My latest in PJ Media:
The largely unchecked riots and looting in many Democrat-run major cities in the United States are ostensibly over the racist murder of George Floyd by an out-of-control cop in Minnesota. While video of Floyd’s death is horrifying and rather conclusively shows Office Derek Chauvin in the wrong, it is not actually at all clear at this point that Chauvin’s crime was racially motivated. It is clear, however, that while the rioting is opportunistic, outrageous, and possibly coordinated and pre-planned, America really does have a policing problem, and it is far larger than just Derek Chauvin.
While many police officers are careful professionals doing a dangerous and thankless job, there has been and is a problem on both a large and a small scale with unaccountable policing officials abusing their authority, apparently secure in the knowledge that their colleagues will cover for them. It seems that more police officers than many people would like to admit are bullies and thugs who joined the force because doing so effectively gives them a license to brutalize people without fear of censure or punishment.
This is not, contrary to establishment media myth, a race-based issue. It’s a problem of police overreach. Power-tripping cops have victimized people of all races. I myself have experienced this: in 2015 I was assaulted by a security guard, James Stankiewicz, at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, a college that had decided my opposition to jihad violence and Sharia oppression of women was beyond the pale of acceptable discourse; Stankiewicz then escaped arrest courtesy of a corrupt cop, Detective Chris Patten at the Goffstown Police Department.
Much more seriously, in January 2016, Officer Philip Brailsford shot and killed Daniel Shaver in the hallway of a hotel in Mesa, Arizona, while Shaver was complying with police orders to crawl down the hallway. The police in that case were responding to a false report that Shaver had a rifle. Shaver was white.
In 2016 in Dallas, a man named Tony Timpa, who suffered from schizophrenia, was killed by police officers who had him pinned on the ground, even as he pleaded for help and cried out: “You’re gonna kill me! You’re gonna kill me! You’re gonna kill me!”
In a larger arena, the 1992 FBI siege at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and the killing of an unarmed woman, Vicki Weaver, is a searing example of law enforcement officials abusing their authority. So also is the 1993 FBI siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, which resulted in the destruction of the compound and the deaths of 76 Branch Davidians.
More recently, the FBI framing of Gen. Michael Flynn was another manifestation of the same problem. Flynn was victimized by corrupt officials who had long ago left behind any sense of responsibility to the public, and had sacrificed their honesty and integrity to their avidity to advance partisan interests. Even worse, they were only interested in destroying Flynn as a step toward their overall goal of destroying Donald Trump, solely for the crime of having been elected President while advocating for policies they detested.
The FBI’s corruption didn’t start with the election of Trump. When jihad terrorists opened fire at the free speech event Pamela Geller and in Garland, Texas on May 3, 2015, an undercover FBI agent had egged them on to attack the event, entering the parking lot of the event right behind the jihadis, and telling them to “tear up Texas.” The FBI stonewalled all our efforts to compel them to disclose the exact nature of their involvement in the attack.
There is much more. Read the rest here.
Buraq says
Two wrongs don’t make a right! Chauvin was, in my opinion, wrong to do what he did. However, to burn and loot is an unacceptable response. Clowns!
Dave from San Antonio says
Totally agree.
eddie says
“A riot is the language of the unheard” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jn.
gravenimage says
One of the few quotes from Dr. King I do not agree with–there is no justification for looting. Those running shops have *nothing* to do with this. Moreover, this has traditionally harmed the poorest neighborhoods–often permanently. Some neighborhoods have not recovered from damage done in the 1960s.
But what would “eddie” care about this?
eddie says
I couldn’t give a fuck if you disagree with Dr. King. And King was NOT advocating looting.
You get creepier by the day.
Wellington says
No eddie, you get creepier by the day. Eff you.
gravenimage says
Rioting always involves violence, and looting is indeed frequently a part of that, both in the 1960s and now. To pretend this is not the case is of course absurd.
“eddie” has also said that I “get creepier by the day” for opposing Jihad terror. Very telling. Of course he has to swear–really, he has got no rational response.
Dawne says
That is true sometimes, but not in this case as the police officer in question has already been arrested. So the people are definitely not “unheard”. Plus these crowds are thieving and looting. Is the answer to being “unheard” to steal a handbag or wide screen TV?
eddie says
What about the 3 other fuckers who were with the murderer?
Rod says
“The largely unchecked riots and looting in many Democrat-run major cities in the United States are ostensibly over the racist murder of George Floyd……..”
“Plus these crowds are thieving and looting.”
