bundy militia

Are you angry at your government because you see them as oppressive and out of control? Do you respond to what you view as an outrage committed by law enforcement by forcefully protesting? Do you believe that it is a battle for the future of our nation?

Then (choose one of the below):

a. If you are black: You are a thug, an animal or the enemy of your community.

b. If you are white: You are a patriot, someone of principle, a defender of our democracy.

There couldn’t be a more literally black and white contrast between the way the Right Wing portrays the protests in Ferguson over the killing of an unarmed teenager by police and their stonewalling and the far more threatening and hostile action of the white militias who swarmed Cliven Bundy’s ranch and pointed guns at law enforcement officers after his cattle were held because he owed $1 million in grazing fees.

In Ferguson, unarmed, peaceful protesters are tear gassed, marched on by militarily dressed and armed soldiers in an around assault vehicles and fired upon with rubber bullets and wooden plugs. They are put under curfew, ordered to keep marching and not pause or be arrested and the press are jailed for covering police actions.

In Clark County, NV, armed militia men literally point loaded weapons at law enforcement to support a thief and are hailed as heroes and noble citizens.

Parker from central Idaho aims his weapon from a bridge as protesters gather by the Bureau of Land Management's base camp near Bunkerville

Apparently, revolution and guns are only good things when in the hands of white people. Can you imagine what would be happening in Ferguson, MO right now if those protesting over the murder of Michael Brown openly carried rifles and hand guns in their protests? Any idea if those Right Wingers who froth at the mouth about their 2nd Amendment rights and brandish their guns anywhere and everywhere would support African Americans exercising their 2nd Amendment rights in their protests? If they protested like this?

Even Right Wing Republican politicians espouse violent, armed revolution against our government, describing themselves as true Americans for calling for overthrowing their own government…while they and/or their colleagues appear on Fox News day after day attacking the protests in Ferguson, MO. as the actions of outlaws. Granted, there are a small minority of people in Ferguson who are acting in criminal and violent ways, they should be arrested by police (not murdered) but they should also not be used by racists in the media as exemplifying most protesters.

So we’re clear on this, right? Only white people have the right to carry guns and have an armed uprising against our law enforcement and government.

Survey: Many Republicans believe armed rebellion may be necessary

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind found that 44% of Republican respondents agreed that an “armed revolution” might be needed in the next few years to defend liberties.

http://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation/survey-many-republicans-believe-armed-rebell

African Americans in towns across the United States are killed by police and Stand Your Ground racists primarily because they are black and yet Republican white people feel that only their armed revolution would be justified because of the burden of being white in America. And having to pay taxes because they make enough income to do so.

Armed revolution is the antithesis of a democracy. Though one could imagine a purging of the corruption of our democracy if an outside group came in and without checks and balances blocking them…a malevolent group could also come in and turn our entire country into a militarized police state, mirroring Ferguson, Mo. nationwide. So if armed revolution in America can be a horrible thing, it can’t be supported at all.

Then what do we do about militarized police forces, institutionally entrenched racism in our police forces and government and rampant economic inequality?

We’re in a democracy, what we do is protest and vote. Look at Ferguson, a town with a 70% black population but virtually no representation in their police force or government. Why shouldn’t the murder of Michael Brown be the cause for making a commitment to finding black political candidates to run for office (Ron Brown for Mayor?), registering residents and getting out the vote.

The current white mayor of Ferguson, James Knowles, said today with a straight face that there is no racial tension or racial divide in Ferguson:

During a contentious interview with MSNBC’s Tamron Hall, Knowles — who has previously downplayed racial tensions in Ferguson’s history — was asked whether he had changed his opinions after seeing outcries following the fatal shooting of unarmed African-American 18-year-old Michael Brown.

“I don’t believe that’s the case, still. There’s not a racial divide in the city of Ferguson,” the mayor said.

“According to whom?” Hall responded. “Is that your perspective, or do you believe that is the perspective of African-Americans in your community?”

