The news of local police brutality against protesters coming out of the recent FTAA protests in Miami and School of America (SOA) protests in Georgia are very alarming. It seems as though police forces throughout the country are developing a common strategy to fight, bully, and intimidate (through force) protesters - nonviolent protesters. In the name of fighting terrorism and with new powers granted by the Patriot Act, local police forces are gearing up to squelch dissenters and protesters at home.
This issue is critical as Minneapolis choses its new police chief and should be a prime discussion during the search/interview/selection process. The new police chief's values and policies should establish police training and procedures to protect - not threaten and harm - democratic and nonviolent protests as a basic right of Minneapolis residents and visitors. Warren Goldstein, in an editorial in the Star Tribune this week, retold the story about how Yale University President, Kingman Brewster, embraced a major protest in 1970 that threatened to bring down Yale University. In his words, the president opened lines of comunication with the protesters, securing their commitment to nonviolent protests. Endorsing the tradition of dissent, he welcomed the protesters, and it worked. The protests remained peaceful. Our police leadership and its force should adopt just such a position. There is never a need to antagonize, provoke, threaten and injure peaceful protestors. That's against our democratic rights and principles. >From the City's web site Mayor Rybak has outlined the criteria he will use in selecting a new Chief of Police: Maintaining Public Safety. The number-one job of the Chief and every police officer is to keep Minneapolis safe. Strong Leader. The Chief must hold officers accountable, reward exceptional performers and delivering immediate consequences for unacceptable behavior. Strong Manager. The $100 million police budget needs innovative, efficient management with measurable outcomes. Demand respectful, consistent service in all communities. This includes aggressively diversifying the department. Visible leader who builds partnerships with the community. The Chief and the force he commands should empower all members of the community who want to continue to build a safer city. Protecting protesters fits in none or all of the above criteria, depending on how you want to interpret them. We shouldn't take for granted that a police chief candidate would view protests as a right and a necessary part of our democracy and, thus, we should make this criterion explicit as we move forward in the selection of a new chief. Jeanne Massey Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
