The Police: Protectors of the Rich, Suppressors of the Poor
Introduction:
The police force, often portrayed as the guardian of law and order, has a more complex and controversial role in society. While they do handle crimes like murder, rape, and assault, their primary function has historically been to protect the interests of the wealthy elite. This article aims to shed light on this aspect, drawing from historical evidence, modern-day practices, and international perspectives.
Historical Roots: Slave Patrols and Labor Control:
The history of modern policing in the United States can be traced back to the slave patrols in the South and labor control in the North. According to Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, a professor at Rutgers University, the institution of policing was very much connected to the enactment of violence against strikers and union-breaking. In England and the United States, the police were invented in response to large, defiant crowds, such as strikes in England and riots in the Northern U.S.
Third World Countries: A Clearer Picture:
In third-world countries, the role of the police as suppressors of the masses is glaringly evident. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases where the police have been implicated in torture, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and the disappearance of political activists.
Modern Societies: Subtle but Significant:
In developed countries like the United States, the police may not resort to such extreme measures, but their tactics are still questionable. They have been involved in suppressing demonstrations demanding equal rights for minorities, women, and other marginalized groups. A few decades ago, they would even resort to torture to extract false confessions.
Racial and Economic Disparities:
The police force in the U.S. has been involved in numerous cases of killing innocent black citizens. They are also more present in affluent neighborhoods and gated communities, serving as protectors of millionaires and billionaires. This aligns with observations made by August Vollmer, considered the father of modern policing, who noted that aggressive interrogation techniques were tolerated when applied against minorities and the poor but not against the middle and upper classes.
The Criminal Justice System and Poverty:
A report by Human Rights Watch and the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School highlights how the criminal justice system in the United States disproportionately punishes the poor. The United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty, Philip Alston, stated that the criminal justice system is effectively a system for keeping the poor in poverty while generating revenue. This system relies on fines and fees, which place a disproportionate burden on poor communities and communities of color.
The Money Bail System:
The money bail system in the U.S. is another tool that disproportionately affects the poor. Almost half a million presumptively innocent people sit in jail daily because they cannot afford bail. This system creates pressure on the poor to plead guilty, leaving them with a criminal record solely because they could not afford bail.
Policing and Racial Injustice:
The New Yorker points out that the victims of police brutality are disproportionately Black teenage boys. The crisis in policing is the culmination of a thousand other failures—failures of education, social services, public health, gun regulation, criminal justice, and economic development.
Policing Protests: A Double Standard:
Recent data from a non-profit that monitors political violence globally reveals that police in the United States are three times more likely to use force against left-wing protesters than right-wing protesters. This disparity is not just limited to violent protests but extends to peaceful demonstrations as well. Law enforcement agencies were more likely to intervene in left-wing versus right-wing protests in general, and more likely to use force when they did intervene.
The Role of Police in Suppressing Free Speech:
An NPR report discusses the challenges police face in maintaining peace during protests, especially when two opposing groups confront each other. The report suggests that police often have to balance their role in protecting free speech and freedom of assembly while keeping violence at bay. However, this balance seems to tilt in favor of suppressing voices that challenge the status quo, further emphasizing the police’s role in maintaining existing power structures.
The Ferguson Effect:
Since the Ferguson protests, there has been a narrative that the aggressive nature of law enforcement causes protesters to become more aggressive. This narrative has been criticized as a way to justify the police’s use of force against protesters, thereby suppressing dissent and maintaining the existing social hierarchy.
Paramilitary Tactics in Policing Protests:
The use of paramilitary tactics by the police to suppress protests has been a concerning trend. According to an interview in The Big Issue, tactics such as “kettling,” where protesters are surrounded in a tight circle for hours, have been used to discourage people from participating in future protests. These tactics are part of a handbook created by the Home Office and police, which was never scrutinized by Parliament. It sanctions the use of dogs, horses, and vehicles against crowds.
The UN’s Stance on Police Brutality:
The United Nations has called for wide-ranging reforms to address police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. The experts noted that excessive force had been used in the context of peaceful demonstrations. They also called for the revision of laws and policies regarding the use of lethal force to align with international human rights standards.
Militarization of the Police:
The UN report also noted the increased “militarization” of policing, stating that the use of military equipment by law enforcement cannot be justified. Studies show that military gear and armored vehicles do not reduce crime or increase officers’ safety. Instead, they contribute to unnecessary interactions between the police and community members, leading to increased violence and deaths.
The Spark that Ignites Violence: Police Action:
A CNN article by Dan Wang, an associate professor at Columbia Business School, discusses how police action often serves as the catalyst for turning peaceful protests violent. The article cites a study that analyzed over 23,000 protest events in the U.S. between 1960 and 1995. It found that violence escalated in 38% of protests where police were present, compared to less than 7% where they were not. This data strongly suggests that the presence and actions of law enforcement are significant factors in escalating peaceful protests into violent confrontations.
