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Actor Kumail Nanjiani Expertly Dismantles The Notion Of 'Bad Apple' Cops In Wake Of Buffalo Police Brutality Incident
George Floyd was killed on May 25.
For nearly two weeks since that time, several cities across the U.S. have been home to large protests, all calling for greater accountability for police departments that have historically used violence against Black and brown people.
Although all four police officers involved in Floyd's killing were charged with either murder or aiding and abetting murder, the protests continue. Demonstrators say their anger does not stop with justice for George Floyd, but greater justice across the entire police system for people like Breonna Taylor and others who have been killed or unjustly treated by law enforcement.
And as images and videos capturing aggressive police responses to peaceful protests circulate around the internet, people have observed what they deem proof of those systemic and far-reaching problems within police departments across the country.
One graphic video showed a 75-year-old man pushed to the ground by police officers in Buffalo, NY.
Just about an hour ago, police officers shove man in Niagara Square to the ground (WARNING: Graphic). Video from: @MikeDesmondWBFO pic.twitter.com/JBKQLvzfET
— WBFO (@WBFO) June 5, 2020
Among the outraged voices was The Big Sick star Kumail Nanjiani.
For him, the vivid illustration offered clear evidence to oppose the "bad apple" theory, which claims that an incident results from the whims of one flawed individual, rather than the entire department.
Re: that awful video. Buffalo PD officially said that the man tripped & fell. If we didn't have video there would have been no accountability. Why? Because one “bad apple" pushed him down but 20 “good apples" would have let him get away with it. It's systemic.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) June 5, 2020
Many commented on Nanjiani's tweet with their agreement.
We need a national registry for police who are fired and the reason why. 12 year old Tamir Rice killer had been fired from another dept. Michael Brown's killer fired TWICE by other depts. Write your Rep. if you agree
— untoldstory (@unt0ldstoriez) June 5, 2020
I'm starting to change my opinion from "not all cops are bad"
— Bruised Wayne (@bruisedwayne69) June 5, 2020
It's not a profession where you can have any “bad apples." pic.twitter.com/IYjrakrfve
— Alexis (@lexlexie) June 5, 2020
One even cited another piece of evidence to show the systemic nature of the problem.
A former #Buffalo Police Officer Cariol Horne was unjustly fired because she dared to intervene in stopping her co-worker, Officer Kwiatkowski, from assaulting a cuffed suspect and violating a suspect's rights.
— alyssa (@alysscrane) June 5, 2020
Others allowed their rage to push the apple metaphor even further.
One bad apple rots all the others in the bag in no time at all.
— Pé (@4everNeverTrump) June 5, 2020
American as apple pie takes on a whole new meaning when you realize how many bad apples there are out there
— SRM_MD (@srmduke87) June 5, 2020
.@larrywilmore put out a great podcast recently. I'm paraphrasing but he said something like “this isn't just a bad apple... this is soil rot"
— Will Marfuggi (@willmarfuggi) June 5, 2020
Regarding the incident, the Buffalo Police Department initially put out the following statement, according to WBFO, Buffalo's NPR station.
"A 5th person was arrested during a skirmish with other protestors and also charged with disorderly conduct. During that skirmish involving protestors, one person was injured when he tripped & fell."
That statement was made about 20 minutes before the video was published on Twitter.
Once the video sparked widespread outrage, BPD changed their tune. Eventually, two officers involved in the incident were suspended without pay.
Butfor some, who also replied to Nanjiani's assessment, the systemic problem leaves them little hope for true accountability.
"He fell down"
Oh, you have a video?
"There was an altercation with officers and he was injured"
Oh, there are multiple angles filmed?
"Fine, we'll suspend the officers for a few weeks and see if you forget"
— Noah Callaway (@ncallaway) June 5, 2020
Two weeks of protests make it apparent that people are not about to forget anytime soon.