On the Police Taking a Knee as Propaganda

On the Police Taking a Knee as Propaganda

This was written by someone I know, and I am sharing it here with their permission. I want to add that “taking a knee” (especially while “at work”) was criticized by many when black NFL players did it, but those same people applaud when white police (also while on the job) make the same gesture. We need to all think critically, and recognize what messages images are meant to convey.

On the police taking a knee as propaganda, the officers that take a knee are part of the same police forces that use violence against non-violent protesters hours later.  Those are the same cops that have been part of a racist system and go to work alongside the "bad apples" but do nothing about it.  It's a token gesture at this point.  Where was this solidarity when they were killing people?  Where's the solidarity when excessive use of force claims are buried and officers not properly punished?  These images get played on the news to show "look at these great cops, not all cops are bad" in a heartfelt moment that pacifies anger without any real change occurring.  I've watched videos of officers kneeling and shaking hands with protesters and watched powerful speeches by police chiefs, and it feels good to see, but those actions don't have any long lasting or significant change attached.

True solidarity would be exposing the wrongs and the corruption (which the rank and file cannot, without losing their job or being punished by their fellow officers because it's a brotherhood that exists first and foremost to protect itself and its members), it would be standing up to leadership and their union when a bad cop gets protected, it would be quitting the police force and joining protesters.  If a police chief wants to take real action today, they wouldn't just make a speech and march with protesters for a few blocks.  They would open the files and complaints about police misbehavior to the public and take these claims seriously by terminating officers with a history; they would reform their review and discipline process for the future; they would have a zero-tolerance policy for racism and excessive use of force.  THAT would be courage and solidarity.

If three Nazis take a knee at Auschwitz, are we going to decide that's a sign that we can trust them to work on the problem, or that they're going to stand up to those around them?  If a plantation owner spent the afternoon picking cotton with his slaves, should we excuse the system he is a part of and treat him differently because in that moment he recognizes there are some problems with the system?  

I call it propaganda because it puts the oppressor in a positive light and absolves them of the injustices they perpetuate.