Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli army's investigation into the rocket that fell in Haifa without warning: The Iranian missile's warhead was not detected
Israeli media: The air force's surveillance systems failed to detect the Iranian missiles, leading to a series of failures
Israeli media: The army's investigation revealed that the missile was not detected, thus no interception means were fired at it, and the sirens were not activated
Israeli media: The army's updated investigation into yesterday's Iranian missile strike on Haifa reveals a serious flaw
Anwar Gargash, advisor to the UAE president: Smotrich's insolence has reached the point of calling for Gulf, German, French, and British funding for 'Israel's' war on Iran
Colombian President: The solution starts with Netanyahu, who should stop bombing Palestine, declare a ceasefire, and stop endangering all of humanity
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: It all started with the bombing of Palestinian children and the genocide of the people of Gaza, and now we are on the verge of a world war
Iranian Army Commander from War Operations Room: Every time the United States commits a crime, it receives a decisive response, which will happen this time as well
Spain's foreign minister: I will ask EU to approve immediate suspension of trade agreement with 'Israel'
Spain's foreign minister: I will ask EU foreign minister today to say no towar and yes to diplomacy

'Systemic racism' rampant in US police, judiciary: UN

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Sep 2023 21:54
  • 7 Shares
4 Min Read

The UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement calls on authorities to amp up efforts of reform.

  • x
  • Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on September 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. (AP)
    Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on September 23, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky, US (AP)

In a fresh report released by the UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement, it is revealed that "systemic racism" against individuals of African descent is ravaging US police forces and the criminal justice system as it calls on authorities to amp up efforts of reform.

The report is the result of the Mechanism’s official visit to the United States earlier this year, in which it heard testimonies from 133 individuals impacted by it, visited five detention centers, and convened with civil society groups and a range of government and police authorities in the states of the District of Columbia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York.

Tracie Keesee, an expert member of the Mechanism, said, "In all the cities we went to, we heard dozens of heart-breaking testimonies on how victims do not get justice or redress. This is not new, and it’s unacceptable," adding, "This is a systemic issue that calls for a systemic response. All actors involved, including police departments and police unions, must join forces to combat the prevailing impunity."

According to the report, racism - the legacy of slavery, the slave trade, and 100 years of legalized apartheid - continues to spread today through racial profiling, police killings, and other human rights violations.

Read next: Indigenous America: The US kills its victim and walks in its funeral

It noted that African Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than whites, and 4.5 times more likely to be imprisoned, adding that only 1% of the over 1,000 cases of murder by police each year, result in officers being indicted.

Children in prison, pregnant women in chains

Related News

Oil prices spike as US-Israeli aggression on Iran sparks concerns

Behind the scenes: Trump's decision to strike Iran mapped - CNN

Juan Mendez, an expert member of the Mechanism, expressed rejection of the "bad apple" theory. There is strong evidence suggesting that the abusive behavior of some individual police officers is part of a broader and menacing pattern," adding, "Law enforcement and criminal justice institutions in the United States share and reproduce values, attitudes, and stereotypes of US society and institutions. These must be reformed."

The report proposed that armed police officers should not be sent as the first responders to every social issue in the US, such as mental health crises, homelessness, and controlling traffic or school discipline, which the report said could be changed by setting alternative responses to policing.

"During our meetings with police officers, we repeatedly heard concerns that officers’ mental health was being affected not only by work overload but also by racism and racial discrimination inside police departments," Keesee clarified, stating, "Expecting law enforcement officers to respect and protect human rights also presupposes a culture of respect and wellbeing within the ranks."

Police agencies are called on by the authors of the report to tackle issues of systemic racism even against Black law enforcement officers and address white supremacy ideology inside the precincts. 

The report cited examples of children of African descent sentenced to life imprisonment, pregnant women in prison put in chains while giving birth, and persons put in solitary confinement for 10 years.

Bad cop, good practices?

It also noted that some people of African descent were prohibited from voting even after years of completing their sentences and that some were given forced labor in "plantation-style" prisons - a contemporary form of slavery.

"The testimonies and figures we received represent the worst part of a racist criminal justice system that erodes all efforts towards addressing systemic racism," Mendez said.

"Our findings point to the critical need for comprehensive reform."

30 recommendations to the US and all its jurisdictions, including over 18,000 police agencies in the country, were handed in the report, which underlined local and federal good practices required and recognized the efforts of the current administration and a few local governments to tackle the issue.

"We encourage the good practices to be reproduced in other parts of the country. We look forward to continuing to cooperate with the United States to implement these recommendations," Mendez concluded.

  • United States
  • United Nations
  • US
  • Police Brutality
  • systemic racism
  • OHCHR

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS