Commentary
The horrific death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols in Memphis has ignited yet another media firestorm and public outcry for systemic change in policing. News outlets and social media platforms couldn’t wait to associate the tragedy with white supremacy, internalized racism, and systemic failures in law enforcement. As in the cases of other high-profile police misconduct in recent years, zealous pundits rush to demand comprehensive reforms of our criminal justice system along the lines of resistance and racial justice, along with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The public outrage is understandable given the saturated media coverage, and so is the urge to do something about police misconduct. However, calls for systemic reform rooted in a racialized prognosis of the incident will only further jeopardize law and order by eroding public trust in law enforcement. If we are serious about stopping preventable tragedies involving the use of deadly force by police in the future, we must first reject the highly-politicized hyperbole that masquerades as truth and move beyond a generic passion for change….