In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, who died in police custody after a former officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, the subject of police brutality — and police reform — has come firmly under the spotlight.
As protests continue to sweep America and parts of the globe, John Oliver has taken a deep dive into that very topic — breaking down the history of policing, the obstacles standing in the way of its reform, and what the phrase “defund the police” actually means.
Some of the issues, he explains, can be traced back to the role the police are expected to serve in society.
“While we should absolutely be angry at the police right now, let’s also be angry at the series of choices that left them as essentially the only public resource in some communities,” Oliver says.
“And on top of all of that, we’ve made those bad choices even more dangerous in recent years by needlessly arming police to the fucking teeth.”
Oliver goes on to discuss the “warrior training” some offices receive and the problem with police unions, which have a history of putting job security above the safety of the public.
Ultimately, he finishes by turning his attention to possible solutions — including an explanation of what defunding the police might actually look like.
Sam Haysom – Mashable – June 8, 2020.
