Police Brutality and The American

Justice System

Fig 1: Eric Garner. (n.d.).

Retrieved from
http://assets.nydailynews.co
m/polopoly_fs/1.1885091.14
06706356!/img/httpImage/im
age.jpg_gen/derivatives/articl
e_750/cigs.jpg

Jaia Grady, Akili Banks, and Sharif Brown

 Fig 3: Ida (Parker) Floyd. (n.d.). Fig 5: Eric Garner. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Retrieved July 31, 2017, from http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.18
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Parke 85091.1406706356!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_g
r-11912 en/derivatives/article_750/cigs.jpg

Philando Castile
Oscar
Grant

Rodney
Eric Garner
King
Fig 2: Rodney King. (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://s-media-cache- Fig 4: Eric Garner. (n.d.). Retrieved
ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e6/79/bb/e679 from
bb9503c05ad8d0097b579685b5f7-- http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop
police-officer-swimming-pools.jpg oly_fs/1.1885091.1406706356!/img/
httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivative
s/article_750/cigs.jpg
Rodney King
March 3, 1991
 Details about Rodney King
Case
http://abcnews.go.com/Archi
ves/video/march-1991-rodney
-king-videotape-9758031
March 3, 1991, caught on
tape by a bystander.

Beaten by LA PD.

Fig. 6. Rodney King [photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rodney-king-beating-fbi-releases-
files-documenting-early-investigation/
 Consequences of Officers
In the Rodney King case
four LAPD officers who
were seen violently
attacking King were
acquitted, while there
were 17 other officer
bystanders.
Jurors in the case
consisted of 10 white
caucasian, 1 hispanic,
and 1 asian man.
Fig :7 LA Riots: Key players -- where
are they now? [Cartoon]. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 2, 2017, from
http://image.dailynews.com/storyima
ge/ZZ/20120428/NEWS/120429691/
AR/0/AR-
120429691.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=
667
Fig :8 Rodney King beating 20
years later: Can't we all just get
along? (n.d.). Retrieved August 2,
2017, from
https://i2.wp.com/thegrio.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/03/rodney-
king-beating.jpg?fit=590%2C443
 Media Impact on Society
The video of Rodney King being brutally beaten by LAPD has had an impact on
society's view of police brutality because, it revealed to the world what police
brutality looked like. It opened their eyes to why police brutality is a topic that
should be discussed throughout society. Taylor (2012) quoted civil rights activist, Al
Sharpton about how "I remember before the tape of Rodney King, we talk about
police abuse people thought we were making it up." The fact that people in society
once thought that police misconduct was fiction shows the lack of awareness that
society had on police abuse.
Oscar Grant
January 1, 2009
 Details about Oscar Grants Case

https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=eo0d6Q4RVno

Unarmed African-American
man laying face down on the
ground, was shot in the back
by a Bay Area Transit officer
in a Oakland subway
platform.
Fig: 9 POLICE MURDER OF OSCAR GRANT EXPOSES
INJUSTICE SYSTEM. (2010, August 10). Retrieved
August 3, 2017.
https://www.socialistalternative.org/2010/08/02/police-
Died the day after the
murder-of-oscar-grant-exposes-injustice-system/
shooting.
 Consequences of Officers
Johannes Mehserle the officer who shot and
killed Oscar Grant was found guilty in
involuntary manslaughter.
Case reminded people of Rodney King (which
was about twenty years earlier) causing police
to gear up in riot gear the day after the killing.
Johannes Mehserle was sentenced to two years
for the death of Oscar Grant.
Mehserle only served a year of his two year
sentencing.
Fig :10 Mehserle verdict:
Johannes Mehserle sentencing
stuns Oscar Grant supporters,
sparks riots in Oakland. (2010,
November 5). Retrieved August
2, 2017, from
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/J
ustice/2010/1105/Mehserle-
verdict-Johannes-Mehserle-
sentencing-stuns-Oscar-Grant-
supporters-sparks-riots-in-
Oakland
Fig :11 Former Transit Cop
Johannes Mehserle Has Retail
Dreams. (2011, June 20).
Retrieved August 2, 2017, from
http://www.colorlines.com/sites/de
fault/files/styles/article_lead_norm
al/public/images/articles/2011/06/
mehserle110810-thumb-
640xauto-1499.jpeg?
itok=9st2dzmE
 Media Impact On Society
The incident between officer Johannes Mehserle and Oscar Grant at Fruitvale
BART Station ignited the outrage about police killings nationwide. The video of
Oscar Grant tragically was the stepping stone to the numerous amount of police
killings that proceeded. Following the emergence of the video, the Oscar Grant
Foundation was created. Nash (2016) quoted Grants mother that ...to do is to
work together with the police to bring forward our feelings, visions and goals to
help them learn how to police better. The video influenced Grants community to
come together and start the conversation of bringing the people and law
enforcement together.
Eric Garner
July 17, 2014
Details about Eric Garners Case
www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/201
4/dec/04/i-cant-breathe-eric-garner-c
hokehold-death-video
.
Accused of illegally selling cigarettes
Autopsy said death was a homicide
caused by compression to the neck
Later ruled that death was to acute and
chronic asthma, obesity and heart
disease
Fig. 12. I Can't Breathe [Meme]. (2014). Retrieved from
https://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Uploads/Graphics/338-
1225090245-i-cant-breathe4.jpg
 Consequences for officers
Staten Island grand jury announced
NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo not
guilty for choking Eric Garner to
death.

Staten Island grand jury determined

there to be no probable cause.