“That is the perspective of all residents in our city, absolutely,” Knowles said.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/ferguson-mayor-james-knowles-race-110147.html#ixzz3AraZMFPx

Hasn’t Knowles just dared 70% of his community to vote him out? He’s just essentially claimed that the murder of Michael Brown and the protests following it didn’t happen, this deluded white man is claiming that he speaks for and knows the minds of all black people in his city. Why not take him up on his dare? Why not recall him and elect an honest and non-racist mayor? Why not do the same with the city council? And the D.A.? Why not have de-militarizing the police and integrating the police force as the the rallying cry of such a recall election?

There are things that can be done within a democracy to change the way things are, short of supporting an armed revolution. Certainly, the white people in power will use all the dirty tricks and money they can get their hands on to fight such a populist takeover of their government but they can be overcome, just as they were in the election and re-election of Barack Obama.

It is hard to be optimistic in such terrible times but it can endure and ultimately prevail to believe in and act on behalf of the simple concept that when people come together, they can change things for the better. It may be messy and disappointing at times but if the people of Ferguson and the rest of us across the country come together over these very American values, we can indeed have a positive, democratic and peaceful social revolution.

 

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KillgoreTrout
Member

I have to say this. On this thread and the others that are about or were inspired by the events in Ferguson, I see the statement/s that we must come together and start to work as one.

I am in total agreement on this. I have been hearing this very same sentiment, or idea, for over 50 years now!

My question is how to put that noble idea into action. How do we practically apply this notion? Pointing out the problems must be done, but solutions must follow. What are these solutions?

monicaangela
Member

We can start by admitting that capitalism has failed. We can begin to learn and tell the truth about what the oligarchs/plutocrats are doing and have done to this nation since inception, we can explain thoroughly what happened during the depressions in this nation.
Depressions
1807-1814
1837-1844
1873-1879
1893-1898
1929-1941

And
Recessions
1945 Recession
1949 Recession
Recession of 1953
Recession of 1957
1960 Recession
1973-1975 Recession
1980-1982 Recession
1990-1991 Recession
2001 Recession
2008-2009 Recession

During each of these events the multitudes suffered while the few made out like bandits. We never hear about where the money went, or why the money is being lost, not really. We need to start asking questions. Why is it that every time we go to war we have billions, no trillions of dollars to spend, but when it comes to educating our people, or doing things to improve our nation, we don’t have money for that…money for destruction, nothing for construction. That in itself let’s you know that capitalism is a failure for the majority of people in this nation, but instead of getting together as one people and fighting back against those that have taken control of our nation, we play the political game, the race game, the gender game, and any other game that will keep us from facing the truth about this nation. What are the solutions…there is but one EDUCATION…and that only if we are willing to face and tell the truth, that only if we are willing to face the past and stop saying oh that was in the past I want to look forward. Forward? If we don’t face our past, we have no future. A house stands on its foundation. A bad foundation indicates a bad structure meaning the home is not worth the trouble. Same thing with a nation or anything else. If the foundation isn’t fixed, the house will stand for a time but eventually will crumble. It is time for the people of this nation to face the past and fix the foundation or forget about this nation ever being what we were taught it was.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Education is definitely the key. I do think change is coming about, but very, very slowly. The magnitude of what has to change will take decades.

The change that, in my opinion, is happening, is so slow it seems to not be moving at all. Like a glacier, it moves, but not so you could actually see it move.

Any hope of real change lies with our young people. I think this disgraceful mess in Ferguson is showing younger people just how messed up things really are in our country. Young people who may not know the true history of the United States. Ferguson may inspire people to learn more about how unjust our system is and has been.

I don’t think we’ll see any significant change in our life times. I would love to, but changes so big happen ever so slowly. Sort of like evolution.

monicaangela
Member

I agree KT, change moves so slowly, it’s movement appears not to be perceivable. I am an educator, well that was one of my professions before I retired. I spend much of my time in retirement working with teens and young adults.

I try daily to help people understand how far the people of this nation have come in some areas while barely moving in others. Those I work with are not just African American, they are all Americans, every race every nationality, and every gender, male, female, and LGBT. I believe that once these young people understand the true reason why this nation is suffering the way it is, it gives them something they can use to unite them, something to fight for, it shows them what they have in common, and what they need to do to make this a better place for themselves and their children.

