Topic: Examining police brutality, racial profiling, and nonviolent protest suppression in the U.S. and Syria
On the domestic front, we have been entrenched in conversations about police violence, militarization, and protest suppression- particularly after the tragic death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. In the United States, police brutality and excessive use of force disproportionately impact minorities and transgender women of color, but are not exclusively used against people of color. Practices of profiling and violence against minorities, LGBTQ people and women stem from systems of racism, sexism and transphobia, and have been happening around the world for centuries. Responses to cases of police violence in the United States often take the form of peaceful protest, rallies, vigils, and events to raise awareness of injustice. However, as in the recent case of Ferguson, we have seen many protests that were either suppressed, met with heavily armed and militarized police forces, or faced with scare tactics and violence from tear gas and instigated rioting, which also happened in recent years during the Occupy Movement, following CeCe McDonald’s arrest, and after the murder of Trayvon Martin. It must also be recognized that the same factors that contribute to racial profiling and police violence also contribute to the mass-incarceration of people of color.
Understanding the issues:
This is an underlying problem that causes officers to stereotype black men as dangerous. These perceptions are borne out of a history of racial discrimination, oppression, and control which has perpetuated systemic inequality in the U.S. Worth noting is that people of color are disproportionately incarcerated- 60% of our incarcerated population is black or Hispanic, while blacks and Hispanics only make up 30% of our overall population.
Most police officers do not understand the needs, identities, or complex experiences of transgender women. Not all trans women choose to have surgery as part of their transition, but most are in need of medical care that is specific to helping them through the transition process. This medical care is expensive, and because many transgender women (particularly women of color) are discriminated against in the traditional job market, some turn to sex work to afford their surgeries, hormones, doctor’s appointments and other necessities. Many law enforcement officers assume that all trans women of color are sex workers, so they are stopped, harassed, and arrested at a disproportionate rate- often for just going about their daily lives. A 2005 report by Amnesty International stated that "[S]ubjective and prejudiced perceptions of transgender women as sex workers often play a signiﬁcant role in ofﬁcers' decisions to stop and arrest transgender women." Many trans people (those in sex work and others who are not) don’t even feel safe calling for help from police, and often trans people end up getting arrested when they are, in fact, the victims of violence (see CeCe McDonald’s story).
The media also plays a major role in determining credibility (sometimes with the influence of police station PR). Often, public opinion is shaped by media portrayals of black victims as dangerous criminals and police as trustworthy authorities- which further perpetuates the issue. Read this article for a chilling juxtaposition of headlines about black and white offenders. There have also been numerous conversations on the politics of photograph selection for media articles- posing the idea that the media often chooses the photographs that make black victims or offenders look and seem dangerous. This tumblr is collecting images from the powerful hashtag #iftheygunnedmedown, in which black teens and young adults compare their pictures and suggest which one the media would chose if they were shot and killed by police.
There have been extensive efforts to gag even peaceful protesters, particularly following the Occcupy Movement and the Ferguson protests after the killing of Michael Brown. In Ferguson, officers outfitted with military grade weapons and gear shot rubber bullets at peaceful crowds and tried to disperse protesters by throwing tear gas canisters at them. Protest suppression also includes illegally prohibiting media and bystanders from videotaping or photographing police as they overexert force. For example, In Ferguson, an officer threatened to shoot a reporter who was live streaming the protests.
Militarization of Police Forces
The Department of Defense has a program that provides local law enforcement with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, M16 assault rifles and other surplus military equipment, all free of charge. This has contributed to the growing militarization of police forces, as well as the “soldier on a battlefield” mentality of many officers.
On the international stage, we want to highlight a specific instance of state-sponsored, violent suppression, where the maintenance of power was prioritized over democratic expression, and where a massive conflict erupted, destabilizing an entire region. In Syria, a small group of teenage boys graffitied “It’s your turn, Doctor” on a school wall in Dara’a, Syria in early 2011. The message, meant for Dr. Bashar al-Assad, referred to the Arab Spring uprisings happening throughout the Arab world. The boys were detained and tortured by authorities who were afraid of any momentum being started in Syria. Momentum ensued. Peaceful protests erupted across the country. The regime responded with violent suppression and torture. By the end of April 2011, the country had descended into the conflict that we now associate with Syria and that still continues to this day. Over 150,000 people have lost their lives and nearly 6.5 million people are displaced. Assad’s army has used various tactics of suppression from conventional water cannons and rubber bullets to torture, sarin gas, starvation, and barrel bombs as the violence has escalated to the incredibly complex conflict that now exists in Syria.
Understanding the issues:
In mid-March of 2011, several students were arrested in Dara’a, a city in the south-western corner of Syria. The students were arrested for painting inciting material on a school wall. The message, “It’s your turn, Doctor,” referred to the Arab Spring uprising and indicated that Syria would be the next hub of revolt. These boys were not only arrested, but also subjected to torture, as the police forces hoped to deter other potential protesters. Peaceful demonstrations were organized in Dara’a calling for the release of the students. Over the course of a week, from March 18th to 25th, protests erupted across the country with an estimated 100,000 protesters walking through the streets of Dara’a after their Friday prayer on March 25th. Suppression by the Syrian government’s forces quickly turned lethal. That first week saw pockets of casualties in Dara’a, Sanamayn, and Latakia. Dara’a, called the “cradle of the revolution,” was soon besieged by the Syrian Army. Water to the city was cut off, communications were interrupted, and food was confiscated. This siege tactic spread to other cities across the country and by May, over 1,000 anti-government protesters had been killed.
