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If You Were On Constant Watch, Would You Act Differently?
Other | Thursday 27th November 2014 | Izaradz
For the past few months, the case of the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson has been the source of hard-hitting debates. Many have been disappointed by the decision of the grand jury “not to indict [Darren] Wilson” on 24th November. Large crowds took to the streets in protest, not only in Ferguson, but also in other U.S. states. In London on 26th November, protesters held a peaceful outside the U.S. embassy.
Many have disputed the reliability of the evidence itself and the conclusion that was reached as a result. This is the inspiration behind the petition that was proposed by We the People on 12th August 2014, shortly after the incident. The group called for a legal requirement for all police officers to wear a video camera on their person whilst on duty.
The introduction of the Mike Brown Law (as it has been named), would introduce a hugely important tool into the acquisition of evidence and would have the potential to alter methods of policing. Knowing that your actions are going to be captured and recorded, the behaviour of both the police and citizens is likely to be better and more controlled. On Wednesday 26th November, Brown’s father said on the today show, “We won’t have to play this game of witnesses, mirrors and secret grand jury proceedings” in the future. On the other hand, it raises privacy issues and concerns that every camera is monitored and essentially controlled by the authorities.
Nevertheless, by 1st September, the petition acquired over 150,000 signatures. Clearly there is a clear voice in support of the proposed law. Although the law has not yet been passed, and it may not be an absolute solution, it has brought an issue to the forefront of discussion. For more details about the petition itself and the official response from the White House, have a look at the We the People website.
@izaradz