Ten thousand rally in Union Square. I’ve been there – what’s there to loot? Hundreds demonstrate at the Lincoln Memorial – all looting like crazy? And outside Trump Hotel – looting the gold plated sidewalks? And in Lafayette Square, all looting, no doubt. And thousands lie face down covering the full length and width of a bridge; somewhere else lying face down over a huge area of a park – probably hiding their loot underneath them.
Demonstrations in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Nairobi, Sydney, Auckland, – think of all that loot! More demonstrations planned, worldwide – with more looting? – dear oh dear.
Yes, riots, looting and damage did occur. Meanwhile a vastly larger number, hundreds of thousands, expressed their anger and disgust over the tragic event in Minnesota. “Ostensibly” indeed!
Lies and liars. Always surface at times like this. If they can’t comment fairly, just invent crude insults. (Just ask the Liar-in-Chief. He’s a specialist.) Why? To avoid the obvious reality? Why? The reality remains, unchanged.
gravenimage says
I can answer these two trolls at the same time:
re “eddie”–the other cops who did nothing to check on George Floyd’s well being have now been charged, as was clear would happen:
“All four former officers involved in George Floyd’s killing now face charges”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/george-floyd-officers-charges/index.html
re “Rod”–this article nevere claimed that all of the demonstrators are also rioters–in fact, the very title of this article makes clear that the demonstrators have a point.
Note that he does not say what Jihad Watch is supposedly lying about–but then, he’s got nothing, so what *could* he say?
chrisla07 says
That quote was taken out of context. In the complete interview, MKL Jr was stating quite clearly that violence was NOT the way to achieve justice for African-Americans.
gravenimage says
Your are quite right, Chris:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/06/no-martin-luther-king-was-not-pro-riot/
WASP says
Looking back on a parvious ‘murder’ (In the same city) where a ‘black’ police officer shot and killed a ‘white’ woman who was in her pj’s seeking assistance.
I do not recall all ‘white’ people rioting, stealing, buring the city down…why is that?
Since this tragic event occurred all the son called black leaders (all Democrats) blame white supremacy and the president for racism ….how so?
The main stream media are complicit in advancing and encouraging black people to riot, along with the ‘thugs’ ANTIFA…
All these so called black leaders suggest racism in America is ‘systemic’ and the fault of white people…really? I seriously doubt racism is the ‘main’ concern in America today. Ask Larry Elder or Thomas Sowell…they will disagree.
When it comes to police killing people more white men are killed each year by white police. Let’s forget black police also kill black people… but black leaders don ‘t want to go there…
Black people kill each other more then any other demographic…why is that?
All the cities under siege are run by Democrats….do you see a pattern there?
I am not a politician, where most say ‘the majority’ of Americans….or 90% believe racism is ‘rampant’ Really? I don’t recall ‘ever’ being polled for my opinion.
My opinion is simple, there is a strong negative sentiment that black people are ‘oppressed and all white people should feel guilty and give up what they worked for during their lives…This of course will bring out the ‘white’ privilege narrative. Again, black leaders use this to intimidate white people. If they took the time to research who makes more money or have better jobs, professions, etc. and live in areas where little crime persists it is Asians…why is that? Asians have a strong work ethic, strong family ties and contribute to society as a whole….on and on it goes.
I look at a black person and feel I am equal tohim/her and he/she is equal to me…we are stronger together then apart…we are Americans together. My heart aches to see what is happening to the greatest country on earth. Ask Al Sharptin (sp) or Jesse Jackson where they prefer to live…without ‘chaos’ neither would not have an income, they ‘feed’ off black people.
gravenimage says
Moreover, WASP, these same thugs are calling for the release of this murderous Muslim former police officer–so much for the idea that they are concerned about excessive force used by the police:
“Video: Rioters call for freeing of Muslim migrant cop who killed unarmed woman in Minneapolis”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/05/video-rioters-call-for-freeing-of-muslim-migrant-cop-who-killed-unarmed-woman-in-minneapolis
Uma Maheswar Nakka says
This scene in the photo is really shocking, making cruel Derek Chauvin, look like a Heartless psychopath including his other associate, they should be imprisoned for life.
But those who love the late Mr. George Freud, should show pain through peaceful protests rather than riots causing damage to people and property
wpm says
The family of George Floyd have reach out to the media and called for calm.Stealing and looting in Mr. Floyd name is an insult to him and his family ,and does more to further the divide a society.
FYI says
Yes.
His family have been very clear on that.
The anger is absolutely understandable but legitimate non-violent protest is the way,NOT riots and violence.
No doubt agent provocateurs are happy to use the situation as an excuse.
Mr George Floyd did not deserve to be treated in such a disgraceful and inhumane manner.That picture of Chauvin with his hands in his pocket and another cop standing in the way to block any photo recording shows you they knew they were doing wrong.
