The Vanguard 2015 - Police Brutality

The Vanguard is the Black Student Union’s official publication, and is committed to serving Black students as an outlet for Black news, opinions, art, and self-expression. The perspectives

expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Black Student Union.

Black Student Union general body meetings take place

every Thursday at 6 PM in the BSU Lounge (UU 006).

We are always looking for writers and artists! Contact the editor, Tiffany Traille at theunionpub@gmail.com

President: Ndeye Niang Vice President: Ridwan Olatilewa

Treasurer: Rayan Reid Secreatary: Ayisha Adams Publications Coordinator: Tiffany Traille

Social-Cultural Coordinator: Harvey Jasmin Public Relations: Kojo Dadzie Political Correspondent: Andre Gaddy Educational Coordinator: Victoria Lewis Historian: Ebony Williams SA Representative: Brandon Jenkins

Letter from the Editor There is no regard for black life.

If there was ever a time for black folks to stand up and speak up, it is now. Given the multiple onslaughts on black men and women by white police officers this past summer (and frankly, since the founding of this “great� nation) it seemed especially pertinent that the Black Student Union’s first Vanguard of the year be an outlet for its members to discuss the genocide of their brothers and sisters.

This is a publication of anger. rage. betrayal. mourning.

This is defiance.

We are daring to live, to exercise our rights, to speak and be listened to.

This is resistance.

Black lives matter.

- Tiffany Traille

Culpability

My

that American society has towards

I could say was, “Who the fuck are

blacks. Regardless of race, the fact

you?” One of them ignored my

of the matter is that we as individu- question and said “just keep shut”

bones

are off-white, my teeth on a bad

als have the power to accept or re-

while the other simply said “we’re

fuse the labels and the judgment

the police.” I asked to see their

that society insists on placing on us; badges and they quickly flashed

day can be yellow, my flesh is pink, ultimately defining our own exist-

two shiny pieces of metal in my

my gums are maroon, my hair is jet ence.

face. One of them said, “Do you

black, my blood is red, well blue to

The day came when I was

have anything on you that we

be exact for all you science buffs,

forced to face this topic of blame

and my skin is a deep brown. De-

while coming home from school in needles, a knife? Tell me now be-

spite the fact that this array of col-

the tenth grade. As I walked home

ors which when combined with my from my school’s annual Frisbee personality and thoughts, organize

tournament blasting my iPod and

to define my existence, it means

relishing in the feeling of being tri-

nothing because in the eyes of soci- umphant from recently having won, ety they can be calculated into one

two men in dark clothes cut in front

heavily coagulated and homoge-

of me and started grabbing my

nized essence which is Black. Col-

shoulders. My first thought was “oh

ors, man, they mean a lot in our so- shit, I am about to get robbed,” then ciety. The darker your skin the low- in that same second I thought “no er you are placed on the ladder of

way no one would do this here, and

privilege in America. This is a con- definitely not in front of a McDoncept that has tried to burrow its way alds.” I tried to break free but beinto the deepest corners of my mind fore I had time to fully execute this in the form of powerful and relent-

idea the two men threw me violent-

less subliminal messages that depict ly against the wall and began to

the veiled hostility and contempt

search me. I was so stunned that all

should know about like weed, any

cause if I get poked so help me God.”

I replied “no”; and then a

mit. I walked home ashamed and

basically had my life in their hands

black SUV suddenly sped up to the embarrassed while this concept rat- made me sick to my stomach. I was curb. They took me to their black

tled within my head. When I went

simply a kid innocently walking

SUV police cruiser and a huge,

home and told my family about the home from school, but in their eyes

bulky officer stepped out, pointed a incident they weren’t happy but the I was a hardened criminal filled flash light in my face, furrowed his look in their eyes revealed to me think heavy brows, and replied

that they knew all too well what

“That’s not him”; flicking his

had occurred.

meaty wrist in a dismissive manner. “Did you get their badge numOne of the other officers who had

bers?” my mother asked. When I

searched me came up to me and

replied no, she said “of course they

said “the next time we tell you to

wouldn’t let you know their infor-

stop, you stop, it’s for your own

mation; they knew you were just a

good”; and as quickly as the ordeal kid and they took advantage of that

had begun it was over.

Walking home, so many

fact. Damn dirty pigs. All they care about is meeting that quota and

emotions were surging through me, they won’t hesitate to harass anybut the ones I remember most viv-

one; especially Black people.” As

idly were embarrassment and an-

she said this my father shook his

ger. Not only was I out rightly

head in disappointment and said

judged as being a criminal, but it

“don’t worry about it because it

happened just two blocks away

wasn’t your fault, just be glad that

from my house and the reasoning

you’re safe because other people

behind it all was because it was as

aren’t so lucky.” As I thought about

the officer so clearly put it, “for my what they both said I felt utterly own good”. That was the reasoning defeated and powerless. The powbehind that obvious excuse to

erless and numb sting of defeat that

blame me for a crime I didn’t com- I felt, knowing that those officers

with evil intentions.

