The Militarization of U.S. Police: A Modern Crisis of Power and Policy

In today’s United States, the militarization of police forces across counties, states, municipalities, towns, and cities has transformed the landscape of public safety into one that often contradicts its intended purpose. What was once a local effort to maintain order has evolved into a force of repression against citizens, fueled by an ever-expanding system of fines, fees, and arrests under the guise of democracy and public safety. Yet beneath this veneer lies a brutal and unjust system, violating both the spirit of the law and the constitutional oath sworn by public officials to defend against intruders—those external and internal.

From Public Safety to Profit: The Rise of Policing for Revenue

This shift is evident in the increasing use of military-grade equipment by local police, turning officers into soldiers in their own communities. Police now commonly use armored vehicles, drones, and surveillance technology that was once reserved for battlefields, not neighborhoods. The transformation is not merely one of equipment, but of mindset, with law enforcement agencies frequently treating their own citizens as potential enemies to be subdued rather than as individuals to be served and protected.

Policies designed to generate revenue through fees and fines have morphed into arrestable offenses, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Parking violations, minor infractions, or administrative failures—traditionally handled through small fines—are now grounds for arrest. These actions are taken under the color of law, a legal concept that suggests actions have the appearance of lawfulness but, in reality, violate constitutional rights.

The Courts: A Foreign Influence on American Justice

This corruption extends beyond the police. The judiciary itself is compromised by the influence of a foreign body, the British Accredited Registry (BAR). Every prosecutor, attorney, and judge within the current system is affiliated with this registry, raising serious concerns about where their loyalties lie. The BAR’s influence represents a foreign imposition on American sovereignty, a vestige of British colonialism that continues to manipulate the United States’ legal system.

"A true American court would recognize an individual as a person, not as a corporation."

When an individual enters court, they are often treated as a corporate entity rather than a living, breathing person. Their name is capitalized—an age-old legal practice that turns the individual into a corporation, subject to commercial law. The real American court—rooted in the Constitution, common law, and individual rights—has been hijacked by this corporate system.

Divergent: A Reflection of Our Society’s Fragmentation

The 2014 film Divergent offers a powerful allegory for the current state of American society, where factions divide the population according to specific traits—knowledge, bravery, honesty, selflessness, and peace. Just as the characters in Divergent are boxed into categories, so too are we confined by the roles assigned to us in modern society.

In Divergent, the protagonist fights against a society that seeks to suppress individuality and maintain control through fear. Similarly, the people of the United States are being conditioned to live in fear—fear of fines, fear of arrest, fear of a militarized police force. We sacrifice our rights in the name of security, but in doing so, we lose the very freedom we are trying to protect.

Unifying for Peace and Understanding

At the heart of this struggle is the need for unity. As Americans, we must recognize that our rights are being systematically stripped away by a government that serves corporate interests rather than the people. Just as in Divergent, alliances must form to challenge the oppressive regime. We must resist corporate greed and reclaim our natural rights, which are being trampled underfoot by those who profit from our subjugation.

References:

• Balko, Radley. Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces. PublicAffairs, 2013.
• Vitale, Alex S. The End of Policing. Verso Books, 2017.
• Skolnick, Jerome H., and James J. Fyfe. Above the Law: Police and the Excessive Use of Force. Free Press, 1993.
• Gerdes, Louise I. The Role of Law Enforcement in U.S. Society. Greenhaven Press, 2016.
• Rothschild, Emma. “Sovereignty and the Uses of Law.” The New York Review of Books, April 20, 2019.
• Woodiwiss, Anthony. Globalisation, Human Rights and Labour Law in Pacific Asia. Cambridge University Press, 2008.