How to Safely Fight Back Against Police Brutality

Despite growing social awareness and an increase in political pressure, police brutality is unfortunately commonplace across American society. Between 1980 and 2018, over 30,000 people died as a direct result of police violence, and we still see examples today of similar incidents that leave individuals and their families in pain. If you’ve been a victim of police brutality, or you’re looking to support those who have been and stand up for what you believe in, then there are a number of approaches that you can take to fight back while still prioritizing your own safety.

Record Any Incidents

One of the best ways that you can safely fight back against police brutality is by recording any incidents of it in your surrounding area. There are a number of ways that you can do this, but the easiest approach to take is to look out for others around you. If you see a police officer unfairly targeting an individual or being unnecessarily aggressive, especially if you think their life could be at risk, try to video record the incident on your mobile phone and note down the date and time that this happened. That way, you can support any legal investigation into the incident without having to directly address the police officer in question at the time if you don’t feel safe doing so.

Join a Peaceful Protest

Protests are a great way to be part of something bigger and get your voice heard, and there are a range of different groups within society who are passionate about ending police brutality, so you can be certain to find a peaceful protest that you can get involved with. On the day of the protest itself, make sure that you’ve taken some safety precautions like sharing with friends and family where you will be and how long for, and pack water bottles to keep yourself hydrated. Look out for the welfare of others, too, as this will ensure that everyone is staying safe while standing their ground.

Pursue Legal Action

If you’ve been a victim of police brutality, you might be feeling angry and isolated regardless of the outcome, so sometimes it’s tough to watch the perpetrator carry on as normal despite ongoing peaceful protests. If you want to fight back directly, you should pursue legal action that will hold those involved to account and help you to rebuild your life through compensation. You can find experienced attorneys for police brutality who have won record breaking settlements for their clients and can fight for your civil rights. Good police brutality attorneys will be compassionate and understanding with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and how to get you the best outcome.

Incidents of police brutality affect entire communities, and not just the individuals involved, so it’s important that different groups of society stand up against this practice and fight back. While you do this, it’s crucial that you keep yourself safe in the process, but by following these top tips and reporting any incidents in your local area, joining a peaceful protest and pursing legal action if you have been directly affected, you can ensure that you are working towards a safer community for yourself and others.