Minneapolis Police rife with racism, systematic brutality: DoJ
The Minnesota Police Department, whose police officers killed George Floyd and caused anti-racism protests across the United States, was found guilty of racial discrimination and systematic brutality.
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A protester prays in front of the memorial of George Floyd in 2020. (AFP)
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) was revealed to be abounding with racism and systematic police after an investigation by prosecutors. This is happening three years after the killing of George Flyod, as many police critics have been contending that racist views held by some police officers are driving many racially motivated police brutality incidents.
The American judiciary issued a harsh critique of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) on Friday, confirming long-standing claims that MPD officers routinely discriminated against racial minorities, violated constitutional rights, and neglected the safety of those in custody years before an African American man was killed by a White officer.
Many of the community concerns about police conduct that appeared following Floyd's brutal death were substantiated in the official report, which was the outcome of an "extensive" two-year inquiry.
The federal investigation also discovered that Minneapolis police officers used excessive force, including "unjustified deadly force," and infringed on the rights of individuals who expressed themselves in ways that were guaranteed by the Constitution.
The report also highlighted that policing in Minneapolis was conducted in a racist manner most notably toward African Americans, Native Americans, and those with "behavioral health disabilities."
US #policebrutality hit a new record in 2022 as it killed 1,183 people, with data showing that there were killings on 353 days last year.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 10, 2023
However, weirdly enough, reports about police brutality and inhumane treatment don't seem to flood the internet and news channels.#USA pic.twitter.com/YL11GbO5au
During a press conference in Minneapolis on Friday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said that "the patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible.”
Garland cited other occasions where a person stated they could not breathe, only to have cops answer with a variation of "You can breathe, you’re talking right now.”
The report further confirmed that the police "use dangerous techniques and weapons against people who have committed minor crimes and sometimes no crime at all."
The inquiry led to an agreement between the city and the police department, referred to as a consent decree, which calls for the reviewing of improvements by an impartial monitor authorized by a federal court.
Racism is deeply rooted in law enforcement in the United States, with police force brutality heavily affecting the Black community in the US.