It’s slow going, but over the past 10 years that I have been volunteering I have seen much change in the youth in this area. I don’t know if you know what Cincinnati is like, but believe me each day is a struggle, but I love the battle, and will continue to try to educate for as long as I am able. Maybe if enough of us put our shoulder to the wheel we could speed up evolution a bit, even if it is only a tiny step forward, for me, it will have been worth it. 🙂

monicaangela
Member

I believe it will be criminalized even if you’re white is more appropriate. Take a look at this article I read from the Washington Post. Wonderful assessment IMHO.

America’s Violent Decline

How do you tell when a great civilization is in decline? When a great nation is on the rocks spiritually, morally, racially, and economically?

I look closely at my country, and everywhere I see signs of decadence, decay, and self-destruction.

Respect for law and order has declined drastically, except in the phony speeches of politicians.

The nation’s capital is awash with special counsel and special prosecutors, taking testimony from the President, the First Lady, key members of the cabinet and the Congress–all accused or suspected of criminal wrongdoing. The FBI is far short of being trustworthy, its agents and former agents deep in partisan politics. Local police departments reek with corruption, including condoned lawlessness by some policemen. Our prisons bulge with record numbers of young Americans, mostly the fruit flies of the drug trade, while the big bumblebees of the crime and drug syndicates peddle their wares with impunity.

Every day our newscasts begin with stories of grisly murders, sexual assaults, grotesque abuses of children, mass killings on job sites, and worse.

America is sinking in greed. Our workers fear tomorrow and their bosses grab what they can today. A corporate fatcat can get a $10 million reward for “downsizing” his firm–that is, putting thousands of employees out of work.

Public morality has probably never been lower. Lawmakers writhe and wrangle over how to deal with television programming that spews out sexual rot and gratuitous violence morning, afternoon, and night–prime time sewers. Congress makes believe that a meaningless “rating system” and a V-chip will solve the problem.

Racism has not been as virulent throughout America since the Civil War, with short fuses burning on a thousand powder kegs. We have seen our greatest law enforcement agency, the FBI, sit for weeks in a stalemate with a small Montana cult, the Freemen, whose leaders preach that the descendants of northern Europeans are “God’s chosen people,” that Jews are “the children of Satan,” and that African Americans and other people of color are by nature dumb and immoral.

We see the Freemen and other hate groups like the Aryan Nation, the skinheads, the Ku Klux Klan, and assorted militias piling up arms for what they say is a coming race war in America that will precede the return of Christ.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/comingracewar.htm

Scary stuff, but I can’t refute any of it. A Wake-up Call
By Carl T. Rowan should be read by everyone in America.

MurphTheSurf3
Editor

Ad Libs point from a slightly different but very supportive and sympatico perspective.

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/18/cliven_bundy_vs_fergusons_peaceful_demonstrators_a_tale_of_two_protests/

As seen on Fox

[imgcomment image[/img]

You make the case quit clear ad lib…If “they” are on the side of the right wing, they are good. If “they” are not “ours” then they are bad. That simple and that horrific.

As many of you know I live in a very red, gun-heavy area. At the grocery store tonight there were two of my neighbors talking about putting together a group of patriotic volunteers to go to Ferguson to “spell our cops”. “Take a rest fellas, we got your back.” One of the guys laughed and said: “Of course we’ll be better armed and protected than most of those fellows and we know what gun were made for…shooting.”

Even if the were bsing, the were scary.

kesmarn
Admin

I read earlier today that the KKK was planning to go to Ferguson, so it appears we now know where a few of their members might live… 🙁

I feel for you, Murph. With neighbors like that, who needs enemies?… Not good.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Here is what I think are a few of the reasons innocent people, mostly minorities, get treated unlawfully by the police in every state in our country.