There are perfectly good police officers …and then there are scumbags like chauvin who should never ever be allowed to get away with what they do.
Rioting won’t solve anything:legitimate protest is the way,not violence.
cephash says
The family of George Floyd has called for people to be peaceful. I, for one, will honor this request of a mourning family. Further, the offending officer has been arrested and charged. What else needs to be done?
Uma Maheswar Nakka says
Good Morning,
Yes, I saw the video, the younger brother of Late Mr George Floyd, requesting the public to be calm without any riots. It was really great on him and his family, tears rolled out.
I Pray may the soul of Mr. George Floyd rest in Peace, his family and friends stand strong in bearing his loss.
Regards
Uma
Jonas Pell says
Amen
toomanyhobbies says
Huge +1 however rioting, burning, looting, violence is not the answer!
In the news Out of state vehicles were predominant, along with the riders who were instigators of the violence.
THIS CANNOT BE TOLERATED.
If you are around such and event and observe these people REPORT IT! In doing so you are protecting your community from out of state criminals so do the right thing and drop a dime on them!
eddie says
Officer Nigger Hater has been moved to one of the nation’s most secure prisons as he awaits a pardon from Trump.
Dave from San Antonio says
Your comment is unfounded and displays a certain trait known as TDS and in your case seems to be advanced, in severity. If you don’t think so…why mention Trump? He had nothing to do with this incident. This started with the lack of proper vetting and accounting of certain police actions. Blaming Trump…for everything wrong…shows a certain ignorance and lack of thinking.
eddie says
Go away and read about how the racist bastard in the White House refuses to admit he was WRONG about the Central Park 5.
Perhaps I should have referred to him as President Nigger Hater?
CogitoErgoSum says
What about the people who hired this bad cop in the first place – like the people who run the Minneapolis PD? What about the mayor of Minneapolis and the governor of Minnesota? And what’s the deal with the two autopsy reports that contradict each other?
CogitoErgoSum says
Here a link to the Police Administration page for the MPD:
The MPD looks to be a diverse group of people. Jacob Frey is the mayor of Minneapolis and Tim Walz is the governor of Minnesota. Both of them belong to the Democratic Farm Labor Party. I guess that is an offshoot of the Democratic Party – maybe like the Democratic Socialists?
CogitoErgoSum says
Well, I forgot about adding the link: Here it is:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/precincts/727_PRIMARY
Wellington says
Another person was eventually found culpable in the 1989 horrible incident in Central Park, though a multitude of authorities, not just Trump, thought otherwise. Moreover, there was great thuggery that night (April 19th, 1989) by some thirty thugs upon many people (do you even know this much?)
But what is your evidence that Trump to this day continues to assert that those initially charged with the rape of Trisha Meili are guilty?
As for the general charge of Trump being a racist, you have zero evidence for this. And if you care to bring up the Chralottesville incident in August of 2017 as evidence of Trump’s racism, which many ignorant people like you still do, the facts vindicate Trump of racism completely. But then, eddie, you’re not really interested in facts, now are you?
You make me sick, eddie. You in microcosm are a major problem and in no way a sound solution.
Left Coast says
You’re f’ed in the head eddie . . . no one in the last 50 years had done more for the minority community than Trump . . . not even your racist buddy LBJ ! ! !
Wellington says
You have zero evidence that Trump will pardon Chauvin. To state such with no evidence is extremely irresponsible of you. It is exactly people like you who make a mockery of true justice. You don’t want justice; you want a lynch mob.
eddie says
No sense of humour?
cephash says
A lot of us are losing our gentler sense of humor when, after the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd other people see their communities trashed. In Minneapolis, a man saw his life savings go up in smoke when his shop was wrecked and looted. Also, newly built low-cost housing was burned before it could even open. Is that your soial justice and redistributive justice?
Wellington says
Humor is not in play in here, eddie. Only a fool would assert otherwise. You come to mind.
gravenimage says
How are “eddie’s” vicious comments here humorous?
gravenimage says
Note that the appalling “eddie” is fine with using an epithet intended to denigrate African-Americans. Just disgusting.
eddie says
Nigger Hater?
It was a epithet used by the magnificent Bill Hicks.
In my opinion, Hicks was America’s greatest ever comedian.
gravenimage says
Here is the routine in question by Bill Hicks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdHvwBwTnAc
I’d heard it at the time–this is actually quite funny, albeit very dark.
The idea that “eddie” was actually using this epithet humorously as a homage to Bill Hicks is quite a stretch.
