Enough is Enough

     This unit in Rhetoric was about what types of speeches inspire and mobilize people. We learned about what elements are essential for a good speech, and the types of language that attract people. Our final project was to use this new knowledge ourselves, and write our own speech on a change we want to see in our city, Chicago. I chose to write about police brutality, for many reasons, the main one being that one of my close friends was a victim of this. Writing this paper made me feel proud because I felt that I honored that friend by writing about this topic.

     I have lived in Chicago my whole life. Over that time I have seen so many amazing things in our city, the diversity, the cultural attractions, the food; but lately I have been hearing about many terrible things as well. One of those terrible things that has continually increased over the years is police brutality. Lately, I’ve been hearing story after story on the news, seemingly every day. And I believe it is time to say enough is enough.

     In 2012, the Chicago Police Department shot 57 people, killing 8 of them. Officer-involved shootings occurred in 14 of the 25 Chicago Police Districts, that is more than half of the districts. An author for the People’s Law Office website described the situation perfectly: “...it is important to recognize that police officers, government employees who are sworn to protect all of us, are far too often responsible for the gun violence against civilians.” (IPRA Releases Report on 2012 Chicago Police Shootings, 2012). This statement reveals the main issue, which is that the police are abusing their power. This has become a fight for equality, like previous fights for racial and gender equality, but this time it is for the equality between people in power and the average citizen. Just because someone is a police officer, does not mean he or she shouldn’t have to follow the same laws as everyone else. And if a regular citizen goes to jail for shooting or torturing someone, police officers should go to jail for this as well. Instead, many times they are let off the hook because it was just “a mistake”. On August 9 this year, in Ferguson, Missouri, an 18 year old boy named Michael Brown, with no priors, was shot and killed in broad daylight, and the police officer, Darren Wilson, received no disciplinary action against him, in fact his killer is still walking freely after two months having never been arrested for the murder. Apparently, Wilson shooting the unarmed boy was another instance of an officer “just doing his job” (Swaine, 2014). So is that what police jobs now entail? Shooting people? Shooting unarmed, not dangerous people? Shooting unarmed, not dangerous youth?

     A national poll taken by police officers in 2012 showed that 42% of officers believe that “Always following the rules is not compatible with getting the job done”, meaning they think they are exempt from following the rules and laws. They should not be. 84% admitted that they have witnessed other officers use more force than necessary to make an arrest and 61% admitted that they don’t always report serious criminal violations that involve the abuse of authority by fellow officers (Erye, 2012). This shows how many officers use excessive force, and how many other officers allow it by being bystanders. They should not be. Between 2002 and 2004, 10,149 complaints were made accusing Chicago Police Department officers of excessive force, illegal searches, racial abuse, sexual abuse, and false arrests. Only 19 of these complaints led to any suspensions. 85% of the officers weren’t even interviewed about the complains that were made about them. This shows how little is done about police abuse, and that officers are given the impression that breaking the rules is okay and goes without consequence. They should not be.

     Our own mayor is ignoring these issues. Some police officers were sued for torturing two prisoners, Ronald Kitchen and Marvin Reeves. During the trial, the defendants claimed that over 120 men were tortured. And what was Rahm Emanuel’s response? “I’m sorry this happened. Now let’s move on.” (Wisniewski, 2013). Let’s move on? Let’s move on? This isn’t some small unimportant issue, this is a matter of torture and the abuse of power. We will not “move on”. We refuse to “move on”.

     While some of you may think this issue wouldn't, or even shouldn't, touch me personally, it isn't small and unimportant issue to me. My good friend Dominique Franklin Jr., “Damo”, 23, was a victim of police brutality. He was a good person who made a mistake just like the rest of us. He did not come from a wealthy family, and didn’t always have the money to afford what he needed. So one day, he went into a Walgreens and yes, he stole something; yes, he broke the law. But was taking away a few dollars from a big company worth his life? I don’t think it was. When the police found Damo they handled the situation by tasing him, not once, but twice in what was clearly an unsafe area, because when they did, they caused him to fall against a pole, and be knocked unconscious. For around 15 or 20 minutes, no medical attention was provided for him. Instead, the police stood there, with no remorse for their actions. This unconsciousness became permanent because what the officers had really done was put this young man into a coma. And that cost him his life two weeks later. This was a clear case of police misconduct, and that is why Damo’s father is pressing charges against the Chicago Police Department. He says he is suing to “try and ensure that what happened to his child, doesn’t happen to anyone else.” (Puccinelli, 2014). And that’s all any of us want at this point. We are sick of the deaths all around us at the hands of police officers, the people who are paid to protect us. Our youth should not be meeting such early deaths. Rahm Emanuel talked a lot about safety in his inaugural speech and had said “The police cannot do it alone”, but he seemed to forget that often times, the police are the cause of the violence. He talks about the police as though all they do is help stop and solve crime, but too often are they the cause of the crimes in the first place. If Emanuel wants to make our streets safer like he claims, he should start on the inside- the police.

