By Janeth Jaimes |Staff Writer|
Across the nation, many individuals from different demographics are being treated aggressively through unnecessary excessive force by police officers.
African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities are more likely to be physically attacked by authorities, according to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
I believe the use of unnecessary force by police is unjustified.
Recent cases of unnecessary violence by a police officer include Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, and Eric Garner.
Micheal Brown, an 18 year old African-American, was pursued by officer Darren Wilson, and instructed to get on the sidewalk.
Wilson held Brown around the neck and threatened to shoot, even though Brown was unarmed.
Officer Wilson ultimately ended Brown’s life when he fired ten shots.
Two days after Brown’s death, Ezell Ford, a 25 year old African-American who suffered from mental issues, was approached by two Los Angeles Police Department officers.
Although Ford reportedly complied with the officers, he was still shot three times.
Prior to these cases, in Staten Island, New York, Eric Garner was approached by New York police officers who accused him of selling loose cigarettes.
Garner was placed in a choke hold after he refused to comply with police officers.
“I can’t breathe,” said Garner.
Those were his last words.
On Aug. 23, 2014 a march of about 2,500 protesters was held for Garner in Staten Island.
I do not believe police officers who are responsible for upholding laws should abuse citizens or their rights.
In Garner’s case, it is unreasonable why one of the officers performed an illegal choke hold.
I also believe police officers need to change by using strategies that do not threaten a person’s life.
Officers that use excessive force are misusing their power.
There are many strategies this officer could have performed, such as calmly approaching Garner without aggression.
After Ford’s and Brown’s death, the public’s reaction was shown through protest marches that blocked traffic on city streets in L.A. and Ferguson.
The recent march for Brown was held on Oct. 7 outside the Busch Stadium, where many protesters shouted, “Fight Back.”
A week before Ford’s death, Omar Abrego, a 37 year old Hispanic father was beaten to death when he did not comply with officers’ orders.
Abrego was killed four blocks from where Ford was killed by an LAPD officer.
CSUSB Senior, Maria Barragan believes that police officers overreacted because lives are at risk every day.
“However, I do not understand why the police officers continued shooting Brown,” said Barragan.
“Black lives matter. And so do others lives; all human beings matter. Police officers hurt those considered a minority; therefore, I believe that they should be culturally educated,” continued Barragan.
Police officers are trained to protect our rights, not cause lethal harm.
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