I have seen this type of behavior in a number of places I have lived. It was being done to white owned businesses, by white cops, so not really racism behind this, just greed. They would also not show up to calls from businesses that did not give them their orders for free. A small store, near where I used to live in Florida, had the police stop showing up to calls after they refused to put up a sign promoting the current sheriff for re-election. They were told “maybe if you show more support for your local sheriff’s office you will get get more support from your local sheriff.”
The legal difference is that the police (presumably, there probably are exceptions) don’t wreck those businesses themselves. They just let them get wrecked and then make up excuses to not respond.
I have seen this type of behavior in a number of places I have lived. It was being done to white owned businesses, by white cops, so not really racism behind this, just greed. They would also not show up to calls from businesses that did not give them their orders for free. A small store, near where I used to live in Florida, had the police stop showing up to calls after they refused to put up a sign promoting the current sheriff for re-election. They were told “maybe if you show more support for your local sheriff’s office you will get get more support from your local sheriff.”
The difference between this and a straight-up extortion racket is extremely small.
I don’t think there is a difference
The legal difference is that the police (presumably, there probably are exceptions) don’t wreck those businesses themselves. They just let them get wrecked and then make up excuses to not respond.
Yeah, this is extortion and a protection racket.