There is a sort of chicken or the egg element to this. People in minority communities are wary of the police. Some may even hold great animosity or downright hatred for the police. In turn, the police are generally afraid to police in these neighborhoods because they are fully aware of the animosity or hatred directed at them. But the animosity and hatred of the police has some basis in cause. People in low income, predominantly minority neighborhoods have witnessed, first hand, the use of excessive force by the police. They have right reason to be angry and fearful of the police.

The police, in turn, want to be feared, because they themselves are afraid. In order to maintain a fearful presence, the police act brutally, and sometimes lethally. They willingly promote fear in these areas, to minimize any violent resistance to themselves.

It becomes a vicious cycle of violence and misery. When police act like storm troopers and violate the people’s rights, the people, will in turn, fight back, whether verbally or physically. The people know their rights. They know when they are wrongly targeted and abused by the police. Would any brave man or woman not resist such violations?

monicaangela
Member

It is that and more KT. This goes back a long way. Minority communities have reason to dislike the presence of the police in their communities when they act as though they are lord and master of the people rather than servants of the people. African Americans have a long history of abuse from the police and the white majority in this nation, so IMHO, their distrust is more than appropriate. Whites in this nation, including police officers who know their history realize intellectually or maybe even instinctively the fact that they are and have been guilty of abuse when it comes to these minority communities. Let’s Take for an example this:

Black Wall Street, the name fittingly given to one of the most affluent all-Black communities in America, was bombed from the air and burned to the ground by mobs of envious Whites. In a period spanning fewer than 12 hours, a once thriving Black business district in northern Tulsa lay smoldering – a model community destroyed and a major African-American economic movement resoundingly defused.

http://sfbayview.com/2011/02/what-happened-to-black-wall-street-on-june-1-1921/

And this:

Rosewood Florida Massacres: Rosewood majority black due to circumstances similar to those in Ferguson today.

Lynching had become so common in the United States, especially in the South, that in 1921 Representative L. C. Dyer of Missouri introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to make lynching a federal crime. Dyer acted out of conscience but also at the strong behest of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

It is doubtful that the handful of residents in Rosewood, Florida, ever read the Tuskegee report. Yet its citizens would be victims of racial violence in 1923 and several would be murdered. In the first week of January, Rosewood was the center of what became known variously as a riot, a massacre, and a race war.

http://www.displaysforschools.com/rosewoodrp.html#rosewood

And this:

Atlanta Race Riot (1906)

When the Civil War ended, African-Americans in Atlanta began entering the realm of politics, establishing businesses and gaining notoriety as a social class. Increasing tensions between Black wage-workers and the white elite began to grow and ill-feelings were further exacerbated when Blacks gained more civil rights, including the right to vote.

Chicago Race Riots (1919)

The “Red Summer” of 1919 marked the culmination of steadily growing tensions surrounding the great migration of African-Americans from the rural South to the cities of the North during World War I. Chicago was one of the northern cities that experienced violent race riots during that period.

Washington, D.C. Race Riots (1919)

Postwar Washington, D.C., roughly 75 percent white, was a racial tinderbox. Housing was in short supply and jobs so scarce that ex-doughboys in uniform panhandled along Pennsylvania Avenue.
However, Washington’s Black community was then the largest and most prosperous in the country, with a small but impressive upper class of teachers, ministers, lawyers and businessmen concentrated in the LeDroit Park neighborhood near Howard University.
By the time the “Red Summer” was underway, unemployed whites bitterly envied the relatively few blacks who were fortunate enough to procure low-level government jobs. Many whites also resented the influx of African-Americans into previously segregated neighborhoods around Capitol Hill, Foggy Bottom and the old downtown.

Knoxville, Tennessee Race Riots (1919)

In August 1919, a race riot in Knoxville, Tenn., broke out after a white mob mobilized in response to a Black man accused of murdering a white woman. The 5,000-strong mob stormed the county jail searching for the prisoner. They freed 16 white prisoners, including suspected murderers.
After looting the jail and sheriff’s house, the mob moved on and attacked the African-American business district. Many of the city’s Black residents, aware of the race riots that had occurred across the country that summer, had armed themselves, and barricaded the intersection of Vine and Central to defend their businesses.

