The videos below show a half hour of security camera [edit: and civilian cell phone camera] footage documenting the manufacturing and escalation of a dangerous situation by the Troy Police, where their exclusive use of violence led to wanton brutality against a number of young men and women who did not deserve or warrant such treatment.
Troy, NY, is about to be a city where people around the country and around the world who are fighting against police violence will be paying very careful attention.
While Troy lacks a strong history of long-running social justice organizations with large and stable constituencies, it does have a number of extraordinarily intelligent and committed people who are prepared to win.
Some of us have a wide network of local, national, and global activists who will help us leverage their voices and resources.
Troy Police Department has just handed us a winnable case that will solidify our attention and energy.
When the Mayor, Police Chief, City Council members and other city officials rushed to approve of this use of violence against a crowd of young (mostly) people of color, they failed to distance themselves from this violence and instead endorsed it. They made it that much easier for us to show that this is an institutional problem, that it is not a problem of a few bad apples.
Yo! The video links died – “this video is private.”
What happened to the Troy alleged police brutality videos?
They keep getting taken down or changed. I just updated it and a friend now has them on his account.
I support the Troy Police fully and the only thing an outside investigation would prove is that the Troy Police were in the right. When there is a unruly crowd police should take precautionary measures such as drawing their batons.