Adrianna Grosso
Professor Glazer
PHIL 1105NA
8 May 2023
Unreasonable Force on the Black Community
Police misconduct has been a common topic today, especially within the black
community. This is any illegal or unethical actions of human’s rights by police officers in the
conduct of their duties. The most common claims against police officers are for false arrest or
use of excessive force (California Innocence Project). I believe that violence from police may be
used to a certain extent, for example, if an individual is shooting at an officer, then that officer
should be allowed to exercise lethal force to protect themselves. However, back in 2020, the
Black Lives Matter Movement skyrocketed due to the death of George Floyd. This caused many
people around the United States to believe that police are racist and use unreasonable force on
African American people only. I intend to prove, that there has been discrimination going on in
the law enforcement and they are using unreasonable force on the black community.
Excessive force is a form of police brutality that is beyond what a reasonable police
officer uses to question a suspect. Officers should use the minimum amount of force to safely
handle any situation. The excessive force received from police officers has been a problem for a
while and it is just now receiving the attention it needs to put an end to police brutality through
the Black Lives Matter Movements. We have been having issues with excessive and
unreasonable force since the 1700’s, black people have gone through segregation, voter
suppression, racism, and violence. The United States police have killed more people compared to
any other country. Police are twice as likely to use force against Black and Latin Americans than
, whites and twice as likely to pull over Black drivers in “investigatory stops” (Police Brutality
Center).
There are two types of excessive force, lethal and nonlethal due to how many weapons
police carries. Most of the nonlethal force tools have been found as deadly, for example,
handcuffs, tasers and chemical sprays, crowd control, batons, and neck restraints. Neck
restraints, restraints around the neck that could lead to physical injuries or death, is exactly what
George Floyd went through, over a believed to be fake twenty-dollar bill. There is not a safe way
to put someone in a chokehold, therefore, it should not be used unless force is warranted.
Moreover, crowd control is an example of nonlethal force that was used on the Black Lives
Matter Movement. People have every right to peacefully protest, this right is protected by the
Constitution.
However, police have been using dangerous weapons on protestors without giving them
warning. The Black Lives Matter Movement have been repeatedly attacked with tear gas, rubber
bullets, and more. Although, the media has shown images of protestors burning buildings and
other forms of violence, most of the Black Lives Matter Protest have been peaceful and have not
threatened officers, citizens, or properties. About 300 people have become permanently disabled
due to tear gas, rubber bullets are no longer considered nonlethal but less lethal even though
officers have aimed for citizens faces and stomachs, lastly acoustic devices such as sound canons
or flashbangs have caused people to end up with long-term hearing damage, internal injuries, and
blunt force trauma (Police Brutality Center).
Meanwhile, lethal force is firearms which is usually the weapon of choice when officers
use force. Just about 96% percent of killings by police are shootings, which there is a high rate of
shootings in the United States. Many innocent people have been shot, for example, Philando
Professor Glazer
PHIL 1105NA
8 May 2023
Unreasonable Force on the Black Community
Police misconduct has been a common topic today, especially within the black
community. This is any illegal or unethical actions of human’s rights by police officers in the
conduct of their duties. The most common claims against police officers are for false arrest or
use of excessive force (California Innocence Project). I believe that violence from police may be
used to a certain extent, for example, if an individual is shooting at an officer, then that officer
should be allowed to exercise lethal force to protect themselves. However, back in 2020, the
Black Lives Matter Movement skyrocketed due to the death of George Floyd. This caused many
people around the United States to believe that police are racist and use unreasonable force on
African American people only. I intend to prove, that there has been discrimination going on in
the law enforcement and they are using unreasonable force on the black community.
Excessive force is a form of police brutality that is beyond what a reasonable police
officer uses to question a suspect. Officers should use the minimum amount of force to safely
handle any situation. The excessive force received from police officers has been a problem for a
while and it is just now receiving the attention it needs to put an end to police brutality through
the Black Lives Matter Movements. We have been having issues with excessive and
unreasonable force since the 1700’s, black people have gone through segregation, voter
suppression, racism, and violence. The United States police have killed more people compared to
any other country. Police are twice as likely to use force against Black and Latin Americans than
, whites and twice as likely to pull over Black drivers in “investigatory stops” (Police Brutality
Center).
There are two types of excessive force, lethal and nonlethal due to how many weapons
police carries. Most of the nonlethal force tools have been found as deadly, for example,
handcuffs, tasers and chemical sprays, crowd control, batons, and neck restraints. Neck
restraints, restraints around the neck that could lead to physical injuries or death, is exactly what
George Floyd went through, over a believed to be fake twenty-dollar bill. There is not a safe way
to put someone in a chokehold, therefore, it should not be used unless force is warranted.
Moreover, crowd control is an example of nonlethal force that was used on the Black Lives
Matter Movement. People have every right to peacefully protest, this right is protected by the
Constitution.
However, police have been using dangerous weapons on protestors without giving them
warning. The Black Lives Matter Movement have been repeatedly attacked with tear gas, rubber
bullets, and more. Although, the media has shown images of protestors burning buildings and
other forms of violence, most of the Black Lives Matter Protest have been peaceful and have not
threatened officers, citizens, or properties. About 300 people have become permanently disabled
due to tear gas, rubber bullets are no longer considered nonlethal but less lethal even though
officers have aimed for citizens faces and stomachs, lastly acoustic devices such as sound canons
or flashbangs have caused people to end up with long-term hearing damage, internal injuries, and
blunt force trauma (Police Brutality Center).
Meanwhile, lethal force is firearms which is usually the weapon of choice when officers
use force. Just about 96% percent of killings by police are shootings, which there is a high rate of
shootings in the United States. Many innocent people have been shot, for example, Philando
