Multilayer Stencil | POLICE BRUTALITY
To Protect and Serve...who?
If you dig deep enough into the history of the birth of organized policing, you will find connections to several political/economic events and factors; one of which is slavery and the control of minorities. The title of this piece comes from this very fact, as the roots of organized policing is directly connected to the institution of slavery. Many "Night Watches" a.k.a slave patrols, whose sole mission was to watch over enslaved black/brown peoples, evolved into legitimate police departments.
The recent "surge" of police brutality against communities of color is not a "surge" at all and has actually been occurring for years...all throughout U.S. history. I realize that not all police officers are corrupt. This is much more a critique of the institution (police departments, prison industrial complex, etc.) than the individual officers. I don't believe that the eradication of police officers is what is necessary at this moment, but I do believe in a serious overhaul in what we imagine police departments to be and what training to be a police officer looks like.
This piece stems from the anger and the energy brought upon by the ongoing violence against our communities. Peace be on to those who have lost family to the hands of the police...and peace to the brothers and sisters who were victims of the roots of policing.
Thank you.