Dawne says
Your comment is childish. Read the article – it demonstrates very clearly the problem with law enforcement, both in the police and the FBI. Anybody who is arrested is entitled, whatever crime they may have committed, to be protected from attack in prison, which is clearly why this police officer has been moved. Grow up and engage in a proper discussion.
Jonas Pell says
Funny how the government that actually runs his police department is the ultra #woke City of Minneapolis, the same PD that employed Mohammud Noor. Remember him scummy? He shot a white woman dead WHILE SHE WAS HELPING HIS PARTNER. That is also the same bunch of scumbags who elected Ilhan Omar
gravenimage says
Good point, Jonas.
wpm says
Really Eddie ?Trump has already called for an investigation of the other three offices on the scene to have them face federal charges.Trump has publicly condemn the murder of George Floyd,he has said he has reached out to the Floyd Family.The officer is awaiting trail is in a ” secure prison’ ” what is wrong with that.Would it be better for society if he was murder in prison as he awaits trail?As bad as the officer murdering someone is a public lunching more in line with your idea of proper justice ,does that turn you on eddie?I think I remember another police office from the same police department that was suspended with pay and awaited trail(as a free man ) for gunning down an unarmed women in her PJs his defense was he was scared or “spooked” by her that is why he shot her.
gravenimage says
+1
Dave from San Antonio says
Yes, we ‘do’ have a policing problem, but…I think the big problem is how these individuals are hired, the background checks and psychological testing/profiles that are made. That being said, not all police are bad and, in fact, the majority do their job well, but it only takes a few to ruin everything…as ‘they’ are the ones we see reported on the most. The other thing is that while this is a problem that effects every large and some smaller cities…the majority of the problems seem to occur in cities or areas that are democrat/liberal controlled. Too much of the ‘social justice’ type of local government. Police unions have also gotten a little too powerful and in many cases hinder in identifying those officers that need to be terminated or, in some cases, go to jail. That, I feel is what went wrong with the officer in the George Floyd case.
Walter Sieruk says
Well since those rioters insist in behaving a lawlessness brutal violent thugs then it stands to reason they the need to be treated as the criminal hooligans since they have proven themselves to be, by their own actions
For hooligans will not respond to reason. Sot the use of strong polices might is appropriated wise important and .For this is the only language that those rioters will understated.
As Thomas Jefferson had declared. “With every barbarous people…force is law.”
Wellington says
I would contend it is important to see matters from the American police perspective. A long while ago I came across what I then, and still do, think was an astute, albeit a tragic though a nonetheless largely and realistically accurate and psychologically understandable, assessment, i.e., police in their collective mindset tend to place human beings into one of three categories: 1) fellow police; 2) ordinary citizens; and 3) barbarians.
Most of us, whatever our profession or past profession, do not on a regular basis have to deal with category 3. Police do all the time, 7 days a week, 24/7. There is a bitterness, I believe, that sets in about human society by police, which I have also noticed by certain non-police professionals like judges and lawyers. Thus, sometimes police overreact, not always, not even usually, but more than any of us of course who are not engaged in police work to begin with. Interesting and telling that this is not mentioned when police do act brutally as in the George Floyd case. Neither are police deaths at the hands of barbarians given much coverage, if any. Specifically, and per FBI statistics, a policeman in America is approximately 18 times more likely to be killed by a young black male than the other way around. This is a stunning statistic and yet little mentioned or noted.
It’s a thin line, a very thin line often times, between a law enforcement officer using appropriate force and inappropriate force. In the case of George Floyd, it was inappropriate force but, of course, when appropriate force has been used by a police officer in carrying out his duties, this is virtually never mentioned.
Compounding all this is the refusal by the American black community at large to take responsibility for their own behavior. Over 70% of black babies in America are born out of wedlock and this is the fault of the black American community and no other. Black on black crime is exponential and in Chicago alone twice as many blacks are killed by fellow blacks yearly than policemen all across the nation annually kill young black males. Why are such statistics, such factors, not mentioned in the ongoing demonization of the police here in America? In the city I live closest to, Philadelphia, there were 8 murders last night in black communities and not related to the despicable rioting and looting in Philly. See what I mean?
Worsening all of this rot is rampant political correctness and virtue-signaling. The entire “situation” in America is all effed up. Robert Spencer is correct in stating that we have a policing problem, BUT we have a policing problem because a much larger problem exists out there at large, i.e., avoidance, even denial, of addressing real causes, such as massive out-of-wedlock births among the black American community, a victim-oriented mentality fostered and encouraged by the Left, the replacing of the white plantation master with the federal government to take care of blacks, which is actually condescending in the extreme, and the continual running down of America in our schools, which polity is the greatest ever developed by man, even with all its faults, and which nation has gone to extraordinary lengths over the past half century to correct its wrongs of the past, never mind that so much of the rest of the world, whether in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent, among American Indian societies, most certainly in the Islamic sphere of mankind, et al. never seem to have to address the wrongs of their own past.
