What are your thoughts on race based law enforcement union?

Question

I’m in law enforcement in the state of Texas and belong to a union (local police union) I was just wondering how other officers feel about the two following unions and question why there is not a union for white police officers like the below listed?

(1)B.P.O.U- Black police officers union
(2)L.P.O.U- Latino/ Hispanic police officers union

Answer 1

Think about it for a sec. Why do we have the Miss Black America contest and not the Miss White America contest? Why do we have the League of Black voters but not the League of White voters? Why do we have all these special events/days for people of color but not specifically for white people? Reverse Discrimination!!!! Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get all the press when a black person is killed by a white cop. But when the reverse happens it is buried on page 17. Our current state of affairs is run by a biased media and a nation of Sheeple

Answer 2

I am a historian of labor )among other things)--and its a good question--so here's the answer.

For workers (I.e. non-management employees in any organization) historically there has been a tension with management--obviously; otherwise there would be no unions in the first place. But, historically, unions were originally white (and male) only, for the most part. this was not the result of racism onthe part of workers (except as a contributing factor) but to deliberate efforts on the part of management to "divide and conquer." In fact, unions in any area did not gain any real strength until the 1930s when (partly due to legal changes, partly due to some hard-learned lessons) they were able to overcome the imposed racism and recognize that the common interests of labor outweighed any racial ill-will.

But, people being what they are, unions usually created separate locals for minorities, especially blacks. And this was equallly true of public service workers unions ( police, etc.). Today, these persist as seperate organizations--simply because the minorities involved still face issues that are particular to them. Blacks still face discrimination (albeit less than in the past)--and the current hostilitty to hispanics is obvious. So, to address issuea s that arise out of these continuing social realities, these groups continue to maintain their own organizations.

Historically, whites do indeed have their own organzations, in other words--and it is entirely their doing that seperate organizaations for minorities were created in the first place. In an ideal world, those separate organizations would fade away--but don't expect that to happen in our lifetimes. People and societies change--but it takes a long time.

Answer 3

While I'm not a police officer, I think minorities are greatly under represented in professional careers. Any organization that furthers their knowledge and development in a chosen field is only beneficial. The reason other races are called 'minorities' in this country is just that--they're the minority, and whites are the majority. Remember who came to America? It was rich, white English and French explorers and persecuted religious groups. We decided that persecuting people based on color was immoral. Unfortunately, there are still stereotypes and persecution against African Americans and Latinos and expectations that they will conform to white expectations of culture and mainstream ideas and beliefs.

The fact is there is no need for a white union. There is a risk with forming unions based on race...it could support the efforts of maintaining ties with their community and building relationships across other cultures...or it could instigate criticism and accusations of prejudice.

Answer 4

I always thought they wanted equality. It's not equality when there are specific race groups ment to keep others out. Especially since whites are never allowed any white group for anything without being called racist. Where is our representation? Protection? Someplace to work through "our issues"? I mean I'm seeing white officers immediatly being accused of racism when there's any enforcement of laws to people of another race. I never hear that when they are officers of another race trying to do their job with whites.

Answer 5

Sounds like one step closer to race riots.

Is there still something called "equal protection under the law"?

Do you think this will ever lead to a constitutional issue? You know, a conservative Supreme Court can strike down stuff like this.