Thread by @suchitrav

BJP + RSS + its ilk are nothing more than a toxic pit of hate and the institutions of law and order that they now command are a consolation of xenophobic nationalism in the structure of a state.
To preserve this state, violence is a necessity, and violence is the law.

I quoting from Kristian Williams’s Book:

“In Uprooting Racism, Paul Kivel makes a useful comparison between the rhetoric abusive men employ to justify beating up their girlfriends, wives, or children and the publicly traded justifications for widespread racism.”

These tactics are listed below in the rough order that men employ them — also applies to the strategies BJP and others have employed.

👉🏽👉🏽 1) Denial: “I didn’t hit her.”
👉🏽 👉🏽2) Minimization: “It was only a slap.”
👉🏽👉🏽 (3) Blame: “She asked for it.”
👉🏽👉🏽 (4) Redefinition: “It was mutual combat.”
👉🏽👉🏽 (5) Unintentionality: “Things got out of hand.”
👉🏽👉🏽(6) It’s over now: “I’ll never do it again.”

👉🏽👉🏽7) It’s only a few men: “Most men wouldn’t hurt a woman.”
👉🏽👉🏽(8) Counterattack: “She controls everything.”
👉🏽👉🏽(9) Competing victimization: “Everybody is against men.”

Kivel goes on to detail the ways these nine tactics are used to excuse institutionalized racism.

Each of these tactics also has its police analogy, both as applied to individual cases and in regard to the general issue of police brutality. Here are a few examples👇🏾👇🏾

(1) Denial. “The professionalism and restraint … was nothing short of outstanding.”
(2) Minimization. Injuries were “of a minor nature.” “Police use force infrequently.”

(3) Blame. “This guy isn’t Mr. Innocent Citizen, either. Not by a long shot.” “They died because they were criminals.”
(4) Redefinition. It was “mutual combat.” “Resisting arrest.” “The use of force is necessary to protect yourself.”

5) Unintentionality. “[O]fficers have no choice but to use deadly force against an assailant who is deliberately trying to kill them.…”
(6) It’s over now. “We’re making changes.We will change our training; we will do everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.

7) It’s only a few men. “A small proportion of officers are disproportionately involved in use-of-force incidents.” “Even if we determine that the officers were out of line … it is an aberration.”

(8) Counterattack. “The only thing they understand is physical force and pain.” “People make complaints to get out of trouble.”

(9) Competing victimization. The police are “in constant danger.” “[L]iberals are prejudiced against police, much as many white police are biased against Negroes.” The police are “the most downtrodden, oppressed, dislocated minority in America.”

Another commonly invoked rationale for justifying police violence is: (10) The Hero Defense. “These guys are heroes.” “The police routinely do what the rest of us don’t: They risk their lives to keep the peace. For that selfless bravery, they deserve glory, laud and honor.”

Remember: The indiscriminate use of police violence is illegal, extra judicial and unconstitutional.
Right to protest is enshrined as a constitutional right.