OPINION: The United Police State of America

Since the shooting and killing of an 18-year-old African American boy on Aug. 8 in the town of Ferguson, Miss., the city has dived headfirst into violence and chaos. In fact, the situation has gotten so bad that the governor of Missouri has been quoted as saying Ferguson looks like a “war zone.” Although probably unintentional, this comment exposes a frightening fact about our current police system. We’ve all seen pictures of combat or areas of hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among other things, the aspects that make these scenes look like war zones instead of normal Middle Eastern towns include tanks patrolling the streets, soldiers in full combat gear and machine guns, angry civilians being pushed back, arrested, or having weapons pointed at them, etc.

Many Americans like to boast that no war has been fought on U.S. soil for more than 100 years, but what they are forgetting is that many of the aspects which make a war zone a war zone are in place in Ferguson, and have been in place in different cities at different times. Imagine soldiers on a manhunt for a suspected terrorist, indiscriminately searching from house to house in full uniform, confronting civilians, assault rifles ready to go. While this may sound like something either from a movie or from a real war, this was the scene in Watertown as soldiers and police supported by armored vehicles searched the city for a suspect of the Boston marathon bombing, where the Fourth Amendment had apparently been put on hold. It is ironic that citizens celebrated the capture of the man with the phrase “Boston strong,” as giving the police free reign to do as they please without a warrant weakens the foundations of liberty our country was built upon.

While some may agree with the overwhelming show of force by the police at Watertown due to the severity of the situation, this begs the question: Where do we draw the line? If we can allow soldiers with machine guns and APCs to shut down a city, parade our streets, and suspend the right to privacy in search of one man, then how much does it really take for the police to suspend individual rights and whip out the military gear? Apparently, the police of St. George found a similar response appropriate when a man called them to report his own suicide. Sadly, the armored vehicle and assault rifles did not persuade him to stay his hand.

Sadly, even when it comes to the issue of police militarization, brutality, and misconduct, Americans seem to be divided. When police attacked protesters during Occupy Wall Street, conservatives were quick to turn a blind eye. When an elderly member of the Bundy family was grabbed from behind by the neck and slammed to the ground during the standoff in Bunkerville, liberals were quick to write her off as “a dumb redneck getting what she deserved.” Even when it comes to basic issues such as our collective safety and making sure the police do not cross their boundaries, the American people are unable to look past the distinctions between “left” and “right.” Many people are watchful and critical of politicians, and sometimes go to great lengths to spread awareness about illegal activities and wrongdoings committed by them. These watchdogs, as well as every other American, should turn their attention towards the police and their actions. The only way we can ever solve this problem is if we put aside our petty differences, join together to demand change, and ask: Does a badge give a man the right to rape, torture, and murder?