What does police brutality refer to?

Police brutality specifically refers to the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers when addressing situations that do not warrant such a response. This can include physical force, psychological intimidation, and even the use of weapons, which often leads to serious harm or death of individuals, particularly in marginalized communities.

The focus on excessive force highlights that not all interactions by police are excessive or brutal; rather, it is the disproportionate response in specific circumstances that qualifies as police brutality. This phenomenon is often rooted in systemic issues such as racism, power dynamics, and a lack of accountability within police forces.

The other options, while potentially related to law enforcement practices and the broader concept of governance in some contexts, do not accurately define police brutality itself. Governance through fear, political repression, and peaceful protest suppression may involve aspects of law enforcement activities, but do not directly encompass the specific and targeted nature of excessive force used by police personnel.