SANDRA BLAND

Sandra Annette Bland, a 28-year-old woman from the Chicago area, was apprehended by a state trooper in Prairie View, Texas, after a combative arrest for a minor traffic infraction on July 10, 2015, Sandra’s traffic stop is widely regarded as a clear example of widespread racial profiling.

Will There Be Justice for Sandra Bland? from Peter Menchini – Maya Media on Vimeo.

Upon reviewing the dashcam film, the law enforcement officials suspended the white state trooper who apprehended Sandra from duty due to his failure to adhere to the correct traffic stop protocols. He was then charged with perjury for giving false statements concerning the circumstances of Sandra’s arrest, and as a result, he was terminated from his job. Sandra Bland was discovered deceased in her jail cell on July 13, 2015, only three days following her arrest. Her cause of death was determined to be suicide by hanging.

Twitter addressed Sandra Bland’s dubious assertion of suicide by creating a hashtag, #IfIDieInPoliceCustody. The hashtag transitioned from the realm of computers to the realm of mainstream media during a televised town hall gathering showcasing democratic presidential hopefuls in 2015. A video depicts individuals from the activist organization Black Lives Matter engaging in vocal chants, proclaiming, “In the event of my demise while under police custody, ensure that my memory endures.”

The premature demise of Sandra prompted investigations into the racial composition of pretextual traffic stops. The phenomenon of “Driving while Black” gained significant attention as individuals engaged in discussions about the excessively forceful approach adopted by law enforcement when confronting Black drivers.

The purported suicide of Sandra brought to light the fundamental racism and inequalities within the monetary bail system. Sandra was detained in jail due to her inability to finance the $515 required to secure her release on bond.

In September 2016, Sandra’s mother reached a resolution in a lawsuit for wrongful death against the county jail and the police department, resulting in a total settlement of $1.9 million.

The “Sandra Bland Act” was enacted into law by the Governor of Texas on June 15, 2017. The resolution stipulates that county jails must redirect individuals with mental health and substance abuse problems towards treatment, and it also necessitates that impartial law enforcement organizations conduct investigations into deaths that occur in jails.

Sandra Annette Bland was a 28-year-old woman from the Chicago area who was taken into custody by a state trooper in Prairie View, Texas, following a confrontational arrest for a minor traffic violation on July 10, 2015 Many people consider Sandra’s traffic stop to be a textbook case of rampant racial profiling.

After authorities reviewed the dashcam footage, the white state trooper who arrested Sandra was placed on administrative leave for failing to follow proper traffic stop procedures. He was subsequently indicted for perjury for making false statements about the circumstances surrounding Sandra’s arrest, and he was fired. On July 13, 2015 just three days after being arrested, Sandra Bland was found hanged in her jail cell and her death was ruled a suicide.

Twitter responded to Sandra Bland’s suspicious claim of suicide, with a hashtag, #IfIDieInPoliceCustody. The hashtag made the jump from the computer into the mainstream media during a televised town hall meeting featuring democratic presidential candidates in 2015. Video shows members of the activist group Black Lives Matter loudly chanting, “If I die in police custody…make sure that I’m remembered.”

Sandra’s untimely death spurred examinations into the racial breakdowns of pretextual traffic stops. “Driving while Black” was a trending topic as people discussed the overly aggressive stance taken by law enforcement when encountering Black motorists.

Sandra’s alleged suicide exposed the inherent racism and disparities in the money bail system. Sandra was forced to stay in jail, because she could not afford to pay the $515 she needed to post bond.

In September 2016, Sandra’s mother settled a wrongful death suit against the county jail and the police department totaling $1.9 million.

On June 15, 2017, Texas’ Governor signed the “Sandra Bland Act” into law. The measure mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment and requires that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths.