But state and local governments are just as reluctant to hold police to an objective standard as the Supreme Court is when it comes to use of force. That’s because of the incredible power of police unions, especially in municipal politics. Most (white) people have a positive view of the police, and so when one of the union bosses starts screaming about how their officers need to be able to choke the life out of unarmed Black people just to keep white people safe, there are a lot of white people who are inclined to believe them.
