BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — It’s a reality for Black men, women and children across America: the sight of a police officer in their community may induce feelings of fear rather than of safety.
A decadeslong history of mistrust between communities of color and law enforcement, passed from generation to generation, sits beneath the surface, coming to light with each new Black man, woman or child whose death involved an officer.
In Boynton Beach, the death of 13-year-old Stanley “SJ” Davis III, brought that distrust to the surface once more. Residents have since pointed to a long, deep-seated history of mistrust, and disconnect between the Black community and some police officers that is fueling a larger distrust for Boynton Beach police and those in power.
