Steaming anger from a long past of police conflict has prompted officials to change the perspective many communities have begun to develop with law enforcement.  As tensions are still high in Baltimore, many systems have been created such as My Brother’s Keeper, an organization that President Obama spoke about on Monday, which is designed to mentor young men and boys in various communities. Although this organization will continue while Obama is out of office, he and his wife, Michelle, have already planned on continuing to make a difference in affected communities. As Freddie Grays’ death still ignites protests throughout Baltimore and the United States, reforms are starting to shed light on a new beginning.

“There’s no shortage of people telling you who and what is to blame for the plight of these communities. But I’m not interested in blame. I’m interested in responsibility, and I’m interested in results,” stated Obama during his speech in the Bronx.

Not only has President Obama spoke about the recent deaths of African-American men at the hands of law enforcement, Hillary Clinton has also put forth her full opinion on the issue as well. Of the topics she discussed, issuing body cameras for law enforcement was a “must-have” that would essentially create a clear picture for both sides of the perspective, the officer and the potential suspect. This would not only provide a transparent view of the incident, but also allow other law enforcement officers to discuss what types of improvements should be made in training officers. In the last year, there have been multiple deaths of African-American men at the hands of law enforcement, which leads many to realize the unbalance in America.

“We have allowed our criminal justice system to get out of balance and these recent tragedies should galvanize us to come together as a nation to find out balance against,” reported Clinton in front of an audience at Colombia University.

After the recent charges against the six officers involved with the death of Freddie Gray, including second degree murder and manslaughter, Baltimore’s’ District Police Commissioner Anthony Batts has begun to realize the lack of trust in the community. As an officer himself, Batts has created a new perspective to officers that demonstrates the lack of solution in communities because officers are seen as part of the essential problem. Building off of the recent statements by President Obama, Batts has pointed to efforts that would build the bond between urban neighborhoods and law enforcement. For example, there is a program for inner-city children that allow them to have meals and interact with police officers. Also using the Los Angeles police department as a foundation, Batts would like to construct a group of officers that symbolize mentors to the community and create a sense of unity.

“The community needs to hear from us that we haven’t been part of the solution, and now we have to evolve. Now we have to change,” Batts expressed in an interview with CNN.

As a nation, coming together to form unity would not only build trust within communities, but establish a more secure relationship with law enforcement. As the future approaches, various perspectives play a tremendous role in how future generations perceive one another. By building a strong base now, that would allow for the future to take an alternate path away from the past and into a new start. Cutting the shackles that separate multiple ethnic groups would open the doors into a new takeoff to stimulate the beginning of a new era.

“There are consequences to inaction. There are consequences to indifference, and they reverberate far beyond the walls of the projects, the borders of the barrier or the roads of the reservation. They sap us our strength as a nation,” said President Obama in action to affected communities.

FSA Questions

1. In the article, the author provides multiple examples of different reforms that officials are trying to pursue. Select two sentences that provide those reforms.
2. In the piece, the word “inaction” means what?
3. The author seems to offer what main idea for the article?
4. Select two sentences that support that main idea.
5. What is the connotation of the word “stimulate” in the story?