Strategic Arrests & Secret Police
During the first uprisings and into the first stages of the revolution, Assad’s mukhabarat, or secret police loyal to the president, swept through rebelling areas and arrested thousands of people. Protesters were arrested alongside potential militants (aka young men) and people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Captives were held and tortured for weeks without any conviction or trial. Many were coerced into confessing to possess weapons because, as one released prisoner explained, “A report has to be given to the U.N. proving that there are weapons.”
Sexual Violence and Women
Among those who were arrested, sexual violence is prevalent. Unannounced house searches and road checkpoints have led to extremely dangerous situations for women and children who are more prone to fall victim to sexual violence. The numbers are astounding, with about 38,000 people receiving treatment through the UN for gender-based violence. Women’s empowerment is vital for the rebuilding of Syria once peace is restored.
Syria in the US Media
Media fatigue that activists have witnessed in so many profoundly pressing international conflicts such as Darfur/Sudan, Central African Republic, Gaza, etc. has had its ups and downs over the three-and-a-half-year conflict. Towards the end of July, for example, as the US was focused on the eruption of violence in Gaza, Syria had one of its most deadly 48 hours, killing more people in two days than the whole seven weeks of Israel/Palestine violence. Maintaining the media’s interest in Syria is necessary to assure that the needed cooperation and intervention is readily provided.
Methods of Suppression
The Assad regime’s suppression of anti-government protests and demonstrations have been violent from the first week. Slight political concessions offered early on were overshadowed by the torture and death of peaceful protesters. In no particular order, the Assad regime has employed these methods of violent suppression against Syrian people as the violence has escalated from peaceful protests to the complicated conflict now ongoing:
Georgia Representative Hank Johnson has announced that his office will be introducing a bill to limit the Pentagon program that gives free military equipment to local law enforcement. It will be introduced sometime this September, but the name and number of the bill is still unknown. This month's action is to write a letter to your Representative asking them to co-sponsor Hank Johnson's bill when it is introduced. You can either hand-write your letter and mail it, or look up your Member's website and send an email via their "contact" page.
Remeber- you can always add more to this letter, or completely change it. This is just a very basic sample letter. Review this page for more resources on how to advocate for legislation, including a manual with information on writing effective letters to your Members of Congress.
My name is _______ and I am your constituent. First, I would like to thank you for ___________ (something you appreciate- hard work on specific issues, or just in general). I am writing to ask that you co-sponsor Rep. Hank Johnson's police de-militarization bill when he introduces it in the house this September. The bill seeks to address the issue of police-militarization by limiting the amount of free military equipment issued to local law enforcement by the Pentagon. The reason I am passionate about this issue is ________.
The increasing militarization of police forces in the U.S. has become an extreme problem and violation of the trust we have in our law enforcement officers. Our streets look like war zones, and our communities and non-violent protests are intimidated, silenced, and threatened by what feels like a paramilitary presence. Confrontation between peaceful protesters and police armed with M16s, tear gas, military grade tanks, and Hummers have actually worsened tensions in Ferguson, and it has caused widespread fear and confusion about the role of law enforcement in our communities.
As a member of the national Student Peace Alliance, a national network of students dedicated to building peace in our communities and our world, I urge you to support Hank Johnson's bill and reduce our reliance on militarism. There are better ways to serve, protect and build our communities- without M16s or tear gas.
Because of the importance of women’s empowerment in post-conflict Syria, we want to make sure that this is a profound priority as Syria aims to strengthen its civil society. As the largest foreign donor of humanitarian aid, the US must insist that women are empowered and that gender-based violence is stopped. This month's action is to send a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to make sure that the $350 million+ that we are sending to Syria is used to empower women and combat gender-based violence. Send via this online link, or send via mail to:
U.S. Department of State
Attention: Secretary John Kerry
2201 C Street NW
Washington DC 20520
Dear Mr. Secretary,
In July you announced the badly-needed contribution of $378 million in additional humanitarian assistance to aid the crisis in Syria. As the conflict wears on, it is clear that we are neglecting some of the most vulnerable victims of violence.
With more than 3 million refugees and 6.5 million people internally displaced, 75% of those women and children, Syria is likely one of the most massive humanitarian crises we will ever see. Sexual violence often goes unreported, with cultural norms preventing survivors from coming forward. Furthermore, sexual and gender based violence is a primary reason why women and girls flee Syria. When they do so, they typically go alone, putting themselves at risk for unsafe situations.
As the largest foreign contributor of humanitarian aid in Syria, the United States has a responsibility to ensure that its aid is well spent. We ask that you emphasize women and girls’ protection as a priority and work with host governments, the UN, and NGO’s toward protection. Survivors of gender-based violence, as well as women and girls in general, require dedicated funding for comprehensive programs in order to ensure the livelihood of thousands. Protecting and empowering these women makes them a part of a future peace process, likely one with far more gender equality than present-day Syria could imagine.
Thank you for your commitment and leadership in this matter, and I look forward to working with you on this issue in the future.
In addition, we encourage you to hold events that raise awareness about these issues. This month's SPA Speaker Series and Monthly Movie are focused on storytelling, you may also want to consider hosting an event that involves telling your personal story or hearing the stories of others. Check out our Program Bank for more awareness- raising event ideas. We are always available to support your planning efforts! Email or call anytime.
How to Plan a Rally or Event by STAND
How to Plan a Rally or Event by STAND
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StudentPeaceAlliance.org SPA@peacealliance.org tel: 202-684-2553
StudentPeaceAlliance.org SPA@peacealliance.org tel: 202-684-2553