Fig :13 Real

Housewives of Atlanta
[Cartoon]. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 2,
2017, from
http://gph.is/1iooY4g Fig : 14 Daniel Pantaleo cop who dodged charges in Eric Garner's death disciplined by
NYPD for bogus stop-and-frisk [Photograph]. (2016, April 4).
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2588013.1459788033!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_ge
n/derivatives/article_750/garner5n-2-web.jpg
 Media Impact On Society
The Eric Garner case, and the video of Eric Garner being
pinned down in the concrete screaming I cant breathe!
(Cassandra 2005) Witnessing this brutality through the
media has influenced people to stand up for what they
believe in, such as through the Black Lives Matter
movement. The medias role in police brutality shows why
there is still a need to protest and give online support.
Protests and social media support can sway the jurys
decision, and that would be a big win for the movement Fig. NBA Players Wearing I CANT
BREATHE SHIRTS. Retrieved from
http://feistythoughts.com/category/christi
against police brutality. anity/
Philando
Castile
July 6, 2016
 Details about Philano Castile
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEjipYKb
OOU
Girlfriend recorded the situation on
Facebook live along with daughter in the
car.
Informed officer he was carrying an
armed weapon.

Fig. 15. Picture of Philando Castile after being shot

[Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2016/11/16/minnesota-cop-
shot-killed-philando-castile-charged-manslaughter/
 Consequences for officers
Jeronimo Yanez was found not
guilty of second-degree
manslaughter in the death of
Philando Castile.
Yanez was also acquitted for two
counts of intentional discharge of
firearm that endangers safety.
Fig. 16. Yanez takes stand: 'I
thought I was going to die' during
encounter with Castile. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
http://stmedia.startribune.com/image
s/1496761021_gallCastile Shooting
Officer TrialA.jpg (Originally
photographed 2017, June 10)
 Media Impact On Society
Moments after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, his distraught fiancee began
to record the aftermath of the incident on Facebook Live. Facebook Live is a live
video streaming application where you can broadcast live to your friends and to
the public. Her live stream was viewed millions of times on social networks and
played on the news frequently following the event. The instant intuitiveness to
record her dying fiancee, while being held at gunpoint by the officer is an example
that people can follow when they are in a similar situation.
 Police Brutality Against
Transgenders
National Coalition of the Anti-

Violence Program (NCAVP)

Los Angeles County in 2012

conducted a report on the law

enforcement and transgender

women. The report showed that

21% said they were physically

assaulted by the police and 24%

said they were sexually assaulted by

the police FIg. 17. Retrieved from

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/transgender-women-
disproportionately-targeted-violent-hate-crimes/
 Media Impact On Police Brutality
Video is turning social media into a virtual crime scene (Bayly 2016).
With tools like Facebook Live, Instagram Live and simply a phone
camera, people can share with society what police brutality looks like.
How a video taken on an Iphone by a random civilian can lead to
nationwide outrage, peaceful gatherings and violent protests. Millions
have witnessed murders and the vicious attacks on unarmed minorities;
will we continue to turn a blind eye or face this issue head on so that
one day society wont be divided.
 Lynching In America

https://www
.youtube.co
m/watch?v=3
BWTh4p6QEk

FIg. 18. Am I Next [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BWTh4p6QE

 Handling the Police
As society grows, we grow with people who think
poorly of the authorities, and there are those who
speak very highly of them.
We must learn as a collective to respond calmly and
respectfully.
Do exactly what the officers ask of you and nothing
else.
Communicate and result with a positive attitude.
 Solutions
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Should provide flyers on police brutality.

Implement the precautions drivers should take when being

stopped by the police.
Drivers Education

Should education young drivers on police brutality.

Inform them on how they should handle things if they are pulled.

Should be tested on the precautions to take while encountering

 Raising Awareness Through Social Media

With the help of

social media we are
hoping that Fig. 20. Hands up don't shoot [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://usatodayhss.com/2016/opinionpolice-brutality-
is-a-current-issue-for-african-americans-and-it-needs-to-be-
eventually police
Fig. 19. Police brutality [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
stopped

http://police-brutality-relig-project.tumblr.com/
brutality and
improper justice
would be stopped

Fig. 21. Black lives matter [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved FIg. 22. Stop police brutality [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://hub.wsu.edu/law-justice- from http://dfw.cbslocal.com/tag/police-brutality/
realtime/2015/09/23/race-as-it-pertains-to-police-brutality-
 Work Cited
Taylor, Marisa. (2012, June 17). Rodney King Case Changed Perceptions of Police Brutality. ABC News. Retrieved
from http://abcnews.go.com/US/rodney-king-case-changed-perceptions-police-brutality/story?id=16589385

Williams Institute - A Think Tank at UCLA Law Dedicated to Conducting Rigorous, Independent Research on

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public PolicyWilliams Institute | A Think Tank at UCLA Law

Dedicated to Conducting Rigorous, Independent Research on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and

Public Policy, williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/LGBT-Discrimination-and-Harassment-in-Law-

Enforcement-March-2015.pdf.

Cassandra. (2015, December 9). Police Brutality: Through The Media [Blog Post] Retrieved from

https://www.hastac.org/blogs/cassandramaria/2015/12/09/police-brutality-through-med

Nash. (2016). Social Media & Social Justice Since The Oscar Grant Shooting Video. Retrieved from

https://blavity.com/social-media-and-social-justice-since-oscar-grant/

Bayly. (2016, July 9). Police Shootings Test New Era of Violent Social Media Video. Retrieved from

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/police-shootings-test-new-era-violent-social-media-video-n605366