Phony world. Stupid world. You betcha’.
Sick of all this? I am. Most definitely I am. And minus the few rotten cops out there, I remain very pro-police. They are the thin blue line, the first line, against barbarism taking over us all.
mgoldberg says
I too remain pro police. We ask them to do all the really dirty work… put their lives on the line to protect us and then we forget that that itself is a very complex thing to deal with on a daily basis. Most cops are very good and a few are dogs. A few. And I can say a whole lot of politicians, and political types who’ve assisted in this hatred of cops, the burning of cities, and yeah… the killing of some others by antifa types is worse than all of the bad cops put together. And yes… as a young guy I got my ribs broken by a bad cop. For nothing.
I was drunk- good and loaded and sleeping it off on someone’s steps during the short time in college I was doing some drinking. A cop woke me up out of a stupor at about 3 in the morning, and said to me ‘what the hell are you doing here?’ I answered him ‘sleeping, what the hell are you doing here! He responded by jabbing me with the front end of his billy club, and I remember seeing stars as my cracked ribs gave me notice. He left me there since it was illegal, and he didn’t need the paperwork. Two lessons: do not ever mouth off to a cop, lest you piss them off, and the other, dont’ ever get drunk enough to forget the first lesson. I’ve never forgotten that. Never ever got drunk like that nor mouthed off to a cop. I did get mugged once by 5 young guys who wanted my money and they broke those same ribs, and to this day, I every couple of years suffter the rib tears that take about a month to heal and the pain is, ugh, always a real pain to live with. Life can be tough and full of lessons and so on.
I think the police have a really hard time, because their job is to be ready to handle the really dangerous people, the really ugly criminal sorts and it’s always on their minds- especially when piss ant antifa types get to play games and hide behind progressive policies and claim victim status whenever they’re out being criminal destroyers. And the police have been betrayed for decades now, having to play patty cake with some of the worst sorts whilst their lives are in danger.
Criminals who mug and rob get to sue when they are running away and suffer a bullet injury that causes them permanent injury. Cops have to answer to all their actions by people who’ve never faced a life threatening moment with a weapon at them. Yes… there are a couple bad cops and yes, they should be found out and gotten out of their jobs. Mostly, there are decent cops who live with a difficult job. These rioters, these liars- hell I was young once and I knew them and knew their lies and how they gloated over getting over on the ‘system’ and the ‘society’ and how they reveled in it, with huge amounts of hatred. As one person noted, when M Noor shot and murdered a white women who was simply coming out to fing the cop car after calling for 911 assistance the idiot muslim, black man cop shot and murdered her. And he lied about his feelings and why he shot at her, and it took the longest time to bring him to justice. No riots, not screaming about muslim hatreds, black hatreds, no riots, just delayed justice. Now… we get sacralized police hatred, hatred of white people, hatred of capitalism, yes, hated of Israel, and on and on it goes.
The police tactics should be to protect all these cities where these mutts all play for the cameras and the police are held helpless to actually protect the publicl.
Carl -stealth Infidel- says
Mgoldberg, thanks for sharing your experiences. That’s a fine post
gravenimage says
Great post, mgoldberg.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
A timely, accurate, and excellent post. My compliments.
A few thoughts regarding some of your astute statements:
“…police in their collective mindset tend to place human beings into one of three categories: 1) fellow police; 2) ordinary citizens; and 3) barbarians.”
The police also have to figure out, oftentimes in mere seconds, who are the ordinary citizens and who are the barbarians. It can literally mean the difference between their own life and death.
“There is a bitterness, I believe, that sets in about human society by police, which I have also noticed by certain non-police professionals like judges and lawyers.”
These individuals see a skewed version of human society. I have also personally gotten more than a taste of this by working ER shifts in medium-size community hospitals – and witnessing severe cases of domestic abuse.
“…a policeman in America is approximately 18 times more likely to be killed by a young black male than the other way around.”
You are correct, this is an absolutely stunning statistic. A police officer is held to an almost impossible standard. They could have a stellar career until that one case when they overreacted and used excessive force – with a bad outcome. As an analogy, an airline pilot is only as good as his/her last landing. Pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles, on US Airways Flight 1549, had a razor thin margin regarding the outcome – being either a stupendous success or colossal failure.
“Compounding all this is the refusal by the American black community at large to take responsibility for their own behavior.”
The ones that do take responsibility have been able to prosper in this country. Case in point, Dr. Ben Carson – and there are many others..
