Where are the bills to end the militarization of police and murder of black men? WARNING GRAPHIC PIC

[qwlauren35]

83. I don't think that's quite what we need.

We need a conversation.

In order for laws to be changed, they have to have stimulus. And right now, there is little stimulus to protect the rights of criminals, alleged criminals, or those enacting "suspicious behavior", because we are too busy being "tough on crime". After reading this thread and doing some real thinking about it, I went to the ACLU website to see what they are doing. They are tracking the rate at which police are kililng people, and they are starting conversations about change. The big thing that they are pushing is "de-escalation". Teaching police officers to approach situations without automatically reaching for firearms. But it has to be more than just the ACLU. It has to be a nation-wide fight with pictures, videos and images. Just like Selma was about pictures and images. We have to garner sympathy for a group of people that everyone loves to hate - criminals.

Now, I am experiencing somewhat of an awakening on this. Because I cheered when Jeffrey Dahmer was killed in prison. Too often, I cheer when the bad guy gets hurt or killed on TV or in the movies. And if I have to have my eyes opened about the rights of criminals, and I'm a pretty progressive type, I know it's going to be harder to move people on this. Hence the images and the conversations. And stories.

I have a Facebook friend who thinks Trayvon Martin deserved to be killed. I read another comment in Facebook that someone would be more sympathetic toward Michael Brown if he wasn't a criminal. An uphill battle.

I would like to know, and support, other organizations that are trying to de-escalate police encounters, and protect the rights of criminals, accused criminals and "suspicious persons". If you know of any, please post them here.