Jeff Jones believes citizens who don’t engage the system enable police brutality.
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The Missouri Police Department has released the name of the officer who murdered 18 year-old Mike Brown. And while that’s a great thing, we must be sure not to let that distract us from the real issues: the policies, practices and procedures that led to this situation and others like it.
Unfortunately, as a community, we don’t take enough proactive measures to stop these incidents from happening in the first place. Though it may be unrealistic to think we can totally eliminate police brutality, we can surely do more to stop it from happening so frequently and blatantly.
One thing we can do is use the voice of our vote. We can demand change and meaningful legislation. If our cries fall on deaf ears, then we vote out those who show no regard to our claims.
You may not agree with me, but this is the truth: if we know problems exists and do nothing of substance to change it before a tragedy happens, than we, too, have played a role in the harming of our youth.
So in our anger, let’s also be self-reflective and look at the real issues. We can’t just protest, rally, scream and demand Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson be fired without a change in the policies, procedures and practice that empowered him.
If we continue to stray away from the system, not vote and demand no federal legislation to address police brutality, than we as the community might as well be holding the weapon that leaves the trails of innocent bold on our streets.
Thanks for reading!
B.O.L.D member Jeffrey C. Jones is a motivational speaker, a 2014 BMe Leader and the Founder of Greater Days Ahead.
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Photo: AP/Jeff Roberson
“We can’t just protest, rally, scream and demand Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson be fired without a change in the policies, procedures and practice that empowered him.” The protest, rallies, screams, etc. aren’t just calling for Darren Wilson to loose his job though, they are to establish pressure on the system itself for the change of the policies, procedures and practices that enabled this action as well. Whilst I agree voting should be taken part in, it alone will not change something, protests, etc. often highlight and bring an issue to the spotlight in order for the issue to be… Read more »