police brutality: Man of color holds sign that says stop police brutality. Adhesive tape covers his lips. Red and blue smoke in background

Opinion: Police Were Enemies Of Homeboys In California Town

In the city where I grew up, police brutality was an issue rarely discussed because it was common, something that often happened to my closest friends and me. Parlier, California, is a poverty-stricken Hispanic community. In this small town, gang violence was a common occurrence and police encounters were a must. 

It was well understood early on that the local police department was the enemy. The homeboys often experienced police brutality. We all shared information concerning some police officers we especially disliked. 

An incident I still remember happened at the local high school.