Althouse: "Madison community members gathered for a six-hour long barbecue with food trucks, picnic blankets, rap performances, art and even a magic show..."

June 6, 2020

"Madison community members gathered for a six-hour long barbecue with food trucks, picnic blankets, rap performances, art and even a magic show..."

"... at James Madison Park to celebrate [Breonna] Taylor's birthday. Organizers from Freedom, Inc. and Urban Triage — local organizations that hosted the event — said the event was a 'celebration of life' for Taylor. After the party at the park, protesters headed to the Capitol Square for another celebration, this time led by youth organizers. The energy was similar, with a DJ, lots of food and a table for an open mic sign up. 'We're gonna scream. We're gonna shout. We're gonna dance,' youth organizer Ayomi Obuseh, 19, said at the start of the night. 'We're here to have a party.'"

The Wisconsin State Journal reports.

The photographs at the link give the impression that it was a very positive atmosphere. There are crowds without the sort of "social distancing" we were all supposedly doing last month, but who does not hope for the best?

ADDED: I just noticed one of the subheadings over there is "Seventh day of anti-police protests in Madison." "Anti-police protests" — is that the right term? Is that what organizers and participants want to say — that they are against the police generally?

Elsewhere in the article I see the protests characterized as against "police violence" and against "police brutality." That's a much better way to put it! Virtually all of us are against police violence and police brutality. But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not.

83 comments:

RMc said...: who does not hope for the best?

Democrats and the media. (But I'm being redundant...); 6/6/20, 4:56 AM
Don said...: If that had been my wife or daughter there would be multiple dead police/sheriffs in that town.; 6/6/20, 5:19 AM
Darrell said...: Sometimes shooting a cop doesn't end well.; 6/6/20, 5:31 AM
madAsHell said...: Was she stealing pharmaceuticals from the hospital?; 6/6/20, 5:56 AM
stevew said...: "who does not hope for the best?"

Oh, we know who, here and elsewhere. The same people that were surprised and disappointed with the reported drop in unemployment.

Can we say that this demonstrates the way around the Covid lock down orders? Call it a protest in support of George Floyd and against Systemic Racism, then party as you see fit. No masks, no distancing. The protest part doesn't even have to take much of your party time.; 6/6/20, 6:00 AM
rhhardin said...: The Floyd thing isn't an instance of police brutality or violence.; 6/6/20, 6:04 AM
John Borell said...: That’s the point, the hardcore BLM protestors ARE anti-police.

They want to abolish the police.; 6/6/20, 6:06 AM
Dave Begley said...: Dems are anti-police.; 6/6/20, 6:07 AM
Dave Begley said...: The Dems who run MPLS want to abolish the police.; 6/6/20, 6:11 AM
Leland said...: Houston had a bad no-knock raid in 2019 that killed a veteran and his wife. At the time, we were told the couple were white trash drug dealers, and the police chief called the cops heroes. It came out later that an officer lied about the drugs and many other things, so the couple was killed reasonably defending their home from unknown invaders. The police chief still called the officers involved heroes. Now that same police chief has spent the last week walking with George Floyd protestors. The only good news is that a year later, the Democrat DA finally got an indictment for murder on two officers (it took 8 months for her to file charges), and Houston PD finally ended no-knock raids (a month after the indictment).; 6/6/20, 6:12 AM
Danno said...: Two members of the Minneapolis city council have gone on the record for defunding the police in that city. Imagine a city of that size without a police force or one drastically reduced in size. Common sense isn't all that common any more.; 6/6/20, 6:13 AM
MayBee said...: BLM as an organization is against the police. You may have noticed the Minneapolis City Council members saying they will disband the police. On Twitter, the discussion very much is anti-police.

