Research Reveals Brown and Black People Killed By Police in The U.S. May Be More Than Double

A recent report from the Raza Database Project has revealed shocking statistics related to police violence in the United States. The study, founded by the late Roberto Rodríguez who died in July, a Mexican American studies professor (also known as “Dr. Cintli), estimates that since the year 2000, approximately 35,000 people have been killed by law enforcement. This figure is significantly higher than previously reported, and it suggests that the number of Black and Brown individuals killed by police may be more than double what has been widely acknowledged.

The project aimed to rectify the lack of federal data collection on police violence by merging data sets from various independent research projects. Jesus Garcia, a statistician and demographer on the project, highlighted some of the findings. He noted that the Latino population's deaths at the hands of the police have increased to about 6,500 individuals, a significant rise from previous estimates of 4,500. Furthermore, the Asian population's death count has surged from under 500 to over 2,000 deaths, a 75% increase. This project aims to shed light on the impact of police violence on communities of color and disenfranchised individuals.

The lack of standardized data collection on this issue has led to gaps in information, making it challenging to determine accurate statistics. Garcia addressed this challenge by merging various data sets and assigning missing racial and ethnic information based on surnames from the U.S. Census Bureau's list.

Interestingly enough, the report also pointed out a significant increase in the number of white individuals killed by police. In this new data, white non-Hispanic individuals accounted for 50% of police-related deaths.

Ivette Xochiyotl Boyzo, the project manager, emphasized the need for more comprehensive data collection and accountability, especially regarding violence against women, particularly migrant women. She highlighted issues such as forced sterilizations within detention centers, calling them crimes against humanity.

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Link: Democracy Now