“It’s for your own good.”

The ambiguous sense of blame society places on you

activity. The list of injustices is almost infinite, but

if you are Black is hard to explain if you are not

regardless of these lop-sided social constructs I be-

forced to face it every day. It’s as if society wants you lieve that either accepting or denying these fallacies is to feel guilty for being Black, while not blatantly stat- a choice. I for one refuse to believe that I belong to a ing this notion but instead shrewdly slipping it into

subordinate race and no amount of setbacks or sublim-

everyday life. Such instances of this forced sense of

inal messages will ever change that, regardless of

guilt are images routinely shown on the news of only

what society has to say about the matter. I have come

darker skinned criminals running amuck on the streets, to realize that the “blame” that my mother warned me the look of terror that occurs in not all but a few white about does not make me guilty. people’s eyes as you board public transportation, and the almost instinctual purse clutch that follows after, and the ever so growing problem of being almost exclusively targeted by the law for supposed criminal

- Brandon Richards

Hoodies N Hell I wonder if George Zimmerman will “Stand his Ground” when Death comes to reap his soul, since hoodies are SO suspicious to him He will probably plea some bullshit, but Death will only care that it is his time And as the reaper’s scythe begins to move, I wonder if Zimmerman will finally tell the truth That he did not kill Trayvon because he was a threat, but because he did not understand him He could not understand why a young negro that grew up in Dante’s Inferno would need a hoodie to keep him warm As if the Red, White, and Blue flames that scorch this country have lulled over the years Could this new breed of Negro be ignorant to the blaze that stifles his progress or has his spirit grown so hot that the fires of this nation have become cool to him Thinking the latter he filled him hot lead With Trayvon’s death, all of us quit chilling and were reminded of those flames And every black mother has been afraid to buy her sons hoodies ever since, preferring them to catch colds then bullets So as he looks upon Death rocking his all black hoodie, about to send his soul to the 9th Circle, I wonder if Zimmerman will wish he had Trayvon’s hoodie to keep him warm.

- Anthony Pereira

August 2014 found Andrew L. Champers in 152nd then took out his camera phone and filmed the street 30Th precinct. Just a few hours before he

proceeding. One of chamber’s friends took the

was on his way to The 125th street YMCA’s Boys

metro card out of his pockets, as the victim added,

and Girls Club meeting to pick up his “little broth-

“All you need to do is check to see when I swiped

er” and bring him to a pick- up basketball game.

my metro card. In fact, look right there, “He said

Upon entering the train station, he and three of his pointing at the machines that show the balance friend swiped their metro card and waited on the

and expiration date for NYC metro cards, “you can

161st, D express train platform. After a few

see I have money on it. I swiped. Nobody

minutes a police officer confronted Champers and hopped.” his friend accusing them of hopping the turnstile.

Champers refuted the claim and proceeded to take his metro card out of his pocket. Before he

could, the police officer attempted to place him against the wall. The Latino officer ordered backup and two officers crossed over to the platform.

As they were doing this Champers and his friend

continued to insist on his innocence. One friend

One police man still pinned the boy to the wall while the other began to search him.

Champers asked if he was being arrested, and when told, “No” by an officer began to move away toward his group of friends. However, the cops took his metrocard from his friend and then pinned Champers once again to the wall. Champers exclaimed “I’m not under arrest. Get your hands off me.” The officers proceeded to slam him against the wall as he yelled his innocence.

After a few minutes of struggle one of the officers pepper sprayed him and he fell writhing in pain and moaning to the floor.

He was then handcuffed and transported to Harlem Heights 30th precinct, where he was later released when video surveillance proved he and all his friends had paid the fare.

Sadly, there are many stories like this; a black adolescent being verbally and physically abused, for a crime they never committed. Usually these instances of police brutality go without recompense for the victim or punishment for the offending officer.

The police mantra contains the words, “to protect and serve” but in a clause next to it should be white people only. The growing consensus is that people of color are the only ones the law refers to, so therefore the only ones breaking that law, and simultane-

ously the only people the law doesn’t protect. For hundreds of years we have been treated like second class citizens, being charged for first class offenses and receiving unjust punishments regardless of fault.

claim that there was not enough evidence to prove that the officer or other white citizen was in the wrong. The video is not long enough, close enough, detailed enough, in order to see what really happened. They take into account the murderers intention, How many dead brown always pointing to what should bodies do we need to see before have been done differently on the the white, privileged class stops victim’s part to avoid them being being violently ignorant to the brutally murdered. The burden of plights of the underserved? With proof they argue. We shouldn’t need videos, we shouldn’t need witnesses. We are the burden of proof.

