SWAT teams are used against African Americans more than whites

#police

Studies show that SWAT deployments are more frequent in predominantly Black neighborhoods and that Black individuals are disproportionately subjected to SWAT raids, particularly for low-level drug warrants. This disparity is not explained by crime rates alone and is a component of broader racial disparities in policing and the use of force. source

• Neighborhood correlation: Research has found that a 10% increase in the Black population in a neighborhood is associated with a 10% increase in SWAT deployments.

• Reason for deployment: A significant percentage of SWAT deployments, as high as 79% in one report, are for search warrants, often for minor drug offenses.

• War on drugs: The overuse of SWAT in these situations is linked to the "war on drugs," which disproportionately affects Black communities despite similar usage rates between Black and white Americans.

• Broader disparities: This is part of a larger pattern of racial disparities in policing, including higher rates of police stops, searches, and use of force against Black individuals compared to white individuals.

• Lack of evidence for effectiveness: Studies have not found evidence that using SWAT teams or militarized tactics reduces local crime rates or the risk of officer fatalities. source

SWAT teams were created by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the mid-1960s largely in response to racial uprisings and the perceived threat of militant groups like the Black Panther Party, although they were also officially justified by other events like the Texas Tower sniper incident. The development of SWAT was a direct result of policing the Black community during periods of significant social crisis. source