Jaida Veiga

English 1301-054

Mrs. Tubbs

July 29, 2020

Police Brutality, is it Necessary?

For the past few months, there have been protests internationally dealing with police

brutality and the deaths of innocent/unarmed people in the black community. It all started with

the death of George Floyd, a black American man killed over a twenty-dollar counterfeit bill. A

white police officer named ​Derek Chauvin kneeled on Mr. Floyd’s neck, compressing it for over

eight minutes until he became unconscious and eventually passed away. After his death was

spread all over social media, a movement named “Black Lives Matter” demanded justice for

Floyd and as well as all people of color who are innocent of their crimes. (Thesis statement)

(Should police officers be using excessive force)

Police brutality has been a problem since the 1800s when labor was high in demand. It is

the use of excessive force where police officers exercise their power against someone or

something. In today’s age, police brutality is becoming more and more popular during protests

and even everyday events. Although this brutality can happen to anyone, it is more likely to

happen to a person of color simply because they are dark complected.

(Police brutality in the black community)

For decades people of color have been suffering at the hands of government officials.

This has been a problem since early American history and has not stopped despite laws and rules

being set in place. From slavery to modern issues, black Americans have ached. The term “Black
Lives Matter” first originated in February of 2012 when a young African-American man named

Trayvon Martin was shot to death in Sanford, Florida. He was out with his father who was

visiting his fiancee at her apartment when he got into a physical altercation with a neighborhood

watchman named George Zimmerman. Zimmerman then shot Martin, who was unarmed, and

claimed he was defending himself against him. He was later charged with second-degree murder

of a minor. In support of his charge, the State filed an affidavit against Zimmerman stating that

he profiled Martian incorrectly and decided to confront and eventually shoot him to death while

he committed no crimes. Clearly, this act of brutality was uncalled for

(Police brutality in the form of protesting and how it deals with race)

All Americans have the right to protest under the first amendment. People in the United

States are allowed to peacefully protest, no matter what they are fighting for. My question now

is, “Why did not anyone get arrested or harassed when people protested for their right not to

wear a mask or go out in public again when the coronavirus became a nationwide problem?”

They brought their assault rifles and got in police officers’ faces when they were told they had a

mandatory curfew. Yet, nobody used excessive force against them, even though they used the

slightest bit of violence. It may be because the majority of the protesters were people with a

white complexion or maybe because they were protesting something that the President did not

see as a threat. However, when people who believe that everyone is equal and thinks that nobody

should die for crimes they did not commit, police officers become extremely violent against

them. There have been cases about officers jumping innocent protesters simply for being at the

protests. One other military veteran was assaulted when he approached a group of officers,
simply trying to have a conversation, and was then beat with a baton. I firmly believe that this is

completely unnecessary and very sickening.

In conclusion, police brutality has not just been a recent issue, but a problem in the

United States since the 1800s. Some policemen believe that using excessive force against

innocent people, usually of color, is necessary because they think they are either threatened in a

situation where the victim is unarmed or because (another reason). It is ethically wrong in

multiple ways because they are using their power of force to ….

Draft Memo/Reflection

1. Where are you in your draft? What have you done so far? What have you not done

yet?

a. I have written my essay up to the 900-word mark. I already wrote parts of the

introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. I have not drafted my thesis

statement just yet or counter-argument, but I plan to when I am finished writing

my essay.

2. What are you happy within your draft? What are you unhappy with?

a. I am satisfied with the topic I choose and the way I laid out my essay. I am

unhappy that I have not written my counter argument yet.

3. What are 2-3 specific questions that you would like your classmates to answer about

your draft?

a. Do I make my side of the issue known?

b. Does my essay successfully fall under the category of the assignment?

● List of broad themes/issues:

○ Issues

■ Topics

● Police Brutality/Federal Agents

● Not enough women working in the security forces in Khyber’s

country (I believe it is Afghanistan)

■ Police Brutality

■ Security forces - Khyber

■ Very few women in the forces - Khyber

■ Culture problems - Khyber

■ Inequality between protesters and other people

■ Unnecessary use of excessive force

■ Problem since the 1800s to modern-day in the United States

■ We have the right to protest even but the officers are harassing protesters

even though they are peaceful

○ Themes

■ Police brutality is unethical

■ Policeman are using excessive force on peaceful protesters

■ Inequality towards women - Khyber

■ Racism against the black community

○ My Research Questions
 ■ Who is benefiting from police brutality?

■ Where in the world is this acceptable?

● Citation

○ "Preface to 'How Can Police Brutality Be Stopped?'." ​Police Brutality,​ edited by

Michael Ruth, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. ​Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link-gale-com.aclibproxy.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/EJ3010156154/OVIC?u=txs

hracd2904&sid=OVIC&xid=7e89a050. Accessed 5 Aug. 2020.

■ In all of these cases, the actions of white ​police officers​ led to the deaths

of ​African Americans​ that the black community labeled as wrongful and

unnecessary.

● This quote is useful because it shows how race is important in

these issues. The white officers wrongfully accused the African

Americans, leading to many deaths within the black community.

● The author is Micheal Ruth

● In “Preface to "How Can Police Brutality Be Stopped?"” Micheal

Ruth ​stresses ​that “In all of these cases, the actions of white ​police

officers​ led to the deaths of ​African Americans​ that the black

community labeled as wrongful and unnecessary.” He is declaring

that race is important in these issues. The white officers wrongfully

accused the African Americans, leading to many deaths within the

black community.
● Paraphrased quote:

○ Original

■ In all of these cases, the actions of white ​police

officers​ led to the deaths of ​African Americans​ that

the black community labeled as wrongful and

unnecessary.

■ New version

● In “Preface to "How Can Police Brutality Be

Stopped?"” Micheal Ruth ​stresses ​that When

people of color are wrongly accused by

caucasian officers, their communities

become extremely angry and demand justice

for their losses.