US police: Special patrol car for Black History Month causes criticism

Miami and Columbus
US police present special patrol car for Black History Month – criticism hails

It seems like a typical case of “well intentioned but not well thought out”. On the occasion of Black History Month in the USA, the police authorities in Miami and Columbus also wanted to set an example – but that backfired properly.

On the occasion of Black History Month in the USA, the police in Columbus and Miami wanted to set an example. With patrol cars specially designed for the occasion, the authorities are committed to the rights of black Americans, that’s the idea. In view of the racism debate that flared up again and again, criticism was not long in coming.

Redesigned patrol cars are intended to demonstrate solidarity

Every February since 1976, the United States has celebrated the achievements and role of black Americans in American history with Black History Month. The police in the city of Columbus, Ohio, presented a patrol car called “History 1” and published a corresponding video on Twitter. The one-and-a-half-minute clip, set to a musical version of black civil rights activist Marin Luther King’s world-famous “I Have a Dream” speech, begins with the words “Dreams,” “Freedom,” and “Equality” spray-painted on a wall. to read.

Afterwards you can see the newly designed emergency vehicle. On the sides of the car and on the bonnet is a stripe in the colors of Black History Month – black, red, yellow and green. A quote from King is emblazoned on the rear window: “Be the peace you wish to see in the world.” The patrol car is designed to “celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize their role in our history,” the tweet said.

The Sunshine State decided on an even more eye-catching “message”. The Miami Police Department also presented a special vehicle to mark the month of remembrance. However, not only the colors and the lettering are more present here. The outlines of the African continent and raised, clenched fists (symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement) can also be seen. “Among the officers present at the unveiling were some of our very first black police officers,” the Miami Police Department tweeted.

The police are receiving heavy criticism

Criticism was not long in coming under the respective Twitter posts. “Whoever thought this was a good idea should be fired,” commented one user. “I can’t wait for that [Auto, Anm. d. Redaktion] 0-36 months in the background of an incriminating bodycam video of police brutality,” wrote another. The squad cars also provided plenty of sarcasm. “Wow you did it! You’ve solved the racism problem in government!” and “How many officials yelled, ‘Stop fighting back’ and pulled the magazine out of their pockets when they saw it?” It said, away from plenty of scorn and ridicule users posted numerous links to media reports on police violence.

The Miami Department disagrees with allegations that the police are wasting taxpayers’ money with the questionable action. Instead, the redesign was donated by the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association, a Miami Police Department “historic black organization” it says. According to National Public Radio, the artist who created the design said previous designs included images of Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Barack Obama. “Two things can exist at the same time,” he told the broadcaster. “More work could be done between the police department and civilians as police officers and civilians come together to celebrate black history.”

The Columbus police fought back the criticism. After the presentation of “History 1”, members of the community spoke positively about the gesture, a press spokesman for the authority told the US broadcaster “NBC News”. In addition, police vehicles would also be decorated on other occasions – such as LGBTQ Pride Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Veterans Day. However, the Columbus police force in particular does not do well in a national comparison. According to the Police Scoreboard website, which lists cases of police brutality and racism, the rate of shootings by police officers here is 99 percent higher than in any other US agency: the statistical figure is 15.5 deaths for every 100,000 arrests. Four out of five victims were black – even though they made up only 28 percent of the population of Columbus.

Black History Month 2023 focuses on police violence

In fact, the timing of the action is at least unfortunate. Not only that the debate about police violence after the killing of the young black man Tire Nichols in Memphis recently picked up speed again (the star reported). This year’s Black History Month motto also counteracts the police action.

Each year there is a different theme. 2023 is about the “Black Resistance” (the resistance of the black people) in US history. In doing so according to the NGO “Association for the Study of African American Life and History” examines how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression in all forms, particularly the racial terror of lynchings, racial pogroms, and police killings, since the nation’s beginnings”.

Sources: “National Public Radio“; “NBC News“; “Mirror“