Trump Promises to Crush Violent Gangs, But Encourages Police Brutality

MS-13- an international criminal gang, mostly consisting of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans, that is notorious for its relentless revenge and criminal activities.

Since the beginning of the year, the MS-13 gang has killed 17 people in Long Island, and has been guilty of murder, drug trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, and many other heinous crimes. In response to violent activity of gang members of the MS-13 group in Long Island, President Trump has recently delivered a combative law-and-order speech applauding law enforcement for being "rough" with arrestees. Trump stated that police should not shield the heads of hand-cuffed suspects as they are put in a car:
                        "Like, don't hit their head and they've just killed somebody. I said, 'You can take the hand away, OK? '"

During his visit in the New York suburb, Trump pledged to break apart and deport members of the MS-13 gang and restore peace to American communities. Trump also noted his campaign pledge to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and emphasized the need for bolder immigration policies.

With praise from the audience of law enforcement officials, Trump asserted "We will find you, we will arrest you, we will jail you and we will deport you," and vowed to "destroy the vile criminal cartel, MS-13, and many other gangs."

However, the majority of law enforcement agencies, spanning from Los Angeles to Boston, have strongly disagreed with Trump's tactics on treating criminals. Many law officials believe that this action taken towards suspects inspires police brutality and and harms the relationship between the police and the people. If officers apply any other force than "what is reasonable and necessary,"their behavior is unprofessional and sends the wrong message to the public and law enforcement. Other police departments have also voiced their opinions, which all agree that President Trump endorses and condones police brutality.


Links for Further Reading:

• http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/28/politics/donald-trump-ms-13/index.html
• http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/29/politics/trump-police-remarks-reaction/index.html
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/28/trump-targets-vile-ms-13-vows-to-enforce-immigration-law.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/us/politics/trump-immigration-gang-violence-long-island.html

Discussion Questions:

• Do you believe that President Trump is invoking police brutality in his law-and-order speech?   Or is this kind of aggressive treatment necessary in law enforcement?
• Does the kind of treatment that Trump support take away from the trust that the police have built in American communities?
• Do you think that gang violence will change for the better if police decide to use aggressive tactics against arrestees?