The article also mentions the arrest of Givionne “Gee” Jordan Jr., a Black man who was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, for peacefully protesting. Despite expressing love for all people and understanding for the police, he was charged with disobeying a lawful order. This incident serves as a microcosm of how police action can escalate situations unnecessarily, further suppressing voices that challenge the status quo. The arrest of Jordan serves as a textbook example of how police action can spark violence in a peaceful demonstration, supporting a body of evidence-based sociological research.
Conclusion:
The primary function of the police, as evidenced by historical and modern practices, is to maintain the social hierarchy that benefits the rich. While they do handle conventional crimes, this seems more like a side function. The role of the police in protecting the rich and suppressing the poor is not just a historical artifact but a present-day reality. This role is evident in both developing and developed countries and is supported by various systems and practices that disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized communities. It’s time for a critical reevaluation of the role of the police in society, with an eye toward justice and equality for all.
Their role of protecting the interests of the rich and suppressing the poor is deeply ingrained in the institution’s history and current practices. This role is not just limited to how they police neighborhoods but extends to how they police protests and social movements often using paramilitary tactics and excessive force. It’s a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive reevaluation and reform to ensure that the police serve all communities equitably. The data and real-world examples show that police action often serves as the catalyst for escalating peaceful protests into violent confrontations. This role is not just an isolated incident but a systemic issue that requires comprehensive reevaluation and reform.
However, sometimes police catches also rich people (it could be argued that they pissed off some other rich people). And if we disbanded police, rich people would probably hire their personal armies, or there would be something resembling the libertarian idea of police, except they wouldn’t hesitate to initiate violence.
Back in the real world, the police work much harder to prosecute the rich than the poor (despite the fact that it is much more difficult to prosecute them, they’re more competent, etc.), because police departments are run by politicians and their actual external incentive is to make the ruling regime look good. Ceteris paribus, bagging epstein makes you look way better than bagging virtually anybody else.
I imagine there’s some factionalism at play—“the rich and powerful” aren’t always all on the same side, but fortunes can turn and in that case the people trying to bag the rich dudes are in the crossfire.
The Police: Protectors of the Rich, Suppressors of the Poor
Introduction:
The police force, often portrayed as the guardian of law and order, has a more complex and controversial role in society. While they do handle crimes like murder, rape, and assault, their primary function has historically been to protect the interests of the wealthy elite. This article aims to shed light on this aspect, drawing from historical evidence, modern-day practices, and international perspectives.
Historical Roots: Slave Patrols and Labor Control:
The history of modern policing in the United States can be traced back to the slave patrols in the South and labor control in the North. According to Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, a professor at Rutgers University, the institution of policing was very much connected to the enactment of violence against strikers and union-breaking. In England and the United States, the police were invented in response to large, defiant crowds, such as strikes in England and riots in the Northern U.S.
Third World Countries: A Clearer Picture:
In third-world countries, the role of the police as suppressors of the masses is glaringly evident. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases where the police have been implicated in torture, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and the disappearance of political activists.
Modern Societies: Subtle but Significant:
In developed countries like the United States, the police may not resort to such extreme measures, but their tactics are still questionable. They have been involved in suppressing demonstrations demanding equal rights for minorities, women, and other marginalized groups. A few decades ago, they would even resort to torture to extract false confessions.
Racial and Economic Disparities:
The police force in the U.S. has been involved in numerous cases of killing innocent black citizens. They are also more present in affluent neighborhoods and gated communities, serving as protectors of millionaires and billionaires. This aligns with observations made by August Vollmer, considered the father of modern policing, who noted that aggressive interrogation techniques were tolerated when applied against minorities and the poor but not against the middle and upper classes.
The Criminal Justice System and Poverty:
A report by Human Rights Watch and the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School highlights how the criminal justice system in the United States disproportionately punishes the poor. The United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty, Philip Alston, stated that the criminal justice system is effectively a system for keeping the poor in poverty while generating revenue. This system relies on fines and fees, which place a disproportionate burden on poor communities and communities of color.
The Money Bail System:
The money bail system in the U.S. is another tool that disproportionately affects the poor. Almost half a million presumptively innocent people sit in jail daily because they cannot afford bail. This system creates pressure on the poor to plead guilty, leaving them with a criminal record solely because they could not afford bail.
Policing and Racial Injustice:
The New Yorker points out that the victims of police brutality are disproportionately Black teenage boys. The crisis in policing is the culmination of a thousand other failures—failures of education, social services, public health, gun regulation, criminal justice, and economic development.
