Holder not happy about military vehicles and equipment being used in Ferguson:
POLITICO – Attorney General Eric Holder released a new statement Thursday regarding the escalating tensions in Ferguson, Missouri, saying such unrest “cannot continue,” but expressed concerns over the actions of local law enforcement.
“At a time when we must seek to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the local community, I am deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles sends a conflicting message,” Holder said in his statement, adding that those concerns have been conveyed by Justice Department officials to local authorities.
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Echoing President Barack Obama’s earlier remarks, also delivered Thursday, Holder condemned acts of looting in the days following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, but emphasized his worry over the police response.
“While the vast majority of protests have been peaceful, acts of violence by members of the public cannot be condoned,” Holder said.
He continued, “By the same token, the law enforcement response to these demonstrations must seek to reduce tensions, not heighten them.”Regarding the news of journalist reporting on the situation who were arrested, Holder said, “Journalists must not be harassed or prevented from covering a story that needs to be told.”
Honestly, when things are this out of control there, I’m ok with police bringing out the ‘big guns’, if you will, in order to protect the city and avoid escalation of violence.
But what gets me is complaints I hear from pundits that police are wearing riot gear. Seriously? If there was no rioting and looting in Ferguson, police might not feel the need for riot gear. But we all know that’s not the case and police are quite justified in bringing down the hammer to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
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UPDATE: Ugh. Something Politico left out was something Business Insider picked up from Holder’s statement, saying that the Ferugson police department should basically hire more blacks in the future:
Department officials from the Community Relations Service are also on the ground in Missouri to help convene law enforcement officials and civic and faith leaders to plot out steps to reduce tensions in the community. The latest such meeting was convened in Ferguson as recently as this morning. Over time, these conversations should consider the role that increased diversity in law enforcement can play in helping to build trust within communities.
Once again ‘diversity’ is the answer to everything. Look, there should be no difference in whether a white or black cop shot and killed Michael Brown. If they broke the law in doing so, skin color makes no difference.
At this point we have no idea why there are only 3 black cops working for the Ferguson PD. Maybe they are the only ones that applied.
Let me bottom line this for you. If Holder is suggesting that the black citizens of Ferguson would be more comfortable if there were more black cops, then he is suggesting that the black citizens of Ferguson are…at least partially, racist. If you don’t believe me, just picture any white Republican making such a claim.