“We’re here to help”
“We’re Here to Help” | Grassroots DC on Youtube | Video by Nyakio Njage
The police system used today is a relatively new construct. Within DC, there are over ten police departments, each with its own purpose. In early colonial America, there were two forms of policing based on “The Watch '' system. Community-oriented and private-for-profit policing. These two forms were informal and communal. Community-oriented policing was made up of volunteers. Private-for-profit policing was centered around the Night Watch. The Night Watch consisted of four primary policing entities that would, in theory, provide checks and balances for each other: constables, watches, slave patrols, and sheriffs. This concept originated from slave catchers.
Each department was designed to control the behaviors of Black and Indigenous peoples. Organized policing was one of the primary, prolific forms of social control on enslaved Blacks. That system of policing shares many similarities to the system we follow today.
It wasn't until the 1800s that the modern policing system we are familiar with today was established. Due to the increase in urbanization, a more bureaucratic system has been created. These new systems supposedly stabilized violence against African Americans and immigrant populations, acts of public disorder, and mob violence. But, police developed today's standards of basic police strategy (mainly force) with the justification of responding to “disorder.” The support for this system was established through taxes and political influence, rather than a genuine interest in protecting minority communities.
How did the police get so powerful?
Due to escalated violence and injustice within the system, many people question the legitimacy of policing. Why are police institutions so powerful? Police unions work aggressively to fund and protect these systems that preserve their power. They have fought to limit the ability of prosecutors to investigate police misconduct through “qualified immunity”. By upholding qualified immunity, this allows police officials to avoid consequences. Furthermore, lawmakers can justify police violence against those who seek monetary damages when their civil rights are violated. The case can quickly be ruled out unless an officer violates a “clearly” established correct law (which rarely happens). These laws are designed to protect the structure and operations of police departments, and ensure any threats to the system are minimized.
The National Labor Act is an important bill that legalized many union activities. This led to a shift in focus from labor conflict to federal bureaucrats. Police unions are conservative institutions with a primarily all-white demographic. Being one of the most prominent stakeholders in the institution of policing, police unions are one of the most significant assets that help police officers avoid consequences for their actions.
Addressing the root cause of violence Prevents the violence.
When failed by the police system, who can you turn to for justice? Police are considered a societal good. The immense power at the core of policing offers impunity that leads to questions of its legitimacy. There cannot be a solution without acknowledging the force, history, and scale of policing. The policing system is intertwined with the constantly shifting narratives of our political system. Democratic institutions reduce police violence, however shallow, captured, racist, and classist our democracy may be. Lawmakers continue to create more power for the police and less regulation. The police force was awarded 139 million in federal grants for hiring more officers last year, while low-income neighborhoods remain under-resourced. Since the creation of The Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS), 14 billion dollars have been used to advance community policing. All this while the NEAR Act only received a $5.5M budget.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issues that low-income neighborhoods face. Since the pandemic, the housing market has been in turmoil as many residents face eviction; housing market prices have risen by 14% as of 2020. Unfortunately, pandemic relief funds that could be used to ameliorate the effects of the impending recession are being funneled into the police industry. The new budget includes a 1.6% increase imposed on the MPD. To justify this transfer, Mayor Bowser cited a rise in homicides, aggravated assaults, and gun violence.
Community violence is a multi-faceted issue that cannot be resolved through police presence. John Jay Research Advisory Group on Preventing and Reducing Community Violence state, “Community violence is more prevalent in neighborhoods where residents face severe and chronic financial stress.” Many factors contribute to a rise in violence. Some examples include devastating loss, financial burdens, houselessness, and the closure of community spaces. Instead of funneling money into mental health resources, community spaces, financial literacy programs, and other community services, lawmakers funnel money into the pockets of the police. Policing and politics are tied together, which, in turn, helps to shape and protect corrupt institutions.
Spending pandemic relief funds on more cops will only incite more violence. Cities with a high presence of cops do not necessarily see a change in violence. Due to gentrification, the District has been going through significant demographic, social, and economic changes. Some may argue that this change is for the best, but it ultimately means that Black and other minority residents are pushed out of the city due to rising costs. Many residents still see that public safety is a massive concern, and do not see increasing policing as a solution. Mayor Bowser called for an increase in funding for police but was denied by the DC Council in 2020. Nine million dollars from Mayor Bowser's proposed budget increase was cut. New taxes have also been implemented in the District, including a gas tax, advertising tax, and a contended tax credit. However, $43 million in funding was still cut from other budgets and relocated to fund the Metropolitan Police Department's overtime payroll. It is ironic that this high expense came from police responses to the many protests in 2020 and 2021 against police brutality and power. In total, 545 million of funding has been used for training and hiring officers, while only 198 million has been applied to housing.
For years, residents have expressed their concerns regarding the housing infrastructure, healthcare, funding, and more adequate resources, only to be ignored by electoral candidates who make empty promises to secure your vote for the upcoming election. Ignoring citizens will not eradicate the pandemic's impact. It will only make it worse and prolong the issue. The 2023 budget promises an increase in funding resources for low-income communities in DC, and addressing police and public safety. The budget also proposes to add more funding for housing vouchers and assistance for families facing eviction. Nevertheless, since the pandemic, the District has seen a rise in violence that is not adequately addressed. More policing does not get to the root cause of violence.
