ABSTRACT
The United States is a representative democracy where the will of the people indirectly but eventually finds its voice in public policy. This tie between what “the people” want and what they get is real and is supported by what scholars call a “living constitution” along with a dynamic legal landscape. In the years since the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the subsequent growth of urban areas, and the establishment of a professional police force, public opinion has grown in importance. In the last several decades, and in particular recently in light of the events flowing from the Ferguson unrest of 2014, it has become clear that the public and political response to police violence are intimately linked. Ultimately, it comes down to how police violence, and
any public violence that might happen as a result, is perceived by the middle and upper classes in the United States, especially as represented by older, better-educated, white voters. In fact, it is this group, and not necessarily the groups most directly impacted by police violence, that has the most political power to effect change in the country. When the larger society views police violence as justified, the political response is muted or nonexistent. But when the violence offends established middle class social norms, politicians are more likely to respond with public statements, policy initiatives, or other responses that will bring real change to communities.