“we have a policing problem because a much larger problem exists out there at large…”
Your elaboration on your examples is “spot on.”
I personally believe in law and order and I respect the vast majority of police officers. All groups have a few bad apples and that includes doctors, lawyers, engineers, financial advisors, etc.
I have never once had a problem with a police officer. I treat them with courtesy, dignity, and respect. I follow their orders if my car is stopped, etc. The vast majority are basically good people, trying to do a very difficult and mostly thankless job, finish their shift safely, and return home to their family in one piece.
I hope that tonight the country starts the process of healing…
LB says
Agreed 100% on everything.
Can you imagine USA without cops? It would become a post-apocalyptic Mad Max world in less than a month. Actually… Now that I think about it, if all cops in the entire country got a week off, just one week, I bet that would serve as a wake up call for a lot of these leftist anti-gun anti-cop advocates. I bet that would make them change their tune real quick, especially since most of these vocal leftists live in affluent gated communities, which would be the first ones targeted.
Are there bad cops in the force who like to abuse their authority? Without question. In fact, I would even go as far as to suggest that the percentage of bad cops out of the total number goes into double digits (very low double digits, but still). However hating all cops indifferently is unreasonable to say the least. The US Police Force is the only thing holding the country from falling into chaos.
Wellington says
Thank you, mgoldberg, James Lincoln and LB for your replies.
RichardL says
I have an American flag on my car. It is blue. The FBI has a problem. So has the State Department. And maybe there are rotten police forces but the vast majority of officers are really outstanding people.
Templer says
This is a leftist Islamic riote they must be sharply stopet or amerca is finshed
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
George Floyd shouldn’t have died like a dog in the street. He was a human being worth the same dignity and respect as anyone else on the planet. I don’t care what you are suspected of, you don’t deserve a spine-crushing knee on the neck until death. And yes, there are plenty of good cops out there, we know this. But when the level of criminality reaches this level then they deserve the harshest criticism possible. This is not an isolated incident, too many police are terrorizing our communities with with their brutal methods and civil rights violations. We have become a police state ever since 9/11, exacerbated by ill-intentioned leftist policies and a lack of respect for our civil rights in the name of “national security.” In the mean time islam is allowed to inseminate our nation with a creed and traditions that inspire the very crimes that law enforcement is trying to prevent. I am treated like a prison inmate at an airport, but the “religion” that provoked that security is shielded as a religion of peace–insane. We lose our freedoms and privacy for dangerous islam, but islam is fed and coddled like a hungry wolf in a chicken farm. It seems to me that our nation and culture is dominated by a radical left determination to destroy us. To me that knee on George Floyd’s neck is symbolic of the knee on the neck of every good citizen who desires freedom without religious and political tyranny, and that’s what islam is–tyranny. “We can’t breathe,” either, because islam is crushing the life out of western humanity with its knee on our collective necks.
If you are angry about the murder of George Floyd then I would ask that you be angry about islam, too. Because what islam brings is a million times worse than that one tragic incident. If you are disgusted by racism in general, then be disgusted by the antisemitism and misogynist hate of islam. If you are disgusted by the brutality of this incident, then be disgusted by the bigoted brutality that islam teaches and condones. If you are outraged by the lack of humane treatment for George, then be disgusted by the inhumane traditions and doctrines of islam. If we care about George Floyd but then not care about the injustices of islam then we are hypocrites or fools and a danger to our own nation. We aren’t bigots or racists for our concerns about islam any more than those peaceful protesters are racists or bigots for George. We are good people who won’t tolerate the brutality of a tyrannical police force, and we shouldn’t tolerate the tyrannical abuses of a religion that says kill “unbelievers,” especially in the context of all the murder and suffering it surely causes.
I’ve lived in Minnesota all my life, it’s a great state. And I’m proud of those who peacefully protested for that man. It’s the same pride I feel about Robert Spencer, and Geller, and Wilders, and Tommy Robinson, Anne Waters, and Paul Weston, and all the contributors and fans of JW. Because they are good people who want to make the world a better place, better without all the crime, hate, and bigotry of a religious doctrine called “islam.”
commonsense says
This is an impassioned, compelling post. Bravo.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Google “pj media” and “Corbo’s Italian bakery”
Scroll down to the last video.
Click on it.
Watch to the end, when the three Corbo men, two armed with rifles, come out from the bakery.
They kept their guns, they left their cannolis.
Daniel Triplett says
Outstanding piece Robert! You are so correct, and have brilliantly articulated my perspective too.
It’s not just “one bad cop.” Most cops are bullies and liars. Power-tripping arrogant jerks. I too have been screwed by cops half a dozen times, including a false DUI arrest that I spent 18 months and $100,000 defending, ending with a unanimous NOT GUILTY verdict from all 12 jurors.