LA's Mayor Garcetti said he won't disband the police, but he will remove some of their funding. He said this to try to appease BLM.
So yes, anti-police protests are right if you are supporting Black Lives Matter.; 6/6/20, 6:23 AM
MayBee said...: What happened to Breonna Taylor is a real issue. I know Instapundit has been talking about it for a long time. The no-knock raids that kill people. Sometimes people defending themselves get charged with assaulting police officers.
It is definitely one thing that needs to change in a society that supposedly values citizens.; 6/6/20, 6:27 AM
alanc709 said...: Churches should open with scheduled protest vigils. Led by a minister or pastor, to ensure that no one gets off topic.; 6/6/20, 6:33 AM
tim maguire said...: “Anti-police protests" — is that the right term? Is that what organizers and participants want to say

Those are two different, largely unrelated, questions.; 6/6/20, 6:44 AM
JAORE said...: "Anti-police protests" — is that the right term? Is that what organizers and participants want to say — that they are against the police generally?

For many,yes. But you are not supposed to say that part out loud.

Rules are simple:
Muslim man commits act of terror. Muslim community perceived as pro-D. Don't you dare blame all Muslims.
MS-13 hacks someone to death. Immigrants are perceived as pro-D. Don't you dare blame all immigrants.
Black man commits crime... yadda, yada, yada.

On the other hand

White man used a gun to kill many. Gun owners. NRA perceived as pro-R. Blood on their hands... every single one.
Cop kills black man. Street cops perceived as pro-R. Kill the pigs! They are racist killers.... every single one.

Really it's so simple even a progressive can understand it.; 6/6/20, 6:54 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: They would get a lot more traction if the protests were geared against police excesses against all races, instead of trying to give the impression that it is just blacks who have problems with law enforcement. And if the Democrats would acknowledge that public union contracts/processes are a big contributor to the problems with being able to get rid of bad apples in law enforcement and schools.; 6/6/20, 6:56 AM
MayBee said...: Here is a Twitter thread from one of the scientists we were supposed to have been following these past months:

https://twitter.com/gregggonsalves/status/1268871788123095040

Here's part of it:
Where was
@TPCarney @JDVance1 @brian_blase
,
@DrewHolden360
back then? I don't remember them speaking out for enhanced emergency packages to help ordinary Americans who they champion today as pawns of the public health establishment. 6/

These are crocodile tears. These men have been a party to ripping up the social safety net as a career choice and now they're saying, oh, woe unto the poor victims of the pandemic "elite central planners." 7/

Let's call this what it is: they are working the Southern strategy even now. Their message: "don't you see, those liberals only care for black people, they're out giving them special treatment, while they let you rot in lockdown." Well, that dog won't hunt. 8/

---
These people were the "scientists" behind closing down he economy, and person after person attacks republicans and conservatives and the people who wanted to get back to work.
How are we supposed to believe this was "science"?

I am really angry. I feel so duped. Does anybody else?; 6/6/20, 6:57 AM
Jersey Fled said...: That’s the point, the hardcore BLM protestors ARE anti-police. They want to abolish the police.

In a perverse way, I kind of hope they get their wish.; 6/6/20, 7:01 AM
MayBee said...: Another thread from a medical expert who we were supposed to be listening to:
https://twitter.com/DrRobDavidson/status/1269028078304612353; 6/6/20, 7:09 AM
iowan2 said...: I'm a big law and order type. I still am. Evidence accumulating over the last 20 years show the Justice community is corrupt. The death penalty is proper. Out Government actors are not capable of enough honesty to properly apply the death penalty. No knock raids fall into the same catagory. A tool only honest moral people are capable of using. The justice community is not populated be near enough of those people. Ditto FISA warrants. Great tool for an honest agency. We do not have that agency.

Easy enough to clean up policing. Strip them of some of their existing tools. Yes that means more criminals will ply their trade.

The simple fact, personal safety is just that. Personal. Farming it out to employees is less than satisfactory, and power corrupts. Time to simplify, and fortify.; 6/6/20, 7:13 AM
Bill Peschel said...: Funny how the Democrats say nothing about banning no-knock raids, or about countering the police unions and get rid of cops with disciplinary problems.

