My Word with Douglas E. Welch

Police violence against people peacefully assembling in the United States is being documented across the country thanks to the combined efforts of professional journalists and anybody with a smartphone. As protests grow in all 50 states, more and more videos are surfacing of police violently and lawlessly attacking people in public places who are protesting peacefully or not even protesting at all. And while video of police brutality has largely done nothing to stop it — and, in fact, may further traumatize the communities being brutalized by police — the current historical moment demands a complete record.

Justice is not guaranteed by taking video, but we are seeing some results as the volume of police violence increases. On June 4th, two Buffalo, New York police officers were filmed assaulting a 75-year-old man who appeared to simply be speaking to them. The officers pushed the man, who then stumbled backward and fell, hitting his head on the pavement. Blood could be seen spilling from the man’s ear as several officers could be seen walking past his body on the ground.