- Leola Gordon

the death toll climbing, it is clear that those in power don’t see us as human beings. POC are being gunned down and attacked in broad daylight, like animals. The worst part being that there is no restitution for these victims. Their deaths mean millions to their family, and the surrounding black community, but is rendered insignificant by the lack of equality in the judicial system. Instead of highlighting the cruelty, news channels are arguing the politics of the situation, making references to black on black crime.

What is the relevance of black on black crime when millions of persons of color band together to protest their fallen brothers? For many of these cases, courts

The Rant I’m tired of seeing mothers weep for their offspring The police turn into reckless marksmen when their pursuing darkskins Despite our offerings, they do this so often It starting to seem that they only place a Negro can find peace is in a coffin Young black males are livestock, that’s just how it goes Make you believe that status comes with money and clothes Make you think that just cause you out the hood that you finally rose Not realizing that they control you from your head to your toes Drugs and material possessions are the cure for your woes Seeking relief you let these ideals settle into your soul The powers that be stay scheming to make heathens Knowing that Stop and Frisk is wrong they continue to stress freedoms Promising reform but in the end they just teasing Instead they build prisons to contain black demons So goes the conquest for your conscience Despair with a dash of hope is how everything gets accomplished Don’t be surprised if your idol is working as an accomplice Being used to distract you with silly nonsense Everything they endorse is where your pennies spent While they enforce the doctrines of Willie Lynch Make us aspire for the wealth of a coon While they still count the riches that they raided from our ancestors’ tombs But the most horrible lie that they try to feed us Is the notion that we’re not our brothers’ keepers So I’ll bring up evils that will cause upheavals That hopefully uplift my people.

- Anthony Pereira

Not One Step Back

E

arlier in the year, we wrote about 2014 being a moment when Black/ Latino students across campuses in the United States were becoming more active against racial oppression and social injustice in society. Today, we examine some of the more recent trends of Black resistance to police repression, but more broadly, the new ideology of Jim Crow in the 21st century, postracialism. On July 17th, 2014, Eric Garner was choked to death by New York City police who deemed him a serious threat to their safety after he lambasted them for harassing him. On August 9th, 2014 in St. Louis, 18 year-old Michael Brown, another Black teenager, was shot to death by Missouri police. According to a recent report, two days later in LA a 25 year-old mentally handicapped Black man named Ezell Ford was shot by police after he had surrendered himself to their custody during an arrest. These events, merely a fraction of the tip of an expansive iceberg of police executions and beatings, have triggered powerful re-

sponses from the Black commu- American woman, was attacked nity and our allies. by a white male police officer after he alleged she committed More people are becoming ever the unforgivable crime of jaymore determined to take not one walking. To compound matters, step back in our seemingly nevshe challenged his authority to er-ending march toward freeask for her ID. Her crimes, it dom and emancipation in the seems, required a violent arUnited States. As of now, the rest. What other stories of such demonstrations have been mostly peaceful. Soon however, assault on Black women remain silenced by the domithis will no longer be the case.

We are sick and tired of being nant narrative of Black male suffering? This silence is not sursick and tired, as Civil Rights prising; neither is the equal vioactivist Fannie Lou Hamer so eloquently, and accurately, put lence and physical assault metit. On the 9th of June, 1963 after ed out to both Black men and women by the police. What is returning from Charleston, South Carolina, she and others also customary is the victims are charged with assault while the were arrested by police on a false charge in Winona, Missispolice are forgiven of any sippi. Forced to spend the night wrongdoing, similar in theme to in jail, Mrs. Hamer was awakGeorge Zimmerman being acened by police who led her into quitted by white society for the an interrogation room where murder of Trayvon Martin. white officers ordered two Black The violence of the police has prisoners to beat her. It took her haunted Black folk since the end over a month to recover but her of slavery. While the Ku Klux will remained unbroken as she Klan (KKK) emerged as the uncontinued to fight for the rights official official arm of the state to of Blacks across the country. terrorize the Black population of Thinking of Mrs. Hamer, it can- the South following the fires of the Civil War; the police have not be under-emphasized how arisen as the reincarnation of Black men AND women are increasingly, or better put continu- the KKK, in reaction to the flame ously, constructed as threats by of change heralded by the Civil the police and treated exactly as Rights-Black Power movement. such. On August 18th, 2013, 21 year-old Brenda Hardaway was punched in the head and slammed to the floor as she was arrested by Rochester police while six-months pregnant. Earlier in June 2014, Assistant Professor Ersula Ore of Arizona State University, an Afro-

