face lift, it will be another version of its original self. Hopefully, a more just version. Once we start listening to each other’s sides, then we can hone down on tangible modifications that target police-community relations, legislation and ease the long-lasting racial tension that this nation was built on.

The Boston Tea Party

One thing is for sure; protesting is part of the game and from the look at recent social media, it seems as if many people have problems with the protesting. Truth be told, a famous American event helped set the tone for the Revolution and has served as an inspiration for future generations of social heroes.The Boston Tea Party was not a merry occasion as its name might presumes. It was an aggressive and unlawful reaction to the British tea tax on the American colonists. Members of the progressive group, Sons of Liberty, dressed as Native Americans, illegally boarded a British ship, illegally looted all its tea and threw into the Boston Harbor. The event served as an example of the colonists’ unhappiness with taxation without representation. The 13 Colonies were under England’s rule and the colonists wanted out from various oppressive policies that kept their basic civil rights in check. Th Tea Party brought attention to real civic problems and in turn led to other social protests which led to consensus among the colonists which eventually led to their independence. The Boston Tea Party continued to serve as an inspiration for uprisings in South Africa and India (Ghandi) as the British Empire was dismantled in the 19th and 20th centuries. By no means am I condoning illegal behavior, but I am a realist and history tells me that civic unrest is a reflection of a broken system, and protesting broken institutions is necessary for social progress. However, we also know that marching alone will not set off changes. They must accompany tangible resolutions and wide-ranging policies that lawmakers can build off in the future. Today’s racial issues are deep rooted and will require policy changes that can foresee future circumstances and make it easy to build on its philosophical foundation. Like the tea tax for the colonists, these recent deadly and unjust outcomes are the last straws before erupting into strategically-controlled chaos, a sensible and inspiring reaction. 

Now that we have people’s attention, we need to make sure to address the inequities in strategic and emotional ways. The Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s have shown us what to do regarding a progressive revolution. One effective strategy is showing unity through everyday activities. For example, the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955) that Rosa Park sparked lasted over a year and created unity across racial and economic lines. Lead protestors were able to convince the community not to take public transportation due to their racial segregation policy. Residents depended on one another to get around the city. A system of carpooling was established and certain “progressive” ideas were incepted such as White housewives serving as their servants’ transportation or middle-class America loaning their vehicles to the cause. This lasted OVER A YEAR, and defiance through unity was the difference. Today's protests must identify a similar tactic. We also need to continue to bring to light the destruction of unjust legal practices and the low morale that shadows over all of us involved. Another example from the Civil Rights Movement was the diner sit-ins. The non-violent, but intrusive technique showed the world the extend that some people will go to avoid change and deny others of simple rights. Properly trained protesters would enter diners that stated “Whites Only” and sit at the counter. They were generally considered peaceful, but it is easy to see the passive aggressiveness of the technique. It helped entice violence from White observers, making the protest raw, uncomfortable, and more importantly, effective. The protests would last several days, mobilized hundreds of supporters and led to amendments in segregation laws, which we would ALL agree was much needed.

All social movements mentioned (Boston Tea Party, Bus Boycott, Sit-ins) as well as many others are well-respected  and are regarded as moments that sparked enlightenment for a greater cause. We must use them for guidance as we address current injustices. Like those previous protests, the respect for humanity was promoted. Today, we do not attack individual police officers, but rather demand changes to the discriminatory criminal justice system that has played out in inhumane fashion. Again, a notion widely supported through data. Like the past, we must occupy spaces that are inclusive and show the willingness of people from different backgrounds to work together for systemic solutions. Like the past, we must come to terms with the fact that sometimes our attitudes (and public policy that it spills over to) can have destructive and inhumane repercussions (Trails of Tears, Jim Crow, and Imperialism to name a few). And acknowledge that it is NOT about one unarmed dead kid or a suspicious hooded teenager or a choked out father, but rather about the compilation of practices that have historically been successful at limiting basic rights and destroying HOPE to a high number of men, women and children from our own backyard.

