Every so often, like many of you, I get stopped by police. Often the exchange is polite, or even pleasant. Like many of you, however, I have been cursed at, spoken to with sarcasm, and baseless accusations, and stereotyped. My hair is long. My car is old. I'm a white guy riding a bicycle in a black neighborhood. For whatever reason, I stand out. Not blending in should not feel like a crime. Furthermore, a minor traffic violation need not be treated like a major felony. Lights need not flash for 15 minutes. A broken tail light should not automatically warrant a 50 state arrest warrant search. At very least, police should be polite, respectful, and treat all people they stop as innocent. I ask no more than what is expected of any employee at any job.
Either police brutality is on the rise or small video cameras are becoming more common. Regardless, something needs to be done. It shouldn't be necessary for a bystander to catch something in order for police misconduct to be monitored. Cameras, preferably always running and externally controlled, should monitor police cars and precincts. Once again, I think the behavior of those who are authorized to carry weapons should be held to at least as high a standard as that of employees at any job, or even civilians on the street for that matter.
It is frustrating when you think someone has infringed on your rights. It is doubly frustrating when the only recourse the city provides is a phone number where you can speak to that same person's supervisor..... and buddy. Those who can't afford lawyers or be on the phone during work hours are left to feel essentially hopeless to fight for their rights. The city should be advocating for the people in the same way it protects its own.
Where in the Constitution does it say that first amendment rights require a permit? There is a disturbing recent trend in New York to prohibit demonstrations and protests. The power to regulate who can march and where and when is tantamount to regulation of free expression. It is a dangerous start down a road which will blur the distinction between free societies and those against which we are fighting around the world.
I would support:
1. Greater transparency of NYPD operation
2. Give more power to civilian review boards to investigate police brutality, racial profiling, and other civil rights abuse
3. Require demeanor standards for NYPD in all its interactions with the public, and develop clearer standards for terry stops.
4. Implement greater use of cameras in police vehicles, on uniforms, and in precincts to monitor interactions between police and civilians
5. Civil liberties and legal counseling available through 311 system to enable civilians to get clear answers
6. End red tape and unconstitutional barriers to free protests
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I see an argument being made that large assemblies of people could impede regular operations. Thus, a permit allows the City to allocate resources (like the police) to prevent traffic from shutting down. What do you think, Derek?
ReplyDeleteThis argument is the one most often heard. Historically, the ability to create a major inconvenience through physical masses of people has been the tool to gain attention and force discussion (think Civil Rights Era, Vietnam Era, Tiananmen Square, Iran election, etc). By allowing the authorities the blanket power to thwart any assembly which might snarl traffic effectively denies the general population one of its most effective weapons for bringing about change.
ReplyDeleteIf not blanket power of regulation, what level of power should the authorities have--if any at all--where assemblies, or even riots, are concerned?
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