Is it because that would go a long way toward solving the problem?; 6/6/20, 7:17 AM
Jersey Fled said...: All of these memorials and community gatherings show us what a lie this social distancing thing was.; 6/6/20, 7:21 AM
JAORE said...: Remember those ads that say no child is born a bigot. Racism is learned.

All agree?

How about all those people teaching their children that all cops hate black people? All cops kill black people. For all cops it's open season on black men. All BS, of course.

Cop hatred is learned.

Anyone NOT think this will be an issue that will stay with us?; 6/6/20, 7:29 AM
Calypso Facto said...: "But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not."

Freedom Inc and Urban Triage most definitely are, and use your Wisconsin tax dollars to push their anti-police agenda; 6/6/20, 7:35 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Antifa got their rage out. That's what happens when sociopaths rage. They reage, and then they recede. for a while. But they will be back. It's a disease.

Film Antifa Project.; 6/6/20, 7:37 AM
Inga said...: “Elsewhere in the article I see the protests characterized as against "police violence" and against "police brutality." That's a much better way to put it! Virtually all of us are against police violence and police brutality. But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not.”

Exactly!; 6/6/20, 7:43 AM
tim maguire said...: exhelodrvr1 said...They would get a lot more traction if the protests were geared against police excesses against all races, instead of trying to give the impression that it is just blacks who have problems with law enforcement.

The statistics on police shootings and deaths in custody don’t back up the claims of BLM and other activist groups, but their claims (not lies, they’re too intellectually lazy to become educated enough for it to be a lie) resonate because the police do have an adversarial relationship with the black community and it is partly the fault of the police and local officials. Think drug war. Think stop and frisk. It’s a daily reality in the black community. Law abiding black citizens, especially young men, do face more threat from the police than members of other races.; 6/6/20, 7:43 AM
Tina Trent said...: The lies about purported police brutality are anti-police.; 6/6/20, 7:49 AM
Temujin said...: No- most of us are not anti-police. But much of this movement is most definitely anti-police. The Mayors of many of our great cities are looking at their own police departments as a necessary evil. Not that criminal activity is evil. Their own police departments are evil. See Bill DeBlasio. Remember his own police department turning their backs on him in his first year? He's been going after them from the beginning. The Mayor of Seattle also looks at them as a necessary- for now- evil. Not to mention, Minneapolis which is about to ban the police department there.

Not that we tend to go to massive extremes these days due, in large part, to overreactions on social media, but the entire Democrat Party is now leaning toward, speaking out loud about, defunding police everywhere. LA? check. Seattle? check. Minneapolis? check. More to come.

And finally- the entire movement- antifa led is working hard to push this new Democrat poicy of removing the police. After all, who has the most to gain if we remove our law enforcement in this country, city by city? The anarchists. The communists. The socialists. Those who want a complete dismantling of the US.

Now- I think BLM has clearly hit a chord within this country. And I know that that entire movement is not anti-police. BUT a huge chunk of it is. So, you've got BLM, antifa, the Democrat party, our media (again), and I'm sure, academia all clamoring to get rid of, defund, or completely restrict the police departments.

So to say that most of us are anti-police? That's possibly true. But just barely. I look forward to the day when Seattle, which is quickly turning into a complete shithole, has dismantled their police department. See how well that works out for the people there. Especially those in the lower income neighborhoods.; 6/6/20, 7:55 AM
Fernandinande said...: The Floyd thing isn't an instance of police brutality or violence.

Nor was it an example of racism since other people called the police on the guy; the police didn't pick him out because they didn't like his looks.

Houston had a bad no-knock raid in 2019 that killed a veteran and his wife.