Policing Protests: A Double Standard:
Recent data from a non-profit that monitors political violence globally reveals that police in the United States are three times more likely to use force against left-wing protesters than right-wing protesters. This disparity is not just limited to violent protests but extends to peaceful demonstrations as well. Law enforcement agencies were more likely to intervene in left-wing versus right-wing protests in general, and more likely to use force when they did intervene.
The Role of Police in Suppressing Free Speech:
An NPR report discusses the challenges police face in maintaining peace during protests, especially when two opposing groups confront each other. The report suggests that police often have to balance their role in protecting free speech and freedom of assembly while keeping violence at bay. However, this balance seems to tilt in favor of suppressing voices that challenge the status quo, further emphasizing the police’s role in maintaining existing power structures.
The Ferguson Effect:
Since the Ferguson protests, there has been a narrative that the aggressive nature of law enforcement causes protesters to become more aggressive. This narrative has been criticized as a way to justify the police’s use of force against protesters, thereby suppressing dissent and maintaining the existing social hierarchy.
Paramilitary Tactics in Policing Protests:
The use of paramilitary tactics by the police to suppress protests has been a concerning trend. According to an interview in The Big Issue, tactics such as “kettling,” where protesters are surrounded in a tight circle for hours, have been used to discourage people from participating in future protests. These tactics are part of a handbook created by the Home Office and police, which was never scrutinized by Parliament. It sanctions the use of dogs, horses, and vehicles against crowds.
The UN’s Stance on Police Brutality:
The United Nations has called for wide-ranging reforms to address police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. The experts noted that excessive force had been used in the context of peaceful demonstrations. They also called for the revision of laws and policies regarding the use of lethal force to align with international human rights standards.
Militarization of the Police:
The UN report also noted the increased “militarization” of policing, stating that the use of military equipment by law enforcement cannot be justified. Studies show that military gear and armored vehicles do not reduce crime or increase officers’ safety. Instead, they contribute to unnecessary interactions between the police and community members, leading to increased violence and deaths.
The Spark that Ignites Violence: Police Action:
A CNN article by Dan Wang, an associate professor at Columbia Business School, discusses how police action often serves as the catalyst for turning peaceful protests violent. The article cites a study that analyzed over 23,000 protest events in the U.S. between 1960 and 1995. It found that violence escalated in 38% of protests where police were present, compared to less than 7% where they were not. This data strongly suggests that the presence and actions of law enforcement are significant factors in escalating peaceful protests into violent confrontations.
The article also mentions the arrest of Givionne “Gee” Jordan Jr., a Black man who was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, for peacefully protesting. Despite expressing love for all people and understanding for the police, he was charged with disobeying a lawful order. This incident serves as a microcosm of how police action can escalate situations unnecessarily, further suppressing voices that challenge the status quo. The arrest of Jordan serves as a textbook example of how police action can spark violence in a peaceful demonstration, supporting a body of evidence-based sociological research.
Conclusion:
The primary function of the police, as evidenced by historical and modern practices, is to maintain the social hierarchy that benefits the rich. While they do handle conventional crimes, this seems more like a side function. The role of the police in protecting the rich and suppressing the poor is not just a historical artifact but a present-day reality. This role is evident in both developing and developed countries and is supported by various systems and practices that disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized communities. It’s time for a critical reevaluation of the role of the police in society, with an eye toward justice and equality for all.
Their role of protecting the interests of the rich and suppressing the poor is deeply ingrained in the institution’s history and current practices. This role is not just limited to how they police neighborhoods but extends to how they police protests and social movements often using paramilitary tactics and excessive force. It’s a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive reevaluation and reform to ensure that the police serve all communities equitably. The data and real-world examples show that police action often serves as the catalyst for escalating peaceful protests into violent confrontations. This role is not just an isolated incident but a systemic issue that requires comprehensive reevaluation and reform.
I agree.
However, sometimes police catches also rich people (it could be argued that they pissed off some other rich people). And if we disbanded police, rich people would probably hire their personal armies, or there would be something resembling the libertarian idea of police, except they wouldn’t hesitate to initiate violence.
Back in the real world, the police work much harder to prosecute the rich than the poor (despite the fact that it is much more difficult to prosecute them, they’re more competent, etc.), because police departments are run by politicians and their actual external incentive is to make the ruling regime look good. Ceteris paribus, bagging epstein makes you look way better than bagging virtually anybody else.
This sounds nice in theory but in practice, Denise George lost her job as DA.
I imagine there’s some factionalism at play—“the rich and powerful” aren’t always all on the same side, but fortunes can turn and in that case the people trying to bag the rich dudes are in the crossfire.