It is imperative that the Memphis Police Department not see this as simply the actions of five individual police officers. Rather, the MPD must acknowledge this as a systemic issue and conduct a top-down review of their policies on issues such as the use of unmarked police cars to conduct traffic stops, training on foot pursuits, and the use of force – including the use of chemical irritants, tasers and restraints.
Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, all companies have a responsibility to respect human rights. This means that social media companies, including Meta, cannot allow advocacy of hatred and incitement of discriminatory violence to flourish on their platforms.
The deaths of these journalists and activists are heartbreaking for the human rights community in sub-Saharan Africa and independent investigations must be launched.