The drug war is evil and the police who participate in it are evil people.; 6/6/20, 8:06 AM
Craig said...: George Floyd's death shut up all the Karens.; 6/6/20, 8:06 AM
Oso Negro said...: I’m pretty hardcore right and I would call myself anti-police. “Gee officer, I’m glad to see you” are words that have NEVER passed my lips. To the contrary, I have frequently been harassed by police and noticed an increasingly bad attitude among them. I believe the “safety of the officer is the number 1 priority” is fundamentally at odds with the mission of protecting the public. I have the following thoughts. 1) disarm most of them. Have a fast response team in case firearms are needed. 2) end no-knock raids. No more innocent or unconvicted people shot in their beds, let alone family pets. 3). Lay-off small traffic violations. If you need more money, raise taxes. Quit using them as excuses to search people and vehicles. Write tickets to people who are at fault in accidents. 4) give them pink uniforms with feathered epaulets. This will discourage the hyper-macho bullies; 6/6/20, 8:10 AM
narciso said...: The real news

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.jpost.com/international/riots-like-military-org-attack-and-dethrone-god-former-fbi-agent-630509/amp; 6/6/20, 8:12 AM
mezzrow said...: Many here have wished that these folks get what they ask for. I cannot join this, as it would place our gracious host and Meade in danger of living in a lawless hellhole. I urge you to take a few (hell, thirteen and a half - tell the truth) minutes and watch the linked video.

This is the real point. We're watching a worldwide slo-mo revolution take place. It's been going for awhile, and has a long way to run yet. Things can either get better or worse, but they won't stay the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG_l7Uz9er8; 6/6/20, 8:15 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: '"Anti-police protests" — is that the right term?'

Yes. The state has the monopoly on lawfully initiating violence, most common expressed through police patrols. The plan is obviously to discredit the past operation of the police function so it can be turned to more progressive ends--the dispossession of those with resources and power so that others can exercise power and have resources.

As always with these types, it all comes down to who, whom.

I personally favor strict limits on government power and market trades for the allocation of resources.; 6/6/20, 8:18 AM
gilbar said...: We're gonna scream. We're gonna shout. We're gonna dance,'

and Just Like That, the cloud of Covid-19 vanished from the Azure sky; 6/6/20, 8:26 AM
jaydub said...: Wait a minute. The Breonna Taylor tragedy is Louisville's racial scab to pick. Madison SJW's need to get their own symbol of racial injustice to pretend to care about. There must be something local they can use.; 6/6/20, 8:28 AM
Howard said...: Not being anti-police is white female privilege, Althouse. You live in a bubble inside a bubble within a gated community. Maybe people should reread "This is Water" from the oppressed POV rather than the oppressors.; 6/6/20, 8:28 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: Maybee--I don't feel duped. I never bought their baloney.

Public health officials have blinders on and the perspective of someone with Asperger's syndrome. Well provided-for themselves, they are quite positive that people must be controlled for the good of all.

We should go to school on Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who got this right, and on Govs. Cuomo, Pritzker, and Whitmer, who got it wrong.; 6/6/20, 8:29 AM
Howard said...: It's the Zeitgeist of the thick blue brotherhood that enables and encourages the "bad apples" to murder and mayhem.; 6/6/20, 8:32 AM
Howard said...: We don't kneed the pigs. That's what the Second Amendment is for... Freeeeeedom; 6/6/20, 8:33 AM
JAORE said...: But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not.”

Oh then I must be mistaken that I see city after city moving to defund the police, apparently as punishment. I must be mistaken when I hear nationally recognized "Reverends" shouting things like cops are killing black men every day, without a hint of push back. When (from prior "protests") I hear chants of "Pigs in a blanket, Fry 'em up like bacon" and there is not universal condemnation.

