Freddie Gray: Don't let the 1% determine police reform for the 99%
The history of policing in the US has been one of protecting private property, money and lives of the affluent and politically powerful, at least since the NYPD’s founding in 1845. Any new efforts at police reform – calls for which are growing stronger with each new death of an unarmed person of color at the hands of the police – will be unsuccessful if they exclude revisions to this most basic of reasons for the existence of modern law enforcement."
*We should never expect expert panels led by technocrats who are far removed from the poor and communities of color to address deep flaws in the police system. For one, their socioeconomic and racial distance would make it next to impossible for them to develop evaluations and other reforms responsive to the needs of such communities. The heavy influence from America’s rich and powerful on law enforcement means that any reform efforts at making police less militarized will conflict with the charge to protect private property – especially businesses – and those who wield the most money and political influence.
To even begin to make inroads on police reform, we need trusted representatives of the interest of the poor and communities of color to be involved. Organizations like the ACLU, the Center for Social Inclusion, The Sentencing Project and Dream Defenders – along with individuals like Maya Wiley, Deeray McKesson and Michelle Alexander – would be a place to start."
*It has often taken a series of major riots for law enforcement and affluent whites to get the message that police are not only there to serve them and their interests. Everyone deserves fair protection. Let’s hope that it doesn’t take more bloodshed for all of us to realize that."
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/01/dont-let-the-1-determine-police-reform-for-the-99
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