As a britisher (and therefore, viewing this from outside), it strikes me that a region of a country with a history of 'burning ******s' less than a century ago, ought not to feel too bad or put upon because of a persistent stereotype for being 'good 'ole boys'.
Statistics are not required... they really did hang 'em from the cotton trees.
For the same reason I don't like spending a night out on the town on a friday/saturday night in most of the northern town's I've been to - coming from the midlands (and not having a northern accent) and having long hair, but not a mono-brow that has no discernible divide between the hairline, I'm more or less guaranteed a kicking because I'm 'different' and 'not from round here'. It's grim up north, and there's a very good reason for it being recognised so.
The op doesn't say 'this only happens in the south', perhaps that's the inference that some wish to take, but it didn't come across that way to me - as ever you bring only what you already have to the table. Preconceptions can be funny old things. More often than not they reveal more about you than you would perhaps choose to show sometimes.
That said, there's no monopoly on racism and bigotry (as the rare incident here at subsim will attest), but stereotypes are just that, anecdotal but rooted in the truth and not just simple prejudice, else they wouldn't become stereotypes.
But ultimately the grass is never greener on the other side of the fence; it's
always the same colour and you have the same chance of stepping in something wet and soft that leaves a smell you just can't seem to get out of your carpet, no matter where you go.
Regarding the footage, it certainly looks excessive - either she was a lot more aggravated and willing to self harm than the film lets on, or she got a good pasting from the only other people there. Whatever the case, the camera shouldn't have been turned off, if only to refute or corroborate police version of events.
Here in the UK (as far as I'm aware) when you are detained by the police, they then assume a 'duty of care' over you which extends to not kicking your face in, or ensuring that you cannot harm yourself - for their protection as well as yours, physically.
I'd say it's a good bet the cop gave her a beating, but if he had any reason to suspect she might hurt herself, then he should have covered his arse in an appropriate manner, either by leaving the camera recording or leaving the woman with another police officer present. All in all that was handled badly from where I'm looking.
However, I always think it's important to remember that if the police arrest you, keep you mouth shut and behave; they are not acting for your best interests, and until you establish where you stand in relation to what you may or may not be getting charged with after consulting with your brief, DO NOT TALK TO THEM OR VOLUNTEER INFORMATION, save to confirm your identity. Even if you haven't done anything wrong, but especially if you think you have.
this relates to the US better than the UK, as this labour government signed away
our right to silence as a tacit admission of guilt... but there you go. Just because not everyone is out to get you, doesn't mean that some of them aren't.