If most of us, well YOU actually, are not anti-police how do these goblins get away with these things?; 6/6/20, 8:39 AM
ga6 said...: Rap Performances: Did they perform

Fanfare For The Fentanyl Fiend? or

In Praise Of Home Invaders; 6/6/20, 8:41 AM
Jersey Fled said...: From PowerLine Blog, reporting on Governor Walz's press conference yesterday:

Toward the end of yesterday’s event Walz was asked about the lack of social distancing at George Floyd’s memorial service on Thursday. Walz conceded that he could not defend the logic. Addressing Minnesotans who have otherwise been compelled to play by the rules, Walz kindly conceded, “You have a right to feel it’s not fair.”; 6/6/20, 8:52 AM
chickelit said...: I recall several years ago -- perhaps during the Michael Brown shooting and aftermath -- serious talk of getting rid of local police departments and replacing them with a "national police force." I think this talk was coming out of the Obama DoJ. I recall objecting then and I object now as well. All politics is local. All policing is local. All polity is local.; 6/6/20, 8:53 AM
TJM said...: I see where the Catholic Church fought the Democrats in Madison and won!

“We are pleased that the County and the City have ended the unequal 50-person cap on religious gatherings. As bishop, it is my duty to ensure that Sunday Mass be available as widely as possible to the Catholic faithful, while following best practices when it comes to public health. Indeed, in a time of deep division, it is more important than ever for the Church to provide solace and comfort to all, in the great tradition of American religious freedom. We look forward to working together with the County and City to continue the reopening process in a safe, cooperative, and responsible manner.”; 6/6/20, 8:54 AM
TJM said...: The Problem with Police is what is wrong with most public sector jobs: Unions.

It is very hard to get rid of bad cops or bad teachers because of public employee unions, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Democratic Party, so why doesn't the Democratic Party fix it? Why is the national media so stupid they can't see the solution staring them right in the face?; 6/6/20, 8:58 AM
Jersey Fled said...: Re: disarming the police and relying on fast resonse teams.

To paraphrase a little bit. When you need a gun, you may wait the rest of your life for the police to arrive with theirs.

I would only support disarming police if it was part of a package that included fast approval of gun permits and right to carry.; 6/6/20, 9:01 AM
Stephen Taylor said...: "...Now that same police chief has spent the last week walking with George Floyd protestors. ..."

Oh, yeah. Art Acevdeo. He used to be the police chief here in Austin. The locals referred to him as "Chief Hollywood", due to his moth-like attraction to TV cameras. He was from California, so he fit right in here in Austin. A joke.

Now the city council is trying to fire his successor, as he's not sufficiently down with the struggle.; 6/6/20, 9:12 AM
Ken B said...: Cities are defunding police, not just the violent police.; 6/6/20, 9:12 AM
Gahrie said...: Anti-police protests" — is that the right term? Is that what organizers and participants want to say — that they are against the police generally?

Did you miss the part where Democrats started demanding to, and submitting legislation to, defund police departments across the country?

That's the thanks the police unions get for all of that donated money and support.; 6/6/20, 9:41 AM
James K said...: I am really angry. I feel so duped. Does anybody else?

I don't feel duped because I never believed them in the first place. It was always clear that there was at the very least much more uncertainty than they let on, and therefore room to weigh costs and benefits in a way that they were ignoring. Whether it was political or just self-aggrandizement doesn't matter. They should never have been taken as seriously as they were. And today they should be crawling into holes in shame, as should policymakers who took their bait.; 6/6/20, 9:41 AM
h said...: The problem of race in the US will never be solved until every white person has repeated the same ineffectual platitudes.; 6/6/20, 9:47 AM
Openidname said...: "MayBee said...

"LA's Mayor Garcetti said he won't disband the police, but he will remove some of their funding."

It's worse than that. He's taking $100-$150 million away from the police AND giving it to "communities of color." No details on what that means.; 6/6/20, 9:50 AM
alanc709 said...: Defund the police better include disbanding the political classes' protective details, or the peasants may realize how truly hypocritical the left really is.; 6/6/20, 9:51 AM
gilbar said...: Jersey Fled said....
I would only support disarming police if it was part of a package that included fast approval of gun permits and right to carry.