Not only did the other three cops responding to George Floyd say nothing to the fourth cop, Chauvin, on top of Floyd to stop him, they forcefully prevented the Good Samaritans from saving this man’s life. If bad cops are rare, it’s quite an amazing coincidence then that all 4 cops present were bad.
The fact is America has a systemic problem with police:
Excessive use of force; manufacture of inculpatory evidence; destruction of exculpatory evidence; “creative” police report writing; “testi-lying”; Blue Wall of Silence; collusion with prosecutors to convict rather than find truth; FBI conspiracies to interfere with elections and take down a President.
These are well-engineered pre-meditated Civil Rights abuses, not simply mistakes made in the heat of the moment.
They do this to everyone — all races, genders, and ages — every day, all day, in all law enforcement organizations across America. The police have been doing this forever. That’s the truth, and everyone knows it, even the Courts, DAs, and police themselves.
If police want a better relationship with Americans, then they must reverse all this and overhaul police attitude and culture.
Furthermore, District Attorney is an elected position, as are Circuit Judges. The ONLY people who contribute to District Attorneys election/re-election campaigns are police unions — city, county, and state. This is a major conflict of interest. The police own the DA. This is a big reason the police problem is so pervasive and interminable.
Wellington says
Daniel Triplett: In Philadelphia and its immediate western municipality, Delaware County, the major contributors to the DA race were liberals, including George Soros’s organization.
And I dispute your contention that the “police problem is so pervasive and interminable.” What is most pervasive is criminality, a huge proportion of which is committed by blacks. I know. I live amidst this rot. There is hardly a day that goes by that there isn’t one or more killings or maimings by blacks in Philly. Just last night there were eight murders and not related to the rioters and looters.
Reconsider.
Daniel Triplett says
Campaign finance records for Eastern Oregon counties from 2012 list the ONLY contributors to the District Attorney elections were police unions. I’ll take your word about Philly. Eastern Oregon is 75% Republican. No blacks within 200 miles.
Particularly in smaller communities, prosecutors and police are friends and socialize off-duty. The DA covers for the police and takes their side every single time. Prosecutors in America don’t seek truth and justice. Their goal is to convict whoever the police bring in front of them. The arresting cop sits right next to the prosecutor during criminal trials.
Robert Spencer zeroed in on the problem. I could have written the piece myself because he and I share the same perspective. I agree with everything he said.
Robert and I aren’t alone. Why do you think America is on fire right now with public protests and demonstrations in at least 75 cities? Just a bunch of thugs stealing big screen TVs and Nikes? That’s just a small part of it. Of course, there’s no excuse for the violence, vandalism, and looting. Taking rioters off the table, what’s left are legions of legitimate protesters nationwide, beyond just the people marching in the boulevards.
For good reason, tens of millions of Americans are angry and fed up with systemic (pervasive and interminable) police misconduct, brutality, Civil Rights abuses, sovereign immunity, and regarding our Constitution as a nuisance to circumvent rather than sacred honor. Do you believe these grievances are simply imagined, and America has no such problems?
The problems Robert identified in his article, and those I identified in my post above are real. He’s experienced them, I’ve experienced them half a dozen times, and so have millions upon millions of other Americans just like us.
The riots are a shame, because they hurt people and property, and it erases empathy and focus on the underlying issue. The problem doesn’t get solved. The cycle repeats perpetually.
This isn’t just about black criminals in the Philly ghettos. The problem is far bigger than that and it affects all of us across America. It’s not a black/white thing, and it’s not a Right/Left thing either.
It’s worth noting though, if police are willing to frame the President, imagine how they’re treating the black and Hispanic guys. If they see nothing wrong with murdering George Floyd while being filmed, imagine all the evils cops do when they’re not being filmed.
Wellington says
Daniel Triplett: I believe America is on fire because 1) The welfare state created in the 1960’s has done terrible damage to the black community and to others. In 1960 some 20% of black babies were born out of wedlock (still too high of course) but now it is over 70% The welfare state ruined the black family structure. Also, blacks make up some 13% of the American population but account for well over 50% of the crime—usually against each other and this hurts the law-abiding blacks the most;
2) Beginning in the Sixties, a tragic decade if ever there were one, there was initiated the morphing of old fashion liberalism into modern liberalism, call it leftism if you like, and it has done terrible damage to America. The education establishment is now overwhelmingly dominated by leftists (I know this first hand having been a college teacher where I was one of only three out of some seventy-five faculty who was a conservative (and those two conservatives left before I retired so I was the sole conservative thereafter). Students have been taught by these leftist teachers that America stinks, it’s racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, really has no right to exist because we took land from American Indians (never mind Indians took land from each other and were also very brutal, both to fellow Indian tribes and to whites), and on and on and on with this rot.
