zlacker

The filming is still crucial, because most of society (in particular, wealthy whites) would not believe that the police could be so brutal unless it was undeniably captured on video.

I think that a similar technological innovation was key during the civil rights movement in the US in the 60s. Capturing the cruelty of racists against blacks in America and showing it on television was crucial for turning public opinion in favor of civil rights.

>>landry+(OP)
there is video of the Minneapolis police slashing tires including a whole parking lot full of cars all under the guise of protecting the public and themselves.

filming will do nothing till the the protections afforded the police by their union and local politicians; don't let these mayors fool anyone as most had budget increases planned for their cops; are made illegal. every violent act committed by any police officer must have the possibility of assault charges for the officer unless video clears them. any time the police must make a payout for an act committed by an officer that officer must be released and have their permanent record flagged so they just don't walk across state lines.

the only real national database we need is of government employees, be they cops, firemen, teachers, or clerk. get busted and you are done for nationwide with regards to public service.

>>Shivet+hb
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/george-flo...

>>landry+(OP)
I find this odd. I grew up in the 90's where there was a television show called COPS. They filmed police officers routinely cashing down and having physical altercations with people.

The difference today is there is no context of what led up to it. Only the act itself which can be spun and edited however anyone likes.

Do police go to far, sometimes yes. Is every encounter where violence occurs to far, probably not. I do agree that when it is too far they need to be held accountable.

>>DamnYu+Bt
That show is cancelled now, as a result of the public attention on police brutality.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/06/09/c...

>>DamnYu+Bt
The police had edit rights to the show, they could edit out any of the parts that made them look bad.

>>Shivet+hb
You and I wouldn't even be having this conversation without the video though. If reform is hard even with video, it's completely impossible without it.

>>landry+h73
My thought is without someone who just happened to have a video recorder ready the whole Rodney King thing would not have happened. Nor the riots or the partial reform of the LAPD.

Societies attitudes are very persistent. Takes decades for things to materially change. The root of that is the Max Plank quote: A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

That said I think juries are becoming much more aware of the implications of letting bad cops off the hook. Muni's are becoming tired of paying out settlements for cops that should have been long since fired. And this is in the contexts of increasing militarization of the police while the crime rate has been falling persistently for 30 years.

Things always look like they'll never change and then they do.