     What is happening is not okay. Now is the time for a solution. In Rialto, California, officers are now obligated to wear a tiny camera that films all their interactions with the public. The result? Complaints against Rialto police officers fell by 88%, while use of force by officers fell by almost 60%. (Hulsey, 2014) This change is amazing and it is a change that needs to happen in Chicago as well. And for any brutality that continues after cameras are placed on the officers, there must be a NO TOLERANCE policy. The repercussions for the police's abuse of power are not nearly good enough. Most officers aren’t even suspended when complaints are filed. What message does that send? That they can do something extremely wrong and just get a break and still get paid? That is not the message we should be sending. Police brutality must not be tolerated or accepted at all. If a police officer is involved in brutality, sexual abuse, excessive force, or the killing of an unarmed person, they must be discharged, with no pay. They should not be allowed to return for at least three years, during which they should be required to go to therapy and anger management or other classes of such type. We need to stop making excuses for what is done and stop tolerating it; from now on if this happens, there must be an assurance that that officer will not make it happen again.

     If we do not make a change, those who care about these issues will begin to fight back; there will be more riots in the streets such as the ones in Ferguson, and maybe eventually even a war. There will be more deaths, and it will come to the point where the deaths aren’t just those of civilians but of the police as well. There will be an uprising, because what is happening can only be tolerated for so long. And that time has ended. We demand an end to police brutality. Enough is enough. Chicago has to step forward and make the change. And then maybe we can be an influence to other cities. To the entire state. And hopefully then to the entire nation. But we must first start in our own backyards. So it is time for Chicago to enter a new era, one where police receive the same treatment as everyone else, and one where they are not allowed to go unpunished for killing our citizens.

     I would like to see the day when there is no police misconduct and brutality. I would like to see the day when people see police as helpful and on their side, as they are supposed to. I would love to see the day, when I turn on the news, and hear nothing about a youth dying at the hands of an officer. And until that day comes, I will not rest, and I hope neither will you.

Sources

Erye, Pete. "Infographic: A Neutral Look at Police Brutality | Cop Block." Cop Block RSS. N.p., 3 July 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.copblock.org/17484/infographic-a-neutral-look-police-brutality/>.

Hulsey, Emily. "California Town's Simple Solution To Police Brutality Has Lowered Use Of Force By 60 Percent." Independent Journal Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.ijreview.com/2014/07/153997-california-towns-simple-solution-police-brutality-lowered-use-force-60-percent/>.

"IPRA Releases Report on 2012 Chicago Police Shootings | People's Law Office." Peoples Law Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://peopleslawoffice.com/ipra-releases-report-on-2012-chicago-police-shootings/>.

"Prison Culture » Damo’s Dead & Other Reasons to Fight…." Prison Culture RSS. N.p., 24 May 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2014/05/26/damos-dead-other-reasons-to-fight/>.

Puccinelli, Mike. "Father Suing Police After Son Dies Following Use Of Stun Gun - CBS Chicago." CBS Chicago. N.p., 18 June 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/06/18/father-suing-police-after-son-dies-following-use-of-stun-gun/>.

Shen, Aviva. "Chicago Police Cannot Keep Complaints Of Brutality Secret Anymore, Court Rules."ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/03/12/3393421/chicago-police-misconduct/>.

Swaine, Joe. "Ferguson police officer was 'doing his job', say supporters." The Guardian. N.p., 17 Aug. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/18/ferguson-supporters-police-killed-teenager-protest>.

"Timeline: Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo.." USA Today. Gannett, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/14/michael-brown-ferguson-missouri-timeline/14051827/>.

Wisniewski, Mary. "Chicago Police Torture: Mayor Rahm Emanuel Apologizes, Says 'Let Us Now Move On'." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/chicago-police-torture-mayor_n_3910197.html>.