Most people don't question the legitimacy of policing until they are on the short end of the stick. Many people say the system favors criminals while keeping the working class stuck. Calvin Bright, a DC resident who was wrongfully convicted, spent 25 and a half years behind bars on a double murder charge. Evidence was omitted from his defense team, which could’ve helped exonerate him. Later, a letter resurfaced from an officer identifying the suspect as a man of Chinese descent. The letter was kept in a file by the homicide detectives. Finding this letter helped him get a resentencing in exchange for not suing the District. He was released on time served. Mr. Bright’s case is one of many wrongful convictions in the District. David Wilson, Kevin Martins, and Donald E. Gates' cases are examples of corruption and problems in the justice system. These cases highlight the difficulties when checks and balances are not in place.
How do we keep US safe?
Grassroots movements are becoming prominent drivers of change in public safety. Metrorail is a popular form of transportation within the DMV, but is growing a reputation for public harassment. Metro passengers have filed over 120 complaints regarding sexual assault in the District, but WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) has not done much. Collective Action DC offers resources to help prevent sexual assault, violence, or harassment by finding survivor-centric solutions. Creating televised ads, they spread awareness of such violence. Their ads put an emphasis on victims’ testimonies that call for safer communities. Listening to these voices, they host prevention workshops. Tips focusing on feedback from victims have also been taken into account. For example, by breaking language barriers while teaching basic self-defense techniques, Collective Action DC can make a difference and work to help keep the metro rail safe for passengers and employees. Funding resources like these allows freedom from gendered violence. Furthermore, listening to victims' testimonies and passengers' concerns helped me ride the metro more safely.
Local organizations are also initiating movements to decrease incarceration rates. Over the past 30 years, the incarceration rate has risen in the United States; locking up 1 in every 100 people. Rather than relying on incarceration, some organizations have called to put the safety back into the hands of the community. Their missions are based on prevention rather than reaction, to stop violence before it happens, and provide tools and resources to those affected. With a six-part plan, Build Black Futures helps rebuild neighborhoods. They provide resources to low-income communities and discuss the problems that linger there. For example, toxic masculinity can often be a triggering factor that sparks violence, but training can counteract it. The youth are the future generation that will mold society. Underfunding neighborhoods and stripping them of resources increases the wealth gap and disenfranchisement from the system. Many citizens are fighting trauma, causing significant biases that negatively affect their lives. Violence is bound to happen without proper resources that target these issues or warnings. These Black Youth Projects, which highlight Black Millennials' voices, plan to restructure low-income neighborhoods while also providing more funding. This involves setting economic goals and pushing structural changes to improve the lives of Black people.
There is no accurate measurement to determine the longstanding trauma done to Black bodies. Systematic abuse has left neighborhoods littered with trash, a high rise in homelessness and drugs, and a decline in education. The DC government has many projects designed to “redevelop” communities. The issue is that most of these do not benefit those citizens who live in those communities. These projects include examples like Barry Farms or Greenleaf Gardens. These communities in the District experienced years of failed maintenance, pest infestation, and lack of resources. Since they have been demolished, they still have not been redeveloped. Many former tenants have been displaced and relocated. All the while, DC is building to attract more tourists.
The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement promises to make DC safer using a community-based approach to address neighborhood gun violence. They are designed to provide safety for DC residents and limit gun violence with a three-point system to support the initiative. They help to target neighborhood violence and the disparate choices or trauma faced primarily in underprivileged neighborhoods that can lead people down a path of drugs, crime, or more. These are issues that have been prevalent for years with no resolution. ONSE provides reduction strategies based on a cycle of retaliatory violence in neighborhoods, crews, and groups. They use a data-driven approach to assist 22 neighborhoods in wards 1,4,5,6,7, and 8. They are adding full-time violence preventers totaling about 30 hours per week for high-risk individuals. Most violence preventers have lived or live in these communities. This helps provide accurate feedback from individuals who live in this community. They also offer mediation and work behind the scenes to extract people from cycles of violence—a neighborhood plan built on community strengths.
The legal system is flawed in many aspects that affect citizens. If you don't have adequate funds or legal knowledge, it's easy to be on the short end of the stick. There are many cases of people being mistreated, bullied, ignored, and killed by the same system that says “we’re here to help”. In these conditions, learning to defend yourself and protect your home is a basic need. Because when the system fails you, who else can you turn to? When Mayor Bowser raised taxes on the wealthier population in the district, it allowed more funding for homelessness, fair wages, and higher incomes. This allowed fewer families to experience homelessness, and ensured more homeless people received shelters or transitional housing rather than be on the street. Unfortunately, we face a recession due to the pandemic and other economic disasters.
Along with pre-standing promises, citizens need assistance that the federal government did not adequately give during the shutdown. Funding community resources helps to provide a more personal approach to neighborhoods. This is especially important since $43 million of funding for workspace, building development, and affordable housing was cut last year. These are already huge issues. The organizations in this article are determined to provide a change. Check them out to see how you can get involved or learn more.