WHY? once we :
1) disarm most of them. Have a fast response team in case firearms are needed.
2) end no-knock raids. No more innocent or unconvicted people shot in their beds...
3) Lay-off small traffic violations.

Who THE HELL is going to stop you from carrying an un-permitted gun?
Who THE HELL is going to stop you from Shooting ANY [fill in a racial expletive here ] ?
Who THE HELL is going to stop you from raping/robbing/killing ANYONE ANYTIME you want?
Who THE HELL is going to stop you?

I have Seen the Future; and it is the Southwest side of Chicago; 6/6/20, 9:53 AM
gilbar said...: withut law enforcement... There ARE no laws; 6/6/20, 9:54 AM
loudogblog said...: It would be interesting to ask the organizers of the protests if they are anti-police or just against inappropriate police violence. I've noticed that a lot of the extremists are actually saying that they're against the police and want the police defunded and disbanded. (And the extremists seem to get most of the attention these days.); 6/6/20, 9:55 AM
Openidname said...: "Oso Negro said...

"Give them pink uniforms with feathered epaulets."

I've been thinking along similar lines. I don't go as far as wanting them to look ridiculous, but why not switch out black and navy blue military-style uniforms in favor of a friendlier look, maybe like a male cheerleader's uniform?

The only downside I see is that they wouldn't appear as scary to the bad guys. But I think, when bad guys are scared by the police, it's because of what they can do, not how they look.; 6/6/20, 9:59 AM
Yancey Ward said...: "Virtually all of us are against police violence and police brutality. But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not."

You are, of course, correct, but this protest is being led by people who are explicitly anti-police. They are even actively trying to end police departments altogether. At this point, I don't even want to stop them. The residents of these cities, if they allow this sort of thing to happen, the ending of policie departments, deserve everything coming to them in the event- up to and including getting their sorry asses murdered. At some point, stupidity has to be allowed to have consequences.; 6/6/20, 10:18 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: A pro-Covid demonstration; 6/6/20, 10:50 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: We need to disband all police forces. There’s no law left to enforce.; 6/6/20, 10:57 AM
Static Ping said...: If you review the official BLM positions, the cause pretty much supports every far left cause that exists. There's very little room between ANTIFA and BLM. They are simply different aspects of the same cause, much like in some polytheistic religions where multiple gods are simply different aspects of the same deity. I'm sure many members of BLM do not realize this and are being used, but that's the truth of it.

We are in a motte & bailey situation. Support for BLM is basically required, because 99% of us are against police brutality. But supporting BLM is basically the same as supporting totalitarian communism and all that entails. If you point the latter out, you are racist. The virtue signaling we are seeing from many corporations is, frankly, extremely dangerous.

But, yes, the BLM and the communists would love to eliminate the police. That would let them take over the cities and essentially become the local government. The revolution must proceed.; 6/6/20, 11:45 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Raha
@Rahafox5
· 13h
JUST IN: San Diego Activist @shaneharrisnow has tested positive for Covid-19. Just 2 days ago he held a press conference in La Mesa and before that he was at protests in #Minneapolis and with the family of #GeorgeFloyd. @fox5sandiego

But Black Lives Matter! And the Wuhan flu is only dangerous if you're selfishly protesting the lockdown, it'll avoid all those nice SJWs rioting for George!; 6/6/20, 11:48 AM
langford peel said...: The police no longer protect the law abiding. They arrest barbers and people going to temple.

The answer is segregation and a gated community guarded by private security along with open carry laws.; 6/6/20, 12:09 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: “Virtually all of us are against police violence and police brutality. But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not.”

