Police brutality is the use of unnecessary, excessive, and deadly force against civilians by US police officers and has disproportionate impact on people of color.

The history of American law enforcement is rooted in racism with slave patrols being implemented in the 1700's and then transitioned into Jim Crow law. Even though the federal government has forbidden the use of racist regulations at the state and local level for the past 50 years, research shows people of color are still more likely to be killed by the police than whites. According to Statista, Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely than Whites to be killed by police.

What can be done to mitigate police brutality?

Some circulating ideas to combat police bias and brutality are: track the problem, demilitarize, change police culture, invest in alternatives, instill oversight. Getting officials to pass police reform bills that include ending qualified immunity, establish a police database for misconduct, ban “no-knock" raids, and ban choke holds are starting points for reformation.

Below is a video explaining some conflicts arising with getting these changes implemented.