As 2015’s final minutes tick away, it’s gives us a chance to look into the mirror to see what we are leaving behind. Many philosophers have noted that history tends to repeat itself. Terrorism. Gun violence. Racial tensions. Religious differences. Politics. The environment. So we reflect on the events and trends of 2015 in hopes of identifying patterns, learning from the mistakes of the past and building on its successes to take on many of the same challenges in 2016.
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“We Serve and Protect”
Posted December 2nd, 2015 at 2:42 pm (UTC-4)
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Painted on the sides of police cars in Chicago are the words “We Serve and Protect.” That motto is under siege with the availability of videotaped incidents of police brutality directed at African-Americans. Outrage erupted once again with the release of videotape showing a white Chicago policeman gunning down black teenager Laquan Williams, who is seen walking away from police. Public anger grew to a fever pitch, in part because the tape, which shows McDonald falling to the ground as a white cop fired 16 shots into his body, was not made public for more than a year. Under intense public pressure, Chicago officials charged the police officer with first degree murder, and soon after, fired the city’s chief of police.
For Shame, Chicago. Why Have You Not Fulfilled King’s Dream?
The police brutality, lack of opportunity and diminished hope that the civil rights leader talked about during the March on Washington have become ingrained in Chicago’s cultural landscape, creating a flawed legacy of divisiveness that threatens our future.