FEBRUARY 6, 2026 LIVING ARCHIVE GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 Vendor experiences with police brutality GROUNDCOVER COMMUNITY Violent, unjust encounters with police are nothing new for Black people in America, and these injustices can be compounded by homelessness. We sat down and talked with some of our Groundcover vendors to hear their experiences with racial injustice, homelessness and the police. La Shawn — Envisioning the future of public safety The murder of George [Floyd] does not surprise me at all. I myself have been a victim of the brutality and mistreatment by bad people who are and/ or have been employed as police officers. I would like to see the day when individuals who apply to become law enforcement agents are required by law to undergo a more thorough mental health evaluation over a twoyear period, as well as complete the National Alliance of Mental Illness classes. This process should also require that prospective had my papers in my hand and a small knife nestled among them because I had gotten in some fights with some haters earlier that day and the night before. A student came out of the Union and followed right behind me. I turned and asked him, “Hey, you want to buy a Groundcover News or buy me a beer?” He said no so I continued down the street. When I got to Dominos, seven cops told me. “Put up your hands.” I did. Then they asked, “You got a knife?” I said “Yes,” and gave it to them. I asked what I did wrong. They locked me up for attempted robbery. In court, the student said I held a knife to his throat. My public defender asked him a series of questions based on my account and the guy admitted that I didn’t ask him for money as part of a robbery. As soon as he was dismissed from the witness stand, he ran out of the courtroom for good. But I was still charged with armed officers receive education from licensed psychiatrists to educate these individuals about the numerous symptoms that are preexistent, those that are triggered in people who have a mental illness diagnosis, and symptoms in people who are not aware or capable of seeking treatment. I do understand that it is a dangerous task for the police, too, when they cannot tell what the risks are, if any, when responding to an incident. In my mind there are just simply people who choose to do the wrong thing by abusing authority. Overall, I’d like to see times where we as a whole demonstrate respect for humanity. Last but not least, be more openminded to things that we may not have a full understanding of and be willing to take a deeper look at another’s point of view. Matt — How it happened to me I was on my way home from selling Groundcover, on the edge of State St. I robbery because of the knife. The prosecutor gave me a choice of facing a possible conviction and five years in prison or accepting a plea deal of 18 months of probation in exchange for a guilty plea to felony attempted robbery. I took the deal but violated probation by drinking alcohol. I was in and out of treatment programs and jail for the next year, consequently losing my apartment. Joe — My experiences The police had me in handcuffs at the mall; they profiled me as a drug dealer. They came up to me and immediately put me in handcuffs. I asked them, “Why am I in cuffs?” and they wouldn’t tell me. They just kept on saying, “Where the drugs at, where the drugs at?” I didn’t have any drugs. I was chained for 12-15 minutes. The police ain’t nothing but a big ole gang. We talk about gangs, but the police are the biggest organized gang out here. The whole judicial system is. I wish people stopped the stupid hatred. I guess this is what we need to go through to get the love and the peace. Something tragic has to happen to get the good out. It’s kinda messed up. You gotta hit rock bottom to get back up. Quincy — Police and homelessness The police should protect and serve, but they go out of their bounds and overdo it sometimes. If I do have police contact, I have to have total respect for the police, because if I don’t, they’ll screw me up. You never know. Let’s say I called the police. Everything is reversed on me. First I’m the plaintiff, and all of a sudden I become the defendant. They try to beat me down. “Wait, I called you guys, why are you trying to beat on me?” When you resist, they use force. When they use force, they abuse their authority. They were holding George Floyd down by his neck. Regardless, they were gonna kill him. He’s choking, let him up. If I’m getting hurt, there’s not much they can do to help. If I’m getting jumped, they won’t get there in time. The police might be overrated. Conclusion When asked to define justice, Quincy replied, “Justice means free, it means honor, it means cherishing a moment of peace within yourself, within the next being around you. Justice is essential, it’s being found not guilty. I could look at that word in many different perspectives. It means you won your battle.” The end to police brutality—the fight for justice— is proving to be a long, hard-fought battle. We must continue to center the voices of those who are most oppressed in this country when imagining a future without police. Originally published in the July 2020 edition of Groundcover News. This was Groundcover's first printed issue after pausing print sales in March 2020. The article was written after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
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