Last night brillig wrote about an experience familiar to parents of African-American children: having The Talk with kids about what to do if stopped by police. We’ve all heard the wrenching stories, some of them captured on video, of people shot because a cop panicked and thought they “looked like they were reaching for a gun,” even if they didn’t have one. So parents warn their kids: be submissive, obey without question, move slowly, ask permission for any movement such as reaching for your ID, and don’t resist even if police become physically aggressive. It’s humiliating, it’s horribly unfair — but they’re doing what they can, trying to keep their kids alive.
The New Jersey legislature has just decided to take The Talk to a whole new level. And I think they’re missing the point.
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The New Jersey State Assembly just passed a law — unanimously — requiring that children be taught “how to interact with police,” with classes to start in kindergarten and continue through high school. So, your five-year-old will learn how to say “Yes sir” and not look like they’re reaching for a gun. I’m betting that the other common piece of advice — turn on your cell phone and record, or call a witness — probably won’t make it into the class.
I understand why parents have The Talk, and why they start young. It’s the same way parents constantly warn daughters to “protect themselves from rape” by not going out alone or drinking alcohol, even though that doesn’t address the real cause of the problem. As a parent, as an individual, you don’t have a lot of power, so you go for the tiny number of things you can control. Too often, it isn’t enough.
But here’s the thing: the state legislature does have power. Especially over the police, who are government employees. Instead of tasking elementary school kids with preventing their own shooting, here are some things the legislature could try instead:
De-escalation training for police.
Better hiring practices. Police departments shouldn’t hire overt racists, or people who were fired from other police departments.
Diversity training for police. I know, those who need it most won’t get anything out of it. But some people are reachable, those who’ve never given much thought to their own implicit biases.
Keep data on police stops, arrests, etc. Pay attention if there are obvious racial or other patterns that emerge.
Actually discipline cops who misuse their position. Fire and prosecute the ones who commit crimes.
More and better mental health services. Mentally ill people are at the highest risk for being shot or otherwise harmed by police, and someone in an acute mental health crisis is not going to be helped by lessons on “how to interact with police.” If mental health services are accessible, fewer people will reach that crisis point — and even for the ones who do, police should not be the only available recourse to call for help.
Being a police officer involves having a lot of power, and it’s reasonable to hold them to a higher standard than we would a civilian. the legislature has the power to do that. Instead we’re holding children, especially black children, to an unreasonable standard of “Keep perfectly calm with a gun in your face.”
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From ursulafaw:
This comment is in my diary tonight, "Trump's Having A Mental Breakdown..."
Champurrado liked it but didn't know how to submit it. I said I would do it. Champurrado loves the part about "frolicking fallacy crowd." I like the entire comment because it describes how ridiculously dumbed down the Trumpites are -- and the population in general, moreso than it ever has been in my lifetime.
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I’d like to recommend this comment from gerrymandering in the diary “House Republican: 'We just simply don't know how to govern'”. It does point out that the problem in our society, it’s all about culture and not about money, because people still believe this is exclusively a white, Christian nation.
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From ericlewis0:
Another Mr Brown's comment sums it all up nicely!
From your humble (if antisocial) diarist:
In Walter Einenkel’s diary, Trump’s lawyer paid his family $60 million from Christian charity’s donations during the recession, ByTor offers a unique metaphor for the White House’s current orange occupant.
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