Blame the Victim: How Mistreatment by the State Is Used to Legitimize Police Violence

The surprising thing about George Floyd is not that he was killed by the police. What is remarkable is that the officer who killed him was charged, convicted, and sentenced to more than twenty-two years in prison. This article examines the institutional mechanisms that support police violence against Black people. In the process, it illuminates the insidious ways in which state actors exploit structural social, economic, and health mistreatment to legitimize police violence.

After exploring these issues, this article provides suggestions to reform our institutions in a manner that will bring about meaningful and lasting change.