Breaking the Cycle of Injustice

A Call for Police Reform to End Police Brutality Against Black and Minority Communities in America

Photo by Woubishet Z. Taffese on Unsplash

Police brutality against black and minority communities has been an ongoing issue in the United States for decades. Tyre King, a 13-year-old black boy was shot and killed by a Columbus, Ohio police officer in 2016. According to reports, Tyre was suspected of being involved in a robbery and was shot by the officer after he pulled out a BB gun that looked like a real firearm. The officer was later acquitted of any criminal wrongdoing, but the incident sparked widespread protests and calls for greater accountability in policing. The death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020, brought this issue back to the forefront of national attention, sparking nationwide protests and calls for police reform.

Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash

Throughout history, there have been many black Civil Rights leaders who have advocated for and won civil rights cases in regards to police brutality and successfully pushed for greater transparency in policing. One notable example is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who, through his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, helped to bring about significant changes in laws and societal attitudes towards racial discrimination and police brutality. As the preeminent Civil Rights leader of the 1960s, Dr. King advocated for the end of police brutality and racial profiling through peaceful protests and civil disobedience.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.