Frank,
But you are white. You're of Italian extraction, right? So why would they
police shoot you? A lot of police officers, especially here in New York, in
the city, are also of Italian extraction. It's only black people whom they
shoot without provocation, isn't it?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Frank Ventura
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 6:09 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Police Told Right-Wing Kenosha Killer "We
Appreciate You" Just Before Deadly Shootings
Well lets see if I walked in front of cops carrying a gun I don't think they
would shake my hand. I would die of a led overdose. This is going to sound
paranoid but for a long time I have felt if Trump doesn't win this
November's election he will call upon his right-wing militia buddies to use
force to keep him in office.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 6:59 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Police Told Right-Wing Kenosha Killer "We
Appreciate You" Just Before Deadly Shootings
Police Told Right-Wing Kenosha Killer "We Appreciate You" Just Before Deadly
Shootings Coordination between police and far-right groups is far from
abnormal but as yesterday's killings show, it is becoming much more
dangerous.
by Alan Macleod
August 26th, 2020
By Alan Macleod
Three people were shot and two died last night in Keshona, Wis, as
right-wing militias hit the streets, shooting demonstrators protesting the
police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. After two nights of angry
demonstrations, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who originally described the
event as a "merciless" act of police cruelty, called in the National Guard
and declared a state of emergency. However, along with the National Guard
came large numbers of right-wing militia groups, existing relatively
harmoniously with law enforcement. Far-right news organizations and websites
had earlier signal boosted the Kenosha Guard militia's call for
reinforcements to come to "protect lives and property."
Last night's killings were filmed and immediately posted on social media. In
one video, protesters fight with an armed militiaman, who fires at three
people at point blank range, killing two. He then hurries from the scene,
"repeating "I just killed someone," retreating back towards police lines,
still carrying his rifle. Even as the crowd shout to the police that the
killer is coming towards them, they ignore him, instead instructing the
protesters to get out of the way.
The shooter has been widely identified as a 17-year-old boy. From his public
Facebook page, it is clear that he idolizes the police, his profile picture
being a "Blue Lives Matter" logo with him in the center, holding a rifle.
Virtually every post he made is about either the police or guns. As of
Wednesday morning, he is still at large. Footage taken earlier in the night
shows the teenager bragging that he and his crew "don't have non-lethal"
ammunition with them.
Another video shows them fraternizing with heavily militarized police, who
offer them water and tell him "we appreciate you guys, we really do,"
evidence which might explain why he was neither shot nor even arrested after
killing two people right in front of dozens of law enforcement officers.
Speaking about the shooting, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Wisconsin,
Mandela Barnes said that "we can't even act surprised that this happened."
Barnes said that it had become normal to see heavily armed militia in
public, adding,
In many instances, these people have been led on by various conspiracy
theories that have ruminated on the internet, and these people are demanding
to have their country back. And to assume that nothing bad is going to
happen, to assume that these people are up to - or, have the most fine
intentions, is completely ridiculous."
Not an isolated incident
Coordination between police and far-right groups is far from abnormal.
During the George Floyd protests, Oregon police associated with groups such
as the Proud Boys, video showing one officer asking the group to hide in a
building because they were about to start gassing protesters, but to do it
"discreetly," as they did not want to be seen as "playing favorites."
Another Oregon officer was caught on camera flashing the "White Power" hand
gesture at right-wing counter demonstrators.
In June, a Seattle man drove his car at high speed into anti-racist
protesters, opening fire at the crowd. He then calmly leaves his vehicle and
walks over to police lines, where they shield him, turning their backs on
the armed killer to face the crowd. That they appeared totally unconcerned
at this is a sign of how confident they were that they were in no danger. As
activist news outlet It's Going Down noted, "Such a relationship allows the
police to use far-right groups as an auxiliary force against social
movements."
A study published last year by Injustice Watch found that 20 percent of
police officers nationwide have shared egregiously racist material or
content glorifying police violence against protesters on their public
Facebook accounts. This figure rises to 40 percent of retired cops. Rarely
is any action taken against officers sharing this content. On the other
hand, a Massachusetts officer was recently fired for sharing a pro-Black
Lives Matter social media post.
The shooting of Jacob Blake
The events of last night were sparked by an incident on Sunday, where an
unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, was shot from point blank range in the back
at least seven times by police officers, the shooting occurring in front of
his friends and children. Miraculously, Blake survived but is now paralyzed
after one bullet severed his spinal column. Blake's father, also called
Jacob, wept as he described the incident as "senseless attempted murder,"
and said he had no faith that the police officers involved would be held to
justice. The suspects are currently on administrative leave, a status which
amounts to a paid vacation.
The shooting was denounced by a great number of human and civil rights
groups. The American Civil Liberties Union, for instance, described it as a
"disgusting act of police brutality." "With each of the seven shots fired,
police made their intent clear-they believed they had the right to kill an
unarmed Black man for the crime of walking away from them," said Jeffery
Robinson, director of the ACLU's Trone Center for Justice and Equality.
Seeing as the teenage militiaman has not even been apprehended, it appears
far-right groups might also be able to kill with impunity in Trump's
America.
Feature photo | Police in riot gear clear a park during clashes with