Write an analysis of Do the Right Thing. Your paper must include narratives of 5 police brutality cases that preceded the film and 5 cases that occurred after the film was produced.

Do the Right Thing
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Do the Right Thing
Do the Right Thing is one of the popular films produced in 1989, exploring the discrimination of African-Americans in Brooklyn. The flick was inspired by the escalating levels of bigotry by the police against the blacks in the United States. Spike Lee, the producer of the movie, practically mirrors the attitude that the law enforcement officers have on civilians. In the context of this analysis, police brutality is defined as excessive physical abuse and intimidation to injure a citizen intentionally. The harm may either be psychological, emotional or physical. The director dedicates the film to the family of the deceased and, informs the public regarding the significance of pursuing the rights. Although the film was produced more than three decades ago to address the culminating racial tensions and police brutality, the incidents of police cruelty against civilians are still experienced to date.
Cases that Preceded the Film
In 1943 the Los Angeles Police department was pictured beating and harassing the Hispanics. The primary participants of the strike were the Mexican American in a protest that was tagged ‘Zoot Suit Riots.’ The riots were coupled with a series of brawls between the minority groups in Los Angeles with some off-duty officers. The second incident occurred in 1969 when the proponents of same-sex marriage took to the streets to seek the legitimization of the gay rights movement. Despite their right to advocate for equal treatment in the society, the state police were evident harassing the protestors and killing unarmed civilians.

In 1986, a case of police ruthlessness against an African-American was experienced at Howard Beach in front of a pizza parlor. A 23-year-old man, identified as Michael Griffin, was killed in pursuit at Belt Parkway. The event sparks significant attention from the curious civilians who term it as racially motivated. Thus, deteriorating the relationship between the public and law enforcement officials.
In 1988, another incident of police brutality was experienced at Manhattan’s Tompkins Square where they attacked a peaceful demonstration and clobbered innocent people. The incident occurred in full glare of CCTV cameras. Although the video was used as evidence that led to their conviction, the actions were publicly criticized. Thus, the five examples elaborate on the severe incidents of police brutality that transpired before the film.
Cases After the Film
Conversely, the whipping of Rodney in 1992 that led to his death in 2012 by the Los Angeles cops is also another critical illustration of police brutality caught on camera after the film. Rodney’s murder inherently stretches through an 81-second video exposing the police cruelty against him. Another incident recorded on a camera had taken place in Laguna Beach of California show a 90-second flick showing the kicking of Kevin Dunbar, who had refused to get on the ground (Rothman, 2016). The man is entangled between two cops and beaten on the head with a rifle causing excessive bleeding. The lawsuit against the officers was filed in February 2016 and, the jury utilized the videotaped evidence to convict them.
In 2001, after the September 11 incident, Muslims in the US raised concern over police brutality similar to the one evident the film (Lee, 1989). The law enforcement officers raided the mosques and launched covert operations that appeared as racial profiling. The police actions disillusioned the Islamic activists and extremists culminating the level of hate between the Muslims and the whites. It was not the first time for the world to witness harassment of civilians by their religious stand, similar incidents have been witnessed at the immigration office where Muslims are denied entry to the US. This aspect is because of the ongoing stereotypes of Islamophobia that attracts the harsh treatment by the law enforcement officers.
In Chicago, at Max’s Italian Restaurant, a uniformed law enforcement officer was caught on a CCTV camera harassing the cashier and opening the safe. Without identification and notifying the victim regarding an arrest warrant, the police allegedly collected $7000 from the safe (Rothman, 2016). The event was aired in the mainstream media, indicating the rise of abuse of power and the indiscipline behavior in the law enforcement sector. The investigations are still in progress as they are detained awaiting trials.
The most recent case of police brutality was also evident in 2017 during the Charlottesville hate protests. They could be seen assaulting the protestors at the Emancipation park causing the death of some civilians. The demonstrations between the white supremacist and the counter-protestors fill the air as they chant hateful slogans against each other. Notably, the enormous police presence, approximately a thousand, baffles the citizen as well as human rights activists who condemn the use of poisonous tear gas canisters. Primarily, the members of the white supremacists’ group are seen walking with placards chanting slogans like “you cannot replace us,” and a stampede is encouraged in the streets. The massive use of force and hate messages on social media platforms like Tweeter concentrates the internet. Although it was the responsibility of the director of the police department to deploy the state police and the medical team to contain the situation, it got out of hand when many people were pictured suffering in the hands of the police.
It is unfortunate that the incidents of police violence against the citizens is still experienced in the 21st century, a dispensation believed to be on the brinks of civilization. Moreover, a century where the wide spread of technology and artificial intelligence should not be suffering because of police brutality. America, despite its ranking on the global economic scale, continues to lead in the realms of bigotry and underprivileged handling of the non-natives. Therefore, while Lee’s film appears to be relevant today, it would be unfathomable to assume and encourage the crime. Immediate action should be taken by all the stakeholders not only in the US but also the world, at large.
In summation, racial profiling and police brutality continue to be an escalating menace that should be curbed in the US. While Spike Lee has tried to exhibit the actual events in the streets of Brooklyn in 1989, unfortunately, the vice is still rampant in contemporary society. Although some evidence reveals that most often it is the police on the negative side of the law, thorough investigations should be conducted to lock them. The bone of contention lies in the US judiciary systems and prosecution’s ability to stage strong evidence against the use of excessive force. The civil rights movements should also step in and maintain equal treatment of all races regardless of their careers in the region. This strategy will be useful in restoring human rights and protect innocent civilians against the consequences of rogue police officers.
References
Lee, S. (Director). (1989). Do the right thing [Motion picture]. 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks.
Rothman, L. (2016, March 3). The police misconduct caught on tape before Rodney King. Retrieved from http://time.com/4237832/citizens-filming-rodney-king/