The militarization of our police has been accelerated thanks to qualified immunity and war on drugs, and the city of Washington DC is no exception. 
DC Police have decided that their "training and expertise" is "paramount" to the rights we all have. Instead of finding probable cause, they just say they will find something.
In a review of 2,000 warrants, 14% were issued without finding probable cause, only invoking their training and experience. About 99% of these "warrants" involved Black suspects.
Most of these searches have shown up to have nothing. Sometimes they find small amounts of illegal substances, nothing close to the trafficking police claim to justify the search.
One victim of this policy is Shandalyn Harrison.
Her "crime" was that her ex-boyfriend, who had never lived at her home and had broken up with her years earlier, had an obstructed license plate and was found in possession of 5 ounces of marijuana, a misdemeanor.
Her "crime" was that her ex-boyfriend, who had never lived at her home and had broken up with her years earlier, had an obstructed license plate and was found in possession of 5 ounces of marijuana, a misdemeanor.
13 days later, DC police illegally raided Shandalyn's home, where they found her sitting on the couch watching TV with her 7 and 13 year old daughters. Her brother Sterling was playing a video game in his bedroom, so they pointed a gun at his head and handcuffed him.
The officers proceeded to the bathroom, where Shandalyn's 11-year-old daughter was showering. They opened the shower curtain, and pointed a gun at her while she stood there naked.
They ransacked the home and left. It took the family days to clean up after them.
Police found no evidence of a crime, and should've never gone to her home, as their suspect didn't live there.
Police found no evidence of a crime, and should've never gone to her home, as their suspect didn't live there.
They had presented no evidence to justify their raid, other than their "experience" that people who have drugs on their person may also have them in their homes, even though he didn't live there.
Thankfully no one was killed in this raid, but as we know, that happens often.
Thankfully no one was killed in this raid, but as we know, that happens often.
Imagine having police break into your home & point guns at your naked children, because your ex got caught with cannabis.
Protected by policies like qualified immunity, police in DC & all across the US are free to terrorize our communities, our neighbors, possibly even ourselves
Protected by policies like qualified immunity, police in DC & all across the US are free to terrorize our communities, our neighbors, possibly even ourselves
Until we elect politicians who actually care about people, these actions will continue, people will be traumatized, and many will die in these raids.
#EndQualifiedImmunity
End evidence-free warrants.
End the #WarOnDrugs.
Protect rights, not power.
#EndQualifiedImmunity
End evidence-free warrants.
End the #WarOnDrugs.
Protect rights, not power.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
