Escalation of force by law enforcement follows a progressive scale similar to the one depicted here.
If you’ve seen body camera or building surveillance footage of Mesa Arizona Police Department officers beating Robert Johnson, an unarmed man, you probably just ignored it. It’s not the first, last or worse case. These headlines have become commonplace in the American psyche. Why? The language we use to describe police actions can easily mask the reality of life in America. The police call it use of force. The media often uses the term excessive force. The reality, however, is much simpler . . . this is unchecked criminal assault. It’s violence sanctioned by the police. Continue reading