That said, I believe strongly we are seeing in Ferguson a reemergence of a movement once lost in space and time, called Black Power. What distinguished Black Power from Civil Rights was the collective determinations of Black/Brown people to not only seek legal/ systemic changes within America, but to argue for and plan the radical transformation of the entire structure. It was lead, as the movement in Ferguson/St. Louis is being lead, by the Black youth. We are also seeing among the Black folk of Ferguson is a rejection of white authority to dictate their lives and attitudes. In addition to this, students across the area are demanding a greater emphasis in high schools and colleges on Black history as well as better public education period! On top of this, the Black youth, as they did during Black Power, are rejecting the leadership of the older Black generation who they feel have grown comfortable with their good jobs in the system or have be-

come so used to the racism they aren’t willing to fight anymore. There is also, as it was during BP, not so much a movement to seize political power but more a movement to challenge the legitimacy of that power and demand a complete overhaul of the system. Violence is also a means of resistance far from off the table however during this weekend of protest, they decid-

ed not to do much of that.

As the murders, incarcerations, de-carcerations, impoverishment and overall injustices continue, these new forms of organization and mobilization will be used to take up arms against this doggedly unjust system. So far, things have remained peaceful. But sooner rather than later, other methods will be used to protect innocent people from this brutality. AfroAmericans will not take any more steps back in the march to freedom. Every area where Black folk are being killed by state and non-state actors has the potential to be transformed into a Gaza. What other choices are being left when peaceful protests fail to get justice and murderers are granted freedom and reality shows?

- Toivo Asheeke

Dual Identities

C

ontemporary, as well as historical, public opinion among the black populace in the United States concerning the relationship between law enforcement and minorities is overwhelmingly negative. With a myriad of examples to reference, is the black citizenry justified in their disdain and fear of the police? Furthermore, what are the implications that surface in regards to the adjudication of alleged murderers of black people? More importantly, can any sympathy be granted to the unique situation for officers who must continue to perform their assigned tasks in such a hostile environment? Regardless of the facts that provide potential answers to these perplexing questions, what is certain is that there exists a profound problem that requires an unyielding solution.

In order to combat the senseless violence that disproportionately affects young black males, it is critical to evaluate contributing factors that exacerbate the problem. It is evident that a vicious cycle permeates black neighborhoods starting with the schoolto-prison pipeline and ending unfortunately with second-class citizenship obtained by those who are incarcerated. Coupled with this fatal cycle is the fact that recent cases of police brutality further diminish the already miniscule value of black males within the United States. Along with various identity issues and ignorance towards their history, the black population is not well equipped to deal with such formidable circumstances. Howev-

er, certain problems affecting constituents of the black race are difficult to solve even with education and empowerment.

Police brutality is an enemy with few weaknesses that can be exploited. It is irrelevant how much education and political clout black people receive and garner. Interactions with law enforcement are highly likely to result in unfavorable outcomes for them. Moreover, when discussing police brutality and the several inadequacies plaguing the lives of minorities, it is extremely difficult not to exhibit behavior indicative of cynicism. As a member of the armed forces and a black male, I find it difficult to justify my occupation especially considering current events involving police brutality.

On a larger scale the military imposes the will of the Commander-in-Chief in foreign nations under the guise of spreading democracy and international aid. But resources are nonexistent in regards to support for highly crime infested areas and poverty stricken neighborhoods. How different is the United States Army from the New York Police Department in this regard? Victims vary only in racial social construction and geographic location. It is convenient to say that the mission objectives of these organizations are benevolent and that police brutality and mistreatment of innocent Iraqi citizens are coincidental. But the fact is that managers and leaders are well aware of the risks involved in war and on patrols but do nothing to avoid or mitigate them.

A solution therefore lies not only in the complete upheaval of current legislation and governmental procedure at local, state and federal levels but also in the development of solid infrastructures based in communities.

These initiatives must ascribe as their goal the eradication of dependency on the police force for protection. Only by addressing the aforementioned cycle can any of this be possible.

Education and empowerment are no longer enough. A deliberate and unforgiving position must be acquired and maintained in order to battle the current stat of affairs affecting the black populace. Economic and political autonomy is a feat that can only be achieved at the lowest levels possible in order to promote growth and sustainability.

Mentorship of developing youth by dedicated and invested individuals must result in the intentional and radical conception of cooperative economics and collective work and responsibility.

My name is Dominic Davy and I am an alumnus of both the Black Student Union and Binghamton University. I am currently serving as a soldier in the United States Army while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University.

- Dominic Davy

Hands up Don’t Shoot