Police Racism Claims its Fourth Victim in the US

Published in El Periodico
(Spain) on 28 April 2015
by Carles Planas Bou (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Beth Holding. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
Freddie Gray is the latest victim of a long history of police violence against black minorities in the U.S.

This is not the first time America has experienced riots and chaos following the murder of one of its black citizens. Nor will it be the last time that excessive police violence unleashes its fury against America’s ethnic minorities. This time, the victim is 25-year-old Freddie Gray from Baltimore.

The federal government does not keep records of the number of people killed by police officials, and the FBI only registers homicides deemed “justifiable,” which brings the yearly figure to a total 400. Data from non-governmental organizations reveals that 30 percent of these deaths are made up of African Americans, while the black minority constitutes approximately 15 percent of America’s total population.

While these four murders may illustrate only those cases benefitting from considerable media coverage, they nevertheless succeed in proving that violence and police racism in America has in no way reduced over the past year, and instead remains a significant social affliction.

Freddie Gray

The latest victim of police brutality was 25-year-old Freddie Gray from Baltimore. Although the exact causes of his death are still unknown, protests point to yet another case of racial violence. Gray was arrested on April 12 for possession of a knife about his person. During his arrest he sustained a considerable spinal injury in which three of his vertebrae were fractured, inducing a comatose state. On April 19, Gray passed away in the hospital and a wave of protests began in order to uncover the causes behind his fatal injury. The police have since opened an investigation, and have temporarily suspended six of their agents.

Walter L. Scott

It seems impossible to imagine that a police officer could possibly shoot a black man eight times in broad daylight. In the case of Walter L. Scott, it’s not a matter of imagination, but instead of reality. Michael Sleager, a 33-year-old police officer, shot and killed the 50-year-old after he attempted to flee the scene following a minor struggle. Scott had initially been arrested due to a broken brake light on his vehicle.

Michael Brown

This is perhaps the most mediatized case to date, and the most similar to that of Freddie Gray. Michael Brown was 18 when he was killed on August 9 in Ferguson. His death gave rise to immeasurable anger, provoking violent protests in which local shops were looted and set alight. The police officer responsible, Darren Wilson, was not charged with the murder, and once again chaos reigned. The governor of Michigan declared a state of emergency, allowing him to activate the National Guard in an attempt to control the riots.

Brown’s death once again reopened the on-going racial debate in the U.S. On April 23, the victim’s family criticized Ferguson officials for having failed to charge Wilson on the grounds of racial violence.

Eric Garner

This is without doubt one of the most hair-raising cases to date. On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed by police in broad daylight in a New York suburb. The incident was filmed by an onlooker who captured the moment in which a group of police officers attacked Garner for no apparent reason; he was then knocked to the ground and arrested. Although the victim showed no resistance, a police official proceeded to strangle him with his arm — a practice forbidden in the States — despite Garner’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe. The phrase “I can’t breathe” later became a key slogan in public protests that once again united the country against police violence. In December, the officer responsible, Daniel Pantaleo, was declared innocent.


Los disturbios y el caos que vive la ciudad de Baltimore tras la muerte del joven afroamericano Freddy Gray, de 25 años, en manos de la policía no es un caso aislado. Ni siquiera será el último episodio de los abusos y excesiva violencia policial contra las minorías étnicas en Estados Unidos.

El Gobierno federal no cuenta cuanta gente muere en manos de la policía y el FBI sólo apunta aquellos homicidios que son “justificables”, que llegan hasta los 400 al año. Los datos de las organizaciones no gubernamentales que persiguen estos casos apuntan a que las muertes de afroamericanos representan un 30% del total, mientras su comunidad supone alrededor del 15% de la población de Estados Unidos.

Estos cuatro asesinatos, que tan sólo ilustran los casos más mediáticos, demuestran que la violencia policial y el racismo no han cesado en el país en el último año y siguen siendo una lacra social:

Freddie Gray

La última víctima de la policía era un joven de Baltimore de 25 años. Aunque aún no se saben las causas exactas de su muerte, las protestas apuntan a un nuevo caso de violencia racista. Freddie fue detenido el 12 de abril por llevar encima una navaja. Durante su arresto y traslado a la comisaria sufrió un coma después de una lesión medular que le fracturó tres vertebras. El pasado 19 de abril Gray moría en el hospital y se iniciaban las protestas para saber qué provocó su fatal lesión. La policía ha iniciado una investigación y ha suspendido temporalmente a seis agentes.

Walter L. Scott

Parece imposible imaginar que un policía dispare ocho veces por la espalda en plena luz del día a un ciudadano negro. En el caso de Walter L. Scott no hace falta imaginación sino ver el vídeo. El agente Michael Sleager, de 33 años, acabó con la vida del afroamericano de 50 años después que un pequeño forcejeo y de que este huyera corriendo. Scott había sido detenido por tener una de las luces de freno de su coche rota.

Michael Brown

Quizás el caso más mediático y más parecido al de Freddy Gray. Michael Brown era un joven de 18 años que fue asesinado el 9 de agosto de 2014 en Ferguson, la periferia de la ciudad de San Luis. La muerte del afroamericano desató la ira en las calles de la ciudad, que se llenaron de protestas y de sectores violentos que quemaros y saquearon tiendas. El agente Darren Wilson no fue imputado por haber tiroteado a Brown y el caos volvió. El gobernador del Estado de Misuri declaró el Estado de emergencia y se movilizó la Guardia Nacional para evitar los disturbios.

El caso de Brown reabrió el debate racial en Estados Unidos por enésima vez. El pasado 23 de abril la familia del joven asesinado denunció la ciudad de Ferguson por no culpar al agente policial por actuar con violencia racista.

Eric Garner

Este es sin duda uno de los casos más estremecedores que se han visto. El 17 de julio, Eric Garner era asesinado por un policía en plena luz del día en un barrio de Nueva York. Un compañero gravó el momento en que, sin razón aparente, un grupo de policías se abalanzó sobre él para tumbarlo al suelo y detenerle. Aunque Garner no opuso resistencia alguna, un oficial lo estrangulaba con el brazo (una práctica prohibida en el Estado) mientras el hombre suplicaba que no podía respirar. Su “I can’t breathe” se convirtió en un lema que movilizó una vez más al país contra las agresiones policiales. En diciembre, el agente Daniel Pantaleo fue exculpado.
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