Will Euclid,Ohio be the next Ferguson?
“This sidewalk should be packed with people”- shouted Hank Davis @ a Euclid city hall police rally.Â
What role does a cities beautification play in how we choose to advocate for injustice? Do we have a bias for certain locations over others unconsciously?
With social media capturing injustices everywhere how do certain cities manage to stay under the national radar? Discussing police brutality is one the easiest ways to get viewers attention. Yet a city known for its Police injustices for the past several decades has remained just a local folk lore.
Nothing hides racism better than bi-weekly fresh cut grass, Â Beautiful 2 story houses, empty sidewalks and white senior citizens.This vantage point tells us everything is under control here and in order.
One could argue that law enforcement operates at a higher intensity in the suburbs than the inner city. For several reasons,
- Many inner city officers actually live there: Inspires officers  to actually protect and serve that community.
- Preservation of culture: To preserve white supremacies, economical and political status should replace the to protect and serve mantra.
- The American dream is here: How America markets and brands the United States to the world.
Cleveland hasn’t infected Euclid with its dilapidated buildings, and high crime rate. However,Euclid is learning from the Cleveland police how to get away with injustices.
Despite Euclid’s large size of senior citizens (2010 median age was 61)Â Many feel that Euclid will be the next Ferguson due to crippled community relations with law enforcement.
Euclid was largely segregated until the early 70’s. After the hough riots in 1968 blacks began to move into Euclid. The hough neighborhood still hasn’t recovered some 50 years later as evidence of the riot is still visible from the buildings today.
Like ferguson, anyone of color is under the constant threat of being pulled over. Personally in 2003 I was pulled over in Euclid. I received 3 tickets during one traffic stop, the officer said I did a rolling stop for 3 consecutive stop signs. 3 moving violations is 6 points and you only need 12 for your license to be suspended.
Because Euclid is the first suburb close to Cleveland its cops act as gatekeepers. This agenda is to keep “Blacks” from seeping their culture/crime into far out suburbs(Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville,). The best way for police to prevent this is traffic stops. Unwarranted illegal police searches are just some of the tactics used to pull over “suspicious” drivers.
A report of a “suspicious” car lead to unarmed 23 year old Luke Stewart murder. A routine traffic stop lead to the viral beating of Robert Hubbert the III
No officers were charged in either of these cases.These incidents are the reason why activist feel Euclid’s racism is igniting protest and activism, but it doesn’t stop there. Last month Cleveland News Channel 5 released a report after 6 months of investigating Euclid Police. Â
The in depth report found that less than 20% of Euclid officers were involved in more than 80% of the use of force incidents. The officer who beat Hubbert in the video received his job back as well. 6 police brutality lawsuits have been filed in the last 6 years also. One incident in particular involved Shajuan Gray who was tackled by Police wearing a bathwrap in her house, because of call about her loud music.
Yet, because Euclid doesn’t look “ghetto” and has a large white population its racism isn’t met with the same urgency. Government officials will do everything in their power to make sure that Euclid doesn’t become another “hough’ as the majority of riots and protest happen downtown or in black communities nationwide.
However to answer the question, Is Euclid the next ferguson? No isn’t. Blame the comforts of not living in constant fear of poverty or crime that Euclid offers. Blame the various beaches and scenery of lake Erie it offers.
Clevelanders share a dilemma many other blacks face in the country. Escaping crime and poverty in the inner city or deal with racism in the suburbs, chose wisely..