I'm continually floored. How can we, supposedly a free society, condone the militarstic over repponse to peaceful protests? WE MUST ALL CONDEMN IT!
I first saw the report on the police over respose to recent protests at Common Dreams. I was shocked, but if you've been following things (including some blog posts here) about the increasingly militaristic tone of policing, I guess it shouldn't be surprising.
THEN, another story, this one at The Intercept, details some more abuses. If you haven't seen the now famous picture of Ms. Ieshia Evans, obviously no threat, being arrested by cops in full riot gear (this was in Baton Rouge, LA), you need to. Read about riot police storming a lady's yard to arrest protesters - where she had given them premission to be (also in Baton Rouge)! Read about the protester arrested while giving an interview (in Rochester, NY). We should all be outraged about this truly thuggish behavior on the part of those who should be serving and protecting US (guess we need to wonder who they are now serving and protecting).
I e-mailed the police chief in Rochester to express my dismay, and will work on some phone calls to Baton Rouge tomorrow. I will update if I receive any responses (not likely, though).
Folks, are you not yet alarmed about the way policing is being militarized? Are you not yet alarmed at the attack on protest and dissent? Are you not alarmed and awake to the dangers to our democracy (or what SHOULD be a democracy)? Well, if not, the alarms are sounding. WAKE UP!!!
UPDATE:
I e-mailed Rochester PD and called Baton Rouge PD. Seemed to just be getting runarounds. So I called the mayoral offices of both cities and expressed my concerns and told them the actions toward the protesters were making their cities look bad. I don't know if telling that to some receptionist helps in any way (that's all we seem to encounter if we want to give feedback - that or some automated phone message box or an e-mail form that may or not be read...), but at least I'm trying. If anyone is interested, the phone numbers are:
Baton Rouge, LA Mayor's office: 225-389-3100
Rochester, NY Mayor's office: 585-428-7045
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This blog discusses issues of social justice (in an inclusive sense), civil liberties, human rights, other social issues, and offers thoughts on society and humanity in general from a progressive, feminist perspective.
I'm very concerned about the militarization of police as well. We need to teach them to serve and protect, not seek and destroy. Cracking down on these protest is ridiculous. Cops need to understand they are meant to serve and protect the people. Protesting is the right of the people, therefore they should be supporting the protester by making sure they can properly protest where ever they choose to.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim -
ReplyDeleteHello again and thanks for taking the time to visit! You are absolutely correct, so called LE should be supporting the rights of protesters - and all our Constitutional Rights. I'm glad the ACLU LA will be suing Baton Rouge. And I glory in that hero nurse!!!
BTW - a)Did you see I left a comment to your 'Is facebook listening post'? If you'd like any links about what I talked about, just let me know.
B) I read in one of your posts about the VENUS project built around circles. Here's a tidbit for you: I found in learning a few things about multicultural math that many Indigenous peoples around the world built homes based on circles and that the circle gives the most enclosed living area for the same outside perimeter!
and C)If you would like, I could add your blog to my link list. Don't know if that would bring you many more readers, but it can't hurt and ya never know :-)