The same compassion that drives us to come together should be utilized to comprehend the other side, which is “unknown” and can be deemed as threatening. Not all cops are racist or possess a superiority complex. Not all were teased as kids and are now doing it to the public. Most are not contemplating how to boost the Black Man’s plight. Most are just trying to do the work they dreamed about like I did at one time. At a personal level, I studied Criminal Justice and obtained a Master’s degree. During that time, I completed the Police Academy as one of the top officers and proudly represented my class as the graduation speaker. As soon as I put on my uniform and strapped up my gun and badge, I realized the toll the job takes on one’s body and mind. If we empathize, then we’ll realized that cops are victims to the same criminal justice system that they support. Police officers work an unbelievable amount of hours. Some do it for the paycheck and some do it for the promotion, and one thing is certain, I NEVER met an officer who supported what I was doing. I did not take this as an insult, but as advice. You can see the tiredness and desperation in their eyes, and suddenly, the statistics that I studied as an undergrad and graduate student materialized. Cops are most likely to suffer from mental health (depression, anxiety, addictions), irregular sleep cycles which impacts stress, brain function and overall health, and many of these issues spills over to their household. Many officers struggle with domestic violence, divorce and other familial problems. The reality is that the criminal justice system is not sending out healthy and clear minded men and women to serve and protect. They are tired and stressed and job performance suffers from it. In turn, the public gets a bunch of dedicated officers, who at times can be more harmful than good. It’s a vicious cycle that protesters need to be aware of in order to demand change.

Granted, they are several bad apples, and with a destructive system like this, it is easy to grow more disgruntled ones. So, there should be accountability for police misconduct. Not a question about that, but through a broader lens, officers are trained to do a specific job and respond in a certain way. That training needs to be assessed. When I was at the Academy, it was a constant reminder that you may get killed on the job. The dramatic personal stories from well-seasoned officers and the uncensored shooting videos did a great job at terrifying the shit out of us. These police academies are sending out our brothers and sisters on high alert and hyper-vigilance that leads them to make unreasonable decisions and unable to de-escalate tensed situations. I practiced more my use of force continuum than any psychological response to an emergency. Policing is not even the most dangerous job and given the amount of hours a cop spends driving, you are more likely to get hurt in a car crash. Along with the long hours and morbid mentality that comes with the profession, the heightened masculinity in many departments does not encourage emotional decompression, practical conversations, and an environment of truthfulness. Everything is about “covering your own ass,” while preaching about protecting the “blue line brotherhood.” The “no snitchin’” attitude is just as real in these public organizations as in the neighborhoods they patrol. The police culture needs to change and there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Limiting hours, required mental health, required vacations, open forums, community policing and academies that do not train you for warfare are a few changes. In reality, these men and women (mostly men) are struggling to keep their morale high while stress from all angles drags them down. In reality, these officers are victims of a larger system just like the people they victimize.

Overall, there is no question in my mind that something has to give. Police-sympathizers cannot seriously argue that the criminal justice system is fair. From Emmit Tils murderers to OJ Simpson . The United States philosophical foundation established by the founding fathers is one of the best groundwork done by any major empires from the past. While there were blatant disregard for anyone that was not a White heterosexual male, the fathers knew that the mentality was not sustainable for the nation. They provided the idea of free speech, free press, and due process with the notion that it offers future opportunities for marginalized populations to be heard. Unquestionably, the Boston Tea Party and other protests were vital for social progress. Hyperbole discussions should not distract us from the bigger picture and with some empathy we can see the picture as vivid as ever. Black and Brown children have a different reality than assumed and that is a fact. Most of us are not lucky enough to make socio-economic progress. Our public school system is in disarray and our interactions with police are deadly. Education failed to share the nooks and crannies of the reality of injustices, and more importantly, it has failed to show the moments of alliance. We are losing hope, but we must look at the past to design our future blueprints and internalize that heartache and tears are part of the process.  Nevertheless, we need to understand what exactly we are protesting for and this only occurs when everybody is well-represented at the table, the exact concept that this country was founded on.