Introduction
The New York Times reported on a troubling event involving a police officer pepper-spraying a child in their article “Rochester Officers Suspended After Pepper-Spraying of 9-Year-Old Girl” on January 31, 2021. Police were called to report a family quarrel when the event allegedly occurred. The girl was supposedly suicidal and threatening her mother with a knife. The law enforcement officers pepper-sprayed and handcuffed her when she ignored their orders. According to advocates and the girl’s family, cited in the article, pepper spray on the child was inappropriate.
Historical and Contemporary Connections Made in the Article
While law enforcement can use pepper spray in situations involving violence, other strategies could have been employed by the police to defuse the case involving a child. Due to its focus on the excessive force used by the police on a young Black girl, the current event article makes a connection between it and the Black Lives Matter Movement. The incident represents one of the most recent in an ongoing string of Black people and police violence episodes that have led to protests and requests for police reform.
The story of Black man Daniel Prude, whose murder in police custody in Rochester provoked protests in the city, is mentioned in the article. The article’s focus on the social issue of police brutality against Black people and the political point of police reform make it both social and political in character. The article discusses the current national discussion about police reform and the necessity of improving training and holding law enforcement officials accountable.
Conclusion
Overall, the situation is upsetting and infuriating since using pepper spray on a 9-year-old girl is inappropriate and should be deemed illegal. It emphasizes the necessity of police reform and greater instruction for law enforcement personnel on dealing with mental health crises. Additionally, the event shows how the Black Lives Matter Movement increased public awareness of police mistreatment of Black people and the need for institutional reform.
While police often deploy pepper spray in aggressive circumstances, they could have utilized less forceful methods to manage the situation involving the child. The article reviewing this incident draws a parallel to the Black Lives Matter movement because it highlights the police’s excessive use of force against a young Black girl. Given its examination of police brutality toward Black individuals and the difficult task of law enforcement reform, the study has clear social and political implications.
Reference
Hong, N. (2021). Rochester officers suspended after pepper-spraying of 9-year-old girl. The New York Times. Web.