New York City Draft Riot (1863)

The Draft Riot of 1863 was a four-day eruption of violence in New York City during the Civil War stemming from deep worker discontent with the inequities of the first federally mandated conscription laws.
In addition, the white working class feared that emancipation of enslaved Blacks would cause an influx of African-American workers from the South. In many instances, employers used Black workers as strike-breakers during this period. Thus, the white rioters eventually turned their wrath on the homes and businesses of innocent African-Americans and anything else symbolic of their growing political, economic and social power.

http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/12/04/8-successful-aspiring-black-communities-destroyed-white-neighbors/4/

And I could go on like this all day, but I’m sure by now you get the point. It has been a plan of angry,envious and ignorant white communities throughout the history of this nation to make sure Blacks never progress. Nothing has changed. The same tactics are still being used. Most blacks know this, problem is we have people in the white populations who haven’t been educated or choose to ignore the facts. I believe it is time for the citizens of this nation, and people around the world because it happens all over the globe to face the facts and the truth and try to reconcile.

Police acting like storm troopers is normal behavior when they are in black communities, it is as though their leadership condones it. In other communities they conduct themselves as a police officer should. We also have to remember that there are racist in this nation, and many of them are a part of the police force whether you want to believe it or not. So even though things appear to be easily summed up, something like what is occurring in this country YET AGAIN due to the same reasons that have plagued the nation since inception can’t be easily explained away.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Monica, of course it’s more than what I wrote about. My comment was the result of looking beyond just the racial aspects of police violence. The fear, on both sides IS most definitely grounded in race. How many times now have I already said that there is an extreme racial element in how the police deal with minorities?

I simply voiced an opinion that was formed by story after story of police using excessive force and offered my take on the fear aspect.

How many average citizens and cops know the history that you provided above? I would say very few. Not everything concerning the police using excessive and lethal force against minorities can be boiled down to just one point.

I don’t believe I was trying to “explain away,” anything. My focus was on fear and how such fear cause people to act, or react.

I have made several comments about the racial elements, the violence, the injustice of these situations and each time I am met with polite admonishment and elaborate historical accounts that support the fact that yes, they system is racist. It’s as though I am completely unaware of these truths. I have to say, it’s bit insulting.

monicaangela
Member

Sorry if you feel as though I was preaching to the choir, I wasn’t trying to, I was only trying to explain to those that don’t know already that the history behind what is happening in Ferguson involves much more than black people disliking the police and the police being afraid. You stated this:

People in minority communities are wary of the police. Some may even hold great animosity or downright hatred for the police. In turn, the police are generally afraid to police in these neighborhoods because they are fully aware of the animosity or hatred directed at them.

My comment was to elaborate on why minority communities may hold animosity, it was also to explain why they may be feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems where police officers are concerned.

You then go on to say: The police, in turn, want to be feared, because they themselves are afraid. In order to maintain a fearful presence, the police act brutally, and sometimes lethally. They willingly promote fear in these areas, to minimize any violent resistance to themselves.

I happen to disagree with that statement. There is no need for a police officer who more often than not is traveling with a partner, a police car loaded with all kinds of technology, a pistol, a rifle, a Taser, a bullet proof vest, and who knows how many more gadgets.

They don’t promote fear because they are afraid and want to minimize violence, they promote fear because they want their victims to be submissive, they want them to Kow Tow, to want to try to make their victims feel as though they are superior or at least they think they are, this is what is going on behind this absolutely shameful behavior, nothing to do with them being afraid. Also too, many of these police officers are corrupt and racist. This is more of a reason they act the way they do than being afraid. They are also greedy, and realize they have to give out so many tickets to stay in good standing on the force, they score big if they are able to catch someone with a ship load of drug money on them, and the list could go on but I think you get the point.

I am allowed to disagree with you without you feeling insulted I hope, I am just disagreeing and telling you why I disagree. If you would prefer I did not I will refrain from commenting voicing my opinion about your comments.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Well, on the matter of the cops being afraid, we’ll have to disagree on that. I won’t generalize and say all of them fear policing minority neighborhoods, but I bet a lot of them are, despite all their weaponry.

