Kristen NielsenEnglish teacherQ:Are you intrigued with the amount of police brutality incidents reported in recent years?
A: I am alarmed by all police brutality issues and especially those of recent years. Q:Describe the black lives matter movement in your own words. A:The Black Lives Matter movement is intended to create justice and equality for Black individuals who have been systemically and systematically oppressed in America (though injustice in other countries and for other marginalized individuals also can't be ignored). Q:What is your opinion on the movement? A:I wish more people would get involved, and I'm glad more people are working toward improving America. I wish I could do more, and I am taking a course this spring entitled Teacher as Writer and Advocate in hopes of helping to improve education and to foster justice. I appreciate the efforts of Kaepernick, organizations, and individuals educating and advocating for justice and equality. Q:Is there a more sufficient way of protesting police brutality A:I don't know of one. Q:Is the issue of police brutality new, if not why is it such a big issue now? A:Unfortunately, it isn't new. It has been an issue for too long, and I am glad that more people are becoming aware and striving to stop police brutality. Attention and concern are cyclical like with L.A. and Rodney King in 1992. I hope sustained attention and protests compel change. Q:Why do you think this movement just started? A:The movement has been going on as long as there has been injustice, i.e. forever. It began with Blacks in America with the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement and continued against the various unjust laws and policies through segregation, Jim Crow laws, and the Civil Rights Movement. Q:As a civilian do you fear encounters with police ? A:Yes. I wish I didn't as there are great cops like Officer Comegna and Officer Douglas, the SRO at Crossroads. However, some of my students have experienced unjust treatment because of their race, and I worry for them. Q:Do you support the BLM movement and if so how do you show your support ? A:Yes. I try to learn as much as I can and wish I could do more. I want to bring attention to these issues and to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals who are more knowledgeable than I am and to write and to advocate to compel change. I also support public education, food stamps, Medicaid, affordable housing, living wages, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, and stopping the prison industrial complex. Q:Do all lives matter? Does American society reflect this belief ? A:All lives must matter. They never have in this country (or the world), but every person deserves safety and security, especially children. American society is incredibly hypocritical by claiming freedom and perpetuating policies that further marginalize and disadvantage individuals, especially people of color. That must change. Q:Has your opinion on police changed in any way during the past few years? A:The more I learn about policies and practices, the more I realize that the militarization of the police department and training perpetuate and provoke violence. I know that media outlets twist narratives. Numerous police officers are good, hardworking individuals, and I cannot imagine being a cop. Changing policies and providing culturally responsive training would help immensely. Seeking to improve and strengthen society instead of punishing and incarcerating would also help immensely. |