On the Epidemic of Police Killings

摘要: This essay seeks to clarify conceptually the common structure uniting many of incidents in recent crescendo police killings people color, going beyond their shared racist framework. In tandem with "new Jim Crow" that Michelle Alexander describes, these pertain role as selection mechanism enforcing a new color line. The author focuses on Oscar Grant, Alan Blueford, Trayvon Martin, and Troy Davis. When connected by threads, reveal aspects cultural racialization United States. concludes looking at politico- legal goal this epidemic killings. Keywords: impunity, killing, psychology racism, racialization, Martin ********** On October 9, 2012, Officer Masso Oakland (California) Police Department was exonerated an internal investigation for having killed Blueford May 6, 2012. He had chased around block, pushed him ground, then shot him. black teenager who been standing some friends street comer when three officers approached them out night. ran. (1) Three bullets entered his body upward trajectory, according coroner's report, meaning over One bullet passed through grazed inside arm. Therefore, arm raised signal surrender. According one witnesses shooting, cried out, him, "I didn't do anything." But fired four times. fourth hit Masso's own foot. At first he claimed but no gun found. Nevertheless, stated felt threatened reacted. That enough exonerate A parallel story unfolds opposite coast. Florida February 26, man named George Zimmerman got car, followed is talking phone friend, (2) called told seen concerned. (3) Though not anything, anyway. so obvious about it "Why are you following me?" once chest, killing arrived, self-defense. declined arrest moment. They said there insufficient evidence determine whether self-defense or not. It consequence lay dead front them. weeks later, photo emerged face bruised nose bleeding. time, would have attacked. (4) police, however, they evidence, indicating did night killing. Had blood bruises can only imagine spectacle press made it, denouncing what guy done respectable citizen. (5) July 8, 2013, jury acquitted both murder manslaughter. structural. officer self-appointed vigilante follows young man, shoots kills claims threatened, crime. root term "exoneration" honor. cases concept "honor" becomes twisted. What honor someone has already overpowered? especially acting official semi-official capacity (Zimmerman notified pursuit). Two unarmed men without recourse due process. marks form event reached proportions …