I agree that the cops want the people in these communities to fear them. I even stated that in my comment.

I stand by comments. i did not go into reasons why either side held such fear. I simply implied that it was there.

“They don’t promote fear because they are afraid and want to minimize violence, they promote fear because they want their victims to be submissive, they want them to Kow Tow,….” I totally agree with this statement. But that’s where it ends. To think fear isn’t an element to the cops behavior is simply wrong, in my opinion.
People who used guns, nighsticks and tasers do so because they are afraid of being overpowered. I’m not justifying the all to ready use of these weapons, I’m just saying they are, more often than not, used out of fear for their own safety.

As far as continuing to reply to comments, I have no problem with that. I just wrote honestly about how your comment to me was slightly insulting. I don’t know why exactly, but you seem to think I don’t believe that racism exists within our law enforcement agencies, when I have clearly stated, time and again, that I think it does. Again, not every aspect of what’s going on can be attributed to just racism. My comment simply offered additional reasons why the cops behave as they do. It wasn’t a justification, which you seem to think it was.

monicaangela
Member

Some officers may be afraid, that is only natural. The problem with that is, these officers are not in a war zone, they are not in a kill or be killed environment, if they are, and they are afraid because they don’t know how to handle the situation, they should immediately ask for a transfer to a neighborhood where they might feel more comfortable. Police officers are supposed to be in these neighborhoods to protect and serve the people they are charged with, not to decide whether or not someone looks violent or not. There are many people in this world that look violent to me that would look normal to you, get it. It is up to the leadership in the police department to find out who is capable of policing these supposed violent neighborhoods. I do have to say that if a person goes into a neighborhood believing it is violent, the first thing they are going to do is become nervous, anxious, and incapable of doing the job they were sent to do.

Maybe we need to start training those who join the police force a little better. Maybe every officer should not be an officer. Maybe we should have a category for police officers like we do for conscientious objectors in the military. That way those officers that are afraid could opt out of working in those neighborhoods..of course that would probably mean the majority of officers in those neighborhoods would look more like the residents of those neighborhoods. That would of course mean less jobs for those who are “afraid,” and maybe that is what is needed.

monicaangela
Member

Excellent article AdLib. America had better wake up before it is too late.

This is what is happening in this country with white militias

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBjmPQ02BMc

This is what happened when a black group decided it would try to do something to help the Black people in America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDbVIDJnPzA

Is racism systemic, are there really two Americas where government and law is concerned…you better believe it.

RSGmusic
Member
RSGmusic

Hi monicaangle,Nice post

for the reggae try again.

IF not received i will try AdLib.

Kalima
Admin

Hi RSGmusic. Have removed your email address from your comment to keep your privacy safe. If you want to give your email address to another member, please ask Admin to pass it on for you.

Thanks.

RSGmusic
Member
RSGmusic

HI Kalima.

Well I would not have given the email address if I would have wanted to keep it private.

It must be a rule i did not know. I will not again. Is it a rule??

I will look it up.

Kalima
Admin

Not exactly a rule but we want to protect our members and their identity, and have always removed private information like real names and email addresses.

This is a public site so we don’t have control over who reads here, and many people do who are not members.

If you want to exchange email addresses with another member, we would prefer if you asked either AdLib or myself and we can then send it to other members.

Not everyone on the Internet is bad, but many are not good people either. It’s for your protection and we hope you will understand our position.

Thanks.

RSGmusic
Member
RSGmusic

OK if You or Adlib give out an address on planet pov you are doing the same thing i am doing. Even if the third party gives permission and the person did give me to ask Adlib.

I see your point though.

I will just the let it drop.

You can not have rules that do not pertain to every one.

Live long and prosper Kalima

Kalima
Admin

We administer The Planet, and exchange of email addresses through us is in private, so no, it’s not the same thing as anyone being able to read private information on the site in comments, and it applies to everyone.

It’s not that difficult, you just contact us or you can leave the request to pass on your email address to a member on our Help Desk, and we will then send it to the person concerned.

