As of this writing, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 29th, 2015,
we know of 111 people who have been killed in fatal encounters with police across the United States. The previous high for 2015 was this past March when 115 people were killed. With 3 days left, and an average of about 4 people killed per day, it is almost certain that July will be the deadliest month of the year and will come close to surpassing the all-time record of 125 people killed by police from June of 2013.
Beyond the obvious reality that it is outrageously disturbing that so many people are killed by American police, three additional thoughts need to be noted.
First off, none of these numbers reflect people who've died in police custody in jails or holding cells - including women like Sandra Bland, Sarah Lee Circle Circle Bear or Ralkina Jones, who all died in police custody this month. Certainly, all three of them would be alive and well had they not encountered law enforcement.
Secondly, these numbers aren't even official. While we are 100% sure at least this many people died after fatal encounters with police, these are just crowdsourced from news articles and would likely be even more accurate if police properly reported their numbers.
Lastly, in spite of more attention and media coverage on police brutality and violence than we've ever had in this country, all indications are that the problem is not getting better, but is getting worse. We are organizing, we are advocating, a few policies are being enacted, but we've yet to see the progress trickle down in a way that actually impacts these numbers with a meaningful decline.
What we are talking about here is a human rights crisis in our country. The world is watching us and is disgusted. We are living in this reality and it is wearing us all down to a nub. Change, elusive as it is, is desperately needed.