And the irony is that defunding the police is an open invitation to lynching and vigilante justice. As Insty has observed, in an armed society (and our society is armed to a degree that I don’t think Progs can even beginthe police exist to protect criminals from the populace. Imagine what the recent riots would have looked like with no police between the rioters and the producing community.; 6/6/20, 12:10 PM
Static Ping said...: We are also in the bizarre situation where the Democrat leaders of blue cities, said cities often having been in sole Democrat control for many decades and often located in blue states, are somehow the good guys in all of this despite being directly responsible for their "racist" police forces. Meanwhile some yokel in rural Arkansas with a Confederate flag and probably has never been in a city with a population in six figures is the problem, because apparently all white people suffer from original sin or some such.

We are also in the bizarre situation where the destruction of black businesses is good for the black community because... reasons?

We live in very dangerous times. The insane are running amok. There is no way this can end well.; 6/6/20, 12:10 PM
walter said...: They've reworked their website, removing a good portion of antipolice sentiment, but you get a sense from this:
Freedom, Inc.
@AboutFreedomInc
·
Jun 4
We are here to ask Gloria, the president of the school board to end the contract between MMSD & MPD.

In defense of Black Life we demand Community Control! #DefundPolice #DefendBlackLife #FreeEmAll #CommunityControl; 6/6/20, 12:20 PM
Mary Beth said...: The drug war is evil and the police who participate in it are evil people.

But very profitable to some government organizations and employees. And to the cartels.; 6/6/20, 12:25 PM
walter said...: FWIW: A KFI podcast from yesterday that covered LAPD/Garcetti dispute, some of it unfolding live. It's long, but gives insight into the dynamics among the players.
LINK; 6/6/20, 12:34 PM
walter said...: The outline is Garcetti saved the Chief's bacon when under attack for equating looters with Chauvin, then Garcetti seemingly equates all cops as "killers" to a black church..prompting LAPD union head to claim Garcetti is "unstable" to the extent of needing removal.; 6/6/20, 12:39 PM
walter said...: Freedom Inc. isn't shy about pushing its radical rhetoric.
The Madison-based nonprofit has advocated for the release of all African Americans from jail and the defunding of police departments. As for the current protests, the group's leaders say "all actions against racist state violence are justified."
“Stop murdering black people, and your glass will be safe," Monica Adams, co-executive director for Freedom Inc., said while leading the third day of police protests in the state's capital on Monday.
"Thank all the youth freedom fighters who were in the streets fighting (Sunday) night and Saturday night," said Mahnker Dahnweih, community power-building coordinator for Freedom Inc. "Every action is a contribution to liberation
<
"M. Adams, who wears an 'I hate pigs' tee-shirt, is calling for total elimination of our police force," Sylvester wrote on Facebook. "She also said your windows will be safe when we get our way. I am a fighter for all workers, that includes police officers.
Bice: A group getting millions in state tax money is leading Madison's protests and calling for defunding of police departments; 6/6/20, 12:53 PM
n.n said...: Bad optics: diversity and disease.; 6/6/20, 1:15 PM
Oso Negro said...: @Gilbar - Who stop me now?; 6/6/20, 1:45 PM
Oso Negro said...: @ Jersey Fled - I am already armed to the teeth and Iicensed to carry. As is any sensible adult in Texas.; 6/6/20, 1:53 PM
walter said...: social distancing shoos; 6/6/20, 3:14 PM
Birkel said...: Althouse,
Do you believe you are witnessing something new? Do you believe the extremism your preferred side is showing you is disturbing?

If not, what will it take?

Will you take the red pill?; 6/6/20, 3:15 PM
Birkel said...: The police are there to protect the criminals.
Without police, rough justice will be visited on people.
There will be innocent people convicted without protection.

People who do not understand that are ignorant.
Human beings will seek justice in ways they cannot perceive.
Inside the middle class, law abiding citizens of this country is more knowledge, more courage, and more violence than any army in the history of the world.; 6/6/20, 3:20 PM
walter said...: Defunding/dismantling Police departments is a great way to get Nat Guard and military to take up residence.; 6/6/20, 3:53 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: If that showed up in my neighborhood I'd be looking to move at least 50 miles away.; 6/6/20, 4:43 PM
Big Mike said...: Virtually all of us are against police violence and police brutality. But "anti-police"?! Most of us are not.