There are people who have had their lives ruined by stalkers or those who want to cause mischief, and we won’t let that happen here at The Planet. This has been our policy since we started this site over five years ago.

RSGmusic
Member
RSGmusic

OK Kalima
I understand this post by you. I did on the last one

We administer The Planet, and exchange of email addresses through us is in private, so no, it’s not the same thing as anyone being able to read private information on the site in comments, and it applies to everyone.

It’s not that difficult, you just contact us or you can leave the request to pass on your email address to a member on our Help Desk, and we will then send it to the person concerned.

There are people who have had their lives ruined by stalkers or those who want to cause mischief, and we won’t let that happen here at The Planet. This has been our policy since we started this site over five years ago.

I asked Adlib to send me a private note via the help desk with her address since she gave me permission to do so.

Sorry for going back to a prior post.
This is the only way i could answer you

KillgoreTrout
Member

I’m sure that in many law enforcement circles, the name Cleaver automatically brings back memories of the sixties and the fear of black people that was so prominent then (and now).

Just the mention of the name Black Panthers, causes fear and hatred to well up in ignorant, uninformed whites.

Just look at all the fear generated among TPers and conservatives by just three men, New Black Panthers, standing outside of a polling place on election day. The images of these three men, who really did nothing but stand around for a few hours, was shown again and again by right wing media with the implication that the world as we know it would come to an end. The RW media used these images over and over again to spread fear and hatred among the moron viewership.

Those images, or reports of those three men, still are being mentioned as a precurser to the sky falling and the downfall of America, by the ignorant morons that make up a large part of America’s right wing.

monicaangela
Member

The Black Panther Party (BPP) had four desires : equality in education, housing, employment and civil rights. It had a 10 Point Plan to get its desired goals.

The ten points of the party platform were:

1) “Freedom; the power to determine the destiny of the Black and oppressed communities.

2) Full Employment; give every person employment or guaranteed income.

3) End to robbery of Black communities; the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules as promised to ex-slaves during the reconstruction period following the emancipation of slavery.

4) Decent housing fit for the shelter of human beings; the land should be made into cooperatives so that the people can build.

5) Education for the people; that teaches the true history of Blacks and their role in present day society.

6) Free health care; health facilities which will develop preventive medical programs.

7) End to police brutality and murder of Black people and other people of color and oppressed people.

8) End to all wars of aggression; the various conflicts which exist stem directly from the United States ruling circle.

9) Freedom for all political prisoners; trials by juries that represent our peers.

10) Land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, peace and community control of modern industry.”

This is what the Black Panther Party stood for, what every American should want. The only difference is the BBP was willing to get these things one way or another. In other words, they did not adhere to the non violent protest of Martin Luther King. They felt that his methods would not get what the people who were being oppressed needed. Here we are 50 years later, and it appears they were right.

KillgoreTrout
Member

No argument here. I always thought they were right.

Nirek
Member

This is getting out of control and scary, Ad.

sillylittleme
Member

It is so sick. The Rs will do anything to prevent people living in peace. I am sick to death of their sociopathic policies. If they want a revolution, fine. But this time when they lose, they either move to Somalia (or any other gun haven of their choosing) or we get to try them for treason (in a kangaroo court, of course).

monicaangela
Member

Republicans who are trying to use militias for political advancement are playing with fire. They are going to wake up one day to find this country in flames and it will be due to their antebellum ideology and their adding fuel to these militia fires that are rising up all over this country.

But of course, we’re just told these two were crazy, and end of story. No S.W.A.T. team harassing members of the militia that they claimed to belong to, no questions publicly of any of those affiliated with these two who by the way were at the Cliven Bundy ranch fiasco.

