08/25/2025
It’s deeply disturbing to witness the federal government mobilize military-grade power against its own civilians—especially when we know how disproportionately Black and Brown communities are targeted in the process.
Yet what truly stands out from a compelling study of Black youth in West Louisville, Kentucky, is how this reality isn’t only felt—it’s lived, in ways that profoundly undermine well-being. In unsolicited interviews with youth aged 10 to 24, the study found two consistent—and heartbreaking—themes:
1. Profiling and harassment by police: Many youth described feeling singled out, treated like threats, and removed from their own neighborhoods just for being themselves
2. Mistrust and a sense of unsafety: Far from feeling protected, many young people felt that police presence escalated tension, hindered help-seeking, and fostered psychological harm—sometimes causing more harm than good
One striking voice from the study recalled the unnerving presence of law enforcement: “Nobody wants to be somewhere where there’s police on your back … you feel like you’re watched and you don’t have freedom”
That quote encapsulates the core message: over-policing—or worse, militarized policing—does not foster safety. Instead, it cultivates fear, erodes trust, and deepens a sense of exclusion.
If our real goal is to reduce violence and strengthen communities, we need to flip the script. Instead of feeding systems that treat people like enemies, let's invest in what we know works: community-centered investments in education, mental health support, social services, and safe spaces—like cities such as Memphis, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are already exploring.
We don’t reduce violence by showing up in armored vehicles; we do it by making people feel valuable, seen, and cared for. We uplift youth not by controlling them but by empowering them.
Let’s challenge our assumptions about “security.” True security doesn’t come from dominance—it comes from dignity, opportunity, and trust. Let’s build communities that reflect that reality.
To illustrate Black youth’s perceptions of police violence in West Louisville, Kentucky, how they make sense of it, and their responses to it. The study used qualitative interviews with youth ages 10 to 24 residing in West Louisville. The interviews ...
