Recording-2025-02-19T17:18:41.518Z

Indirect Forms of Slavery

• Modern Policies and Indirect Slavery

  • Indirect slavery manifests through policies in systems like the court and prison system.

Rise of Ku Klux Klan (1871)

• Background

  • Occurred during the era of the black vote in the South.

  • Intimidation tactics were used against black voters and politicians.

• Violent Tactics

  • Strategies included hunting, whipping, beating, and lynching to suppress participation in Congress.

• Infiltration of Police Departments

  • KKK members infiltrated police forces to protect white interests and carry out Fourth Amendment violations.

  • Established a connection between white supremacists and police enforcement.

Ongoing Issues with White Supremacy and Police

• Recent Incidents

  • A Michigan police officer was terminated for displaying a KKK application at his home.

  • Instances of police officers fist-bumping Proud Boys.

  • Investigative reports on white supremacy gangs within police departments like San Diego.

• Current Challenges

  • Addressing and rooting out white supremacy within modern policing continues to be an ongoing struggle.

Slave Patrols and Privatized Policing

• Historical Overview

  • Slave patrols in the South during the 1700s-1800s provided poor protection compared to emerging public police.

  • Rise of privatized policing aligns with industrial capitalism and strikes, especially in Boston.

• Emergence of Private Policing

  • Growth of privatized policing services catering to elite interests during the industrial boom.

  • Private policing was not bound by public accountability.

  • Notable examples included security guards tasked with breaking up strikes.

Function of Private Policing

• Main Purpose

  • Privatized police were hired primarily to protect private property and interests of corporations.

  • They lacked the regulatory oversight that public policing was subjected to.

Pinkerton National Detective Agency

• Foundation and Role

  • Established in the 1850s in Chicago, began providing protective services for corporations.

  • Shifted focus post-Civil War from espionage to strike protection.

• Tactics Used for Strike Suppression

  • Labor Espionage: Infiltrating workplaces to gather intelligence on worker grievances.

  • Strike Breakers (Scabs): Hired to cross picket lines against striking workers.

  • Strike Guards: Tasked with protecting private property and managing strikers.

  • Strike Missionaries: Aimed to dissuade workers from striking through infiltration.

Notable Strikes Involving Pinkertons

• Haymarket Square Riot

  • Occurred in the late 1860s to 1870s.

• Homestead Strike

  • In the 1880s and 1892, resulted in violent clashes and significant injuries and fatalities.

  • Led to the arrest of many protesters, with severe police reprisals.

  • Ultimately resulted in the establishment and formalization of the Chicago Police Department, which expanded its size and role in quelling labor unrest.

Conclusion: Historical Context and Legacy of Policing

• Continuing Legacy

  • As policing evolved, it increasingly focused on protecting property, particularly the interests of the elite.

  • Ongoing issues of police being used to quell protests and protect properties remain relevant today.