Imagine if a black person committed that crime claiming to belong to a black militant group…I shudder to think of what would have happened to people of that group when the FBI found them. White militia groups appear to operate with impunity.

sillylittleme
Member

MA,
On another front, what frightens me is the stupidly complacent white professional suburbanites who are afraid of anything not lily white. As a member of the translucent club, I am often appalled by the attitudes of the above when they see cops in the area (a small city North of Boston). There was a car down the street that was being towed, probably because of unpaid excise tax (yay Taxachusetts). The couple that came in the yard to look at an ATV that my landlord is selling were worried because a couple of doors down there is a small mass of not-white people that always gather outside until nightfall. It is a mix of mixed families, lots of kids. I know all of them and I do not find them menacing individually nor as a group. Mostly if the cops come, it is because of a domestic dispute. I asked this couple if they had a loud argument, would they want a SWAT team coming in to break it up? I had to ask three times before I could get them to say no. I said well that is what is happening in this country, so you better speak up now. Oh and there were several cop cars accompanying the tow truck. Pathetic. I could see that they wondered about the neighborhood. And I wish I had told them that for the most part everyone is well behaved. There are some problems. But the amount of police that respond to a call varies from house by occupant epidermal pigmentation. Which I believe to be discrimination of the highest order, in a nation that claims to treat all equally under the law. We are a lie!!!

monicaangela
Member

I couldn’t agree more slm. Imagine if those people lived in a neighborhood like many blacks do where a police presence is visible 24/7 and people are being stopped while walking, while driving, or while living in their own neighborhood..Imagine their outrage. One thing the media in this nation does not do, one thing the schools in this nation does not do, and one thing the majority of citizens in this nation does not do is educate people like the ones you have described. This IMHO is one of the reasons we have such division in this nation.

sillylittleme
Member

Without a doubt.

MurphTheSurf3
Editor

I just posted this at Daily Kos. I am going to amend my post with a link to yours.

At Night in Ferguson FEAR of Concealed
and Open Carry of Guns is Real for Police

Congressman Clyburn Backs Idea

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who commands the security effort now in Ferguson, said at a 2 a.m. press briefing Tuesday that most peaceful protesters in the city should be applauded for their behavior. He then asked for their help in restricting future demonstrations to daylight hours to discourage criminals from infiltrating their ranks at night.

I spoke with a deputy sheriff friend this morning. His take on this was enlightenging: “Almost anyone can have a gun here and although cops don’t talk about it much you never know whose going to be armed so you assume everyone is. It is a lot easier to get ahead of this in daylight than at night. I hate rowdy crowds at night. They are really dangerous.”

Johnson noted that most of the protesters threatening police weren’t demonstrators. Instead, he said, they were criminals working under the cover of night and bent on using Molotov cocktails, guns and fireworks to ignite greater discord between law enforcement officers and the peaceful protesters.

Ray Gillam, a community activist and expert on gangs, said: “Gangs love this kind of thing. It destabilizes the neighborhood. It makes their case – we have to defend ourselves. The messier it is the more they can operate.”

In an interview this morning during a walk around the neighborhoods Johnson noted that “We use tear gas because that clears the crowds where armed criminals can hide mixed in with legitimate protesters and the media. We can’t get too close.”

Congressman Jim Clyburn, a veteran of the protest movement, in an interview on August 19 on The Ed Show, has join Johnson is calling for morning and early evening protests noting his own experience in marching, in demonstrating, in getting arrested. He suggests that the morning event be a march and the evening event a rally at a common spot. In this way, the demands get aired, and the crowd and police are kept safe. He admits that lawless elements using the crowd as a mask require that community leaders work with the police in order to ensure the effectiveness of the message.

RSGmusic
Member
RSGmusic

Well you do know to call up the militia you are protecting law in state or nationally and supporting the the legally elected president.

Militia called up to not support these things are an arm forced trying to overthrow the the law and government.

Oh yea there is a bias if a African american carries a gun. The republicans will have a fit.

All that means is that the conservative The republicans and anyone else who need to open carry are afraid or BIG COWARDS.

As for Ferguson they are protecting a white policemen so he will look lie he did his job. Well the policeman twice violated rules about shooting people. That is all that counts. All the other stuff are just distractions from the issue. Yes there is a racial bias there.

Police are not above the law. He should be in jail by now. They can do investigations from jail. If he makes bail? he can go to police head quarters for a bad shooting issue.

It also can put a restriction that the policeman can not leave the county or go out of the country.