Elijah Cushman, Kyle Sturgeon and J’L Herring

 

 

During the Civil Rights Movement, police brutality became a really common thing. Caucasian police officers did things like spray African Americans with powerful water hoses, the same ones that were used by firefighters to put fires out. Police officers also used what used to be Billy clubs (but now are known as a baton), to beat those same African Americans with powerful force. Many of these incidents were done when African Americans participated in riots such as the ones in Harlem. This is the same way some police brutality cases get started now. There are still incidents in which African Americans are being shot by Caucasian police officers over minor cases.

In order for this problem to get better, the people of America need to ask questions first, then act. We think to reach this goal, both citizens and officers have to come together and understand each other. Communities could do things such as training or meetings for everyone on how to act when rights are being violated instead of fighting with police officers in those situations. Police officers could also take training or classes for when they are in situations where they are being treated aggressively or illegally by a citizen. Communities can’t reach this goal unless we work together and help out one another.

Throughout this piece the police baton transforms into a helping hand.