The Summary
Part 2 of this diary is devoted entirely to police brutality and over 25 editorial cartoons resulting from the death of Tyre Nichols last month in Memphis, Tennessee. In the comments section, among other issues in the news, I will post another 20 or so cartoons about police brutality, the clown show that is the GOP-dominated US House of Representatives, and Donald Trump’s efforts to try and stay politically relevant.
If you missed it last night, Part 1 of this diary had 25 editorial cartoons and covered the racist, anti-intellectual rants of the Republican Governor of Floriduh, Ron DeSantis. I posted another 25+ cartoons in the comments section about DeSantis, the ongoing trials and tribulations of one George Santos, obscene levels of profits by the fossil fuel industry, and other assorted topics in the news.
Many thanks for supporting these diaries.
The Harsh Reality for Black Folks
The poignant cartoon at the very top by the Boston Globe’s Chris Weyant says it all. The problem is far worse than one or two bad apples in any police department. The institutionalized racism present in so many police forces around the country can only be rectified once the problem is acknowledged and acted upon.
Why are so many politicians afraid to introduce and implement much-needed reforms? Is it because they are complicit and part of the problem?
About Time
Some of the editorial cartoons in this diary are painful to look at. But, they reflect the day-to-day realities so many young African-American males have to confront.
For over a week, since body camera and surveillance videos were released by the Memphis Police Department, angry protests have erupted around the country demanding accountability and police reform.
Protests have erupted around the country since the killing of Tyre Nichols. Attribution: Wikipedia. Click on this link to see the list of cities where these protests are taking place.
Absent any meaningful changes, we are going to see a continuation of police policies and attitudes that resulted in the senseless killing of Tyre Nichols last month in Memphis, Tennessee.
An excellent opinion piece in the Memphis Commercial Appeal by columnist Lynn Norment details the long-time pain and suffering of the African-American community.
Will it ever end?
The death of Tyre Nichols after being beaten by Memphis police officers is sinister, sickening and sad. Making it even worse is that the offending officers are African Americans. The victim is Black, and the offenders are Black.
Many of us in Memphis and across the nation are grieving, and will continue to grieve for months, some for years. The unarmed 29-year-old father, son and brother was tasered, pepper-sprayed, beaten, kicked and pummeled with fists by police during a traffic stop. He finally was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died of his injuries three days later…
Two Americas
Now, I am haunted by the images of Tyre Nichols being beaten savagely and dying in that hospital bed. Just as I am haunted by the image of Emmett Till’s mutilated body, by the vicious beating of Rodney King, by the image of Derek Chauvin’s beady eyes staring into the phone camera of a bystander as he knelt on George Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes…
The Culprits
Police misconduct against Black people is rooted in institutionalized racism, regardless of the race of the officer. As noted in USA Today, the race of the officers involved is far less important than the race of the victim. Experts, activists and attorneys told the newspaper that a “historically biased culture of policing” puts Black people at risk regardless of an officer’s race.
The Sad Truth
Turning the Tables
Attribution for the above cartoon: Editorial & Political Cartoons, Christopher Weyant, Boston Globe
Last Rites for Tyre Nichols
The Present-Day Police Policies Lead to This
Deadly Place to Stop Your Car
A Former Memphis Police Department Officer
Badly Needed: Police Reform
Rendezvous With Death
The Non-Report
Unchecked Police Power
Police Brutality
Is the Militarization of the Police Necessary?
The Thin Blue Line
A Few of the Problems That Need Our Attention
Killers
Deadly
Will Anybody Stop the Killings?
What RIP Really Means
