[Lawrence Hamm is chairman of the People’s Organi…]
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Lawrence Hamm is chairman of the People’s Organi zation for Progress in Newark, N.J.
Police brutality is an ongoing, growing and deadly problem in the United States of America.
It includes the unwarranted and unjustified killing of unarmed people, the use of excessive force, the vio lation of peoples’ constitutional rights, racist and dis criminatory practices, criminal activity, corruption and misconduct, increased militarization of police forces, and the failure of the criminal justice system to hold police accountable.
Police brutality is not an isolated problem. It is a historical problem with roots that are deep in the so cial fabric of this country. It must be seen within the broader context of racial and economic injustice and inequality.
While the victims of police brutality come from all racial groups in society, the vast majority come from African American, Latino, Native American and other communities of color. They are overwhelmingly poor and working class. Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Abdul Kamal, Kashad Ashford, and Rekia Boyd are among the recent victims.
Police brutality has been and continues to be the cause of social unrest in the country. Throughout contemporary U.S. history incidents of police brutal ity have sparked explosive episodes of civil rebellion and unrest, with the most recent being that of Fergu Mumia speaks on son, Missouri.
The failure of the criminal justice system to hold police officers accountable is causing a political cri sis as more people discover that police brutality goes unpunished. Police kill unarmed civilians and are not even charged.
One grand jury after another fails to indict police of ficers. The cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner being the most recent examples. This is perpetuating a growing belief that the criminal justice system is racist and illegitimate.
Police brutality is a serious and longstanding prob lem. For decades attempts have been made to reform the police. These efforts have only been successful when tremendous sustained political and social pres sure have been brought to bear upon the appropriate government institutions.
For these reasons the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) has called a Million People’s March Against Police Brutality, Racial Injustice, and Eco nomic Inequality. We will march to demand an end to police brutality and justice for all of its victims, police reform, and an end to the problems of racial injustice and economic inequality which lead to police brutal ity. This is a huge project, and we are going to need all the support we can get to make it happen.
The Million People’s March will take place Saturday, July 25, starting 12 noon at the Lincoln Monument in Newark. For information call the People’s Organiza tion for Progress (POP) at(973) 801-0001. n makes the church massacre in Charleston even remotely intelligible.