Harsh Treatment of Racial Minorities by Police a Major Social Issue in USA

Incidents of police brutality or overly aggressive police behavior towards the public are increasingly being given media attention. The reports of white police officers shooting unarmed black men seem to be endless and have sparked major organized major social protests throughout the USA. The harsh treatment of racial minorities in the USA by the police is a major issue and has gained international attention. Even further, the criminal justice system and its system of jails and prisons and probation/parole is notorious for having levels of poor racial minorities in its system that don't get the same treatment as individuals of higher social status.
Racial injustice in the USA is a major problem that has been here since the founding of the country, and even earlier when the first European immigrants and settlers moved here and clashed with Native Americans and brought African slaves.
The current racial tension and issues are indeed a continued result of the long gestating injustices.
All police officers are not bad and corrupt, but I feel the overwhelming attitude of the police towards the general public who pay their salaries...is not one of protect and serve but sometimes too much like an occupying army tasked with pacifying a hostile population. There are fundamental changes that need to take place to change this culture of violence and fear in America. Gun control legislation is badly needed to reduce what is probably the highest gun deaths in the developed world...a total societal reflection of violence in culture and media and US foreign policy...an end to the destructive and costly War on Drugs...more constructive help given to those with mental health problems...attention to pockets of poverty in racial communities and inner city areas...and improved job and educational opportunities for the young and poor, and a transformation of the way police are trained to deal with the public.
A better society is possible through changes in the way we look at problems. A less unequal society and a less violent society is certainly possible, but we all have to break free from our trapped thinking to become a more unified society.
The tensions and conflict with police will only get worse unless action is taken to work on the problems at all levels of society.

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