Minneapolis Story Inverts Dynamic, Misses the Point
📰 THE STORY: The New York Times reports on killings in Minneapolis, framing it as an inversion of the usual dynamic where federal and state authorities are now policing the police, focusing on the complexities of police accountability without delving deeper into the root causes or beneficiaries of this system. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 1968, the Kerner Commission
Report explicitly warned that America was 'moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal,' identifying systemic racism, police brutality, and economic oppression as drivers of unrest. This wasn't an 'inversion' but a historical continuation of power dynamics that have consistently disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, particularly Black Americans, long
before recent spotlight. Double Standard: While intense scrutiny is (rightly) applied to local police departments in the US, major outlets like the NYT often sanitize police violence when committed by state actors abroad, especially those aligned with US imperial interests. For example, the brutal suppression of Palestinian protests by Israeli forces, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries
since 2018's Great March of Return, is frequently framed as 'clashes' or 'security measures' rather than systemic police brutality demanding federal investigation. Compare this to the detailed, sympathetic coverage afforded to protests in Hong Kong or Ukraine. Follow the Money: The 'policing the police' narrative, while appearing progressive, often funnels federal funds into new policing