Reclaiming Our Way promoting the well-being of African American children & families

Police Power, Race Riots, Urban (Suburban) Unrest

Below is a discussion from Saturday's Morning Journal television talk program on CSPAN. The primary guest is Cathy Schneider, author and associate professor who teaches at American University in Washington, DC.

While I appreciate Schneider's perspective, truth-telling and advocacy, the discussion is almost just as remarkable because of the sheer ignorance and racism that pours from the mouths of the call-in guests.  This notwithstanding, it's still important to have this perspective from white folks who aren't afraid to acknowledge the racism and pathology that drives (and has always driven) these abusive and terroristic experiences of Black folks in this country.

Cathy Schneider talked by remote video from New York City about how law enforcement reacted to protests following the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the so-called “militarization” of local police forces. Professor Schneider, the author of Police Power and Race Riots: Urban Unrest in Paris and New York, talked about past riots, the psychology of these events, and lessons learned from them. She gave her views on police over-reaction and harsh tactics and what should be done in Ferguson. She responded to telephone calls and electronic communications, including a telephone line reserved for Missouri residents.