Except the first step is to define what the amorphous terms "violence" and "brutality" mean. Regarding brutality, there is a very strong post-hoc agreement that putting your knee on someone's neck to subdue him is overly brutal, but what limits are we going to place on techniques to subdue a physically strong, resisting, prisoner? Any limits cannot be based on perceived pain, because there is no objective way to measure pain short of electrodes in the brain, and if the prisoner is sufficiently subdued for electrodes to be implanted then he's sufficiently subdued to transport to jail.

Or perhaps we should go back to rubber-stamping "shot while resisting arrest"?

So, again, if we don't want suspects being brought into the station in a body bag, if we want them to be brought in alive even if they are strong and resisting arrest, then what techniques are proposed for subduing a strong, resisting individual? What techniques short of choke holds (Eric Garner) or knees on necks (George Floyd) are to be allowed?

As to violence, in which of the following scenarios would you allow a police officer to shoot at a suspect?

(1) A hot pursuit has ended with a suspect's car disabled. The suspect exits the vehicle at your command and stands with hands raised and empty. Then a passenger exits from the other side, where you cannot see him clearly, and instead of following your instructions to get back in the car the passenger gets comes erect and begins shooting at you. While you are distracted by the passenger, the driver pivots to face you, draws his own gun, and also begins shooting. Question: is it "police violence" to return fire? Or do you have a right to defend yourself?

(2) You and other officers are responding to a report that an individual has stabbed multiple people. When you arrive on the scene you see the suspect has replaced the knife with a shotgun. You call on him to put it down but instead he points the barrel in your direction. Question: is it police violence to shoot the suspect, or must you wait to see whether he pulls the trigger?

(3) Same as (2) but the suspect does not have a shotgun and continues to brandish his knife. He refuses your order to put it down. Is it "police violence" to shoot, or must you holster your firearm and risk being stabbed to death trying to subdue him?

(4) A person throws a Molotov cocktail at you but it fails to ignite, nevertheless leaving you drenched in gasoline. He grabs a second bottle and seems to be lighting it on fire. Do you wait until he throws it, or can you defend yourself with deadly force? Does the sex of the thrower matter? Would your position be different if you were not drenched in gasoline from the first, failed Molotov cocktail?

I hope I've made it clear that there is a lot of grey in the interactions between suspected criminals and police, and there is no sense making vague assertions about "violence" and "brutality" until we have an agreement on what actions by police officers are brutal and/or violent.; 6/6/20, 9:27 PM
Big Mike said...: All that said, I believe that modern police training has resulted in officers that seem to be very trigger happy. I think No Knock warrants need to eliminated, given what happened to Duncan Lemp in Montgomery County, MD, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. I am also aware of a case when police were summoned to a home to help control an autistic teenager, and a sergeant said "I don't have time for this" (or words to that effect) and shot the boy in front of his parents. And let's not forget the shooting of Justine Diamond, who called in a complaint about a prowler, and was shot by a trigger happy Minneapolis police officer.

I have seen a video where an armed homeowner was investigating a home intrusion after calling the police. The police entered, ordered him to drop his weapon, then shot him -- the homeowner! -- when he did not immediately comply. Did the homeowner get what was coming to him for making such a mistake? Does it change your mind when I tell you that the time between when the homeowner was told to drop his weapon and the police began to shoot was ONLY ONE SECOND? One second to process that police have entered your home and mistaken you for the intruder. Hope you think fast. If your heirs sue, they will almost certainly lose.

(N.B., that was used in home defense training -- the advice was to stay in a safe area, stay on the line with 911 (others say to hang up), and if the intruder wants to steal some of your things and escape, well, that's why you have insurance.); 6/6/20, 9:45 PM