3) I think the vast majority of police are honorable and have an extremely difficult job to do. As a teacher, I didn’t have to lay my life on the line everyday I went to work. Police do exactly this. The idea that most police are brutal is simply not true. It’s part of the false narrative spun by leftists. And are you aware, per FBI statistics, that a policeman in America is 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a young black male than the other way around? Did you know, and this comes from the CDC and as mentioned by Larry Elder, himself black, several times over the past week, that killings of blacks by police have gone down 75% in the last 45 years while killings of whites by police over the same time period have remained the same?
4) I think some very rotten people in the Deep State in certain agencies, for instance Comey, Strzok and Page at the FBI and Brennan at the CIA, never mind the Hillary Clinton campaign which paid for the fake Steele dossier, did everything they could to pull Trump down and this is sickening but I believe the vast majority of FBI, CIA, etc. government employees are honorable and try to do their best—they’re not dirty.
This is enough for now. Thank you for replying.
gravenimage says
Fine post, Wellington.
Daniel Triplett says
Wellington
Your 4 part answer here appears to be in reply to a question: “Why are black rioters violent, vandalizing, and looting?”
Please let me clarify what I’m asking you: “Why are so many non-rioting peaceful Americans right now of all races angry about what they consider to be systemic police misconduct and Civil Rights abuses?”
Are they mistaken?
I’m not making this about race at all. You seem to be making this exclusively about race. Is that how you see it?
I admit, 9 days into nationwide rioting when that’s all we see on the TV, having a reasonable discussion about systemic bad policing is increasingly difficult.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
To your point, Philadelphia has experienced black race related violence for a very long time.
I was actually in Philadelphia during the 1978 MOVE shoot-out after then Mayor Frank Rizzo obtained a court order demanding MOVE members vacate the Powelton Village house at 311 N 33rd Street.
A very historic city, it has experienced its share of problems…
Wellington says
A part of the reason, James, why I prefer spending time at our home in northern New England way out in the woods.
I have never been a city person and I am reminded here what Thomas Jefferson, who detested cities, said, to wit, that cities are the breeding ground of filth and pessimism. Yes, there are wonderful things in cities like museums, orchestras, great restaurants, etc., but for me where cities are concerned the parts are always greater than the whole while in rural and small town America the whole is even greater than the parts.
gravenimage says
No, most police officers are not “bullies and liars”.
And if you think things are bad now, just see how things would be with violent Jihad running wild in the West if you were to dismantle all law enforcement.
Daniel Triplett says
Most cops are not bullies and liars according to whom? You? Considering what’s happening across America right now, perhaps your perspective isn’t prevailing.
Personally, in 75% of my contacts with police over the last 35 years, the cops were power-tripping bullies and liars. By definition, that is “most.”
Of course, there are some great guys who are cops. I myself have known many too, especially the guys with whom I served in the USAF Reserve who were cops in their civilian jobs. Cops with military backgrounds usually perform their jobs differently than non-military.
Come on GI, who said anything about “dismantling all law enforcement”? How about we honestly examine and fix the problems instead?
Wellington says
Daniel Triplett: I am 68 years old and never once in all my encounters with police have I ever been bullied, nor has my brother, my sister, friends, neighbors, etc. whom I have spoken with about this very matter of police actions. I think your 75% figure is an outlier when all police over all of the country are taken into account.
gravenimage says
Daniel Triplett wrote:
Most cops are not bullies and liars according to whom? You? Considering what’s happening across America right now, perhaps your perspective isn’t prevailing.
……………………..
Daniel–with all respect–your idea that *most* Americans are out rioting against the police is *entirely mistaken*. Even in my bluer-than-blue part of the country, this is not even close to being true.
More:
Personally, in 75% of my contacts with police over the last 35 years, the cops were power-tripping bullies and liars. By definition, that is “most.”
……………………..
This is so strange I’m not even sure what to say about it. Bad luck? Fulfillment of very odd expectations? How many contacts with police have you had?
More:
Of course, there are some great guys who are cops. I myself have known many too, especially the guys with whom I served in the USAF Reserve who were cops in their civilian jobs. Cops with military backgrounds usually perform their jobs differently than non-military.
……………………..
These riots are not against police lacking military backgrounds–in fact, most of the rioters would be apt to consider them even worse.
More:
Come on GI, who said anything about “dismantling all law enforcement”?
……………………..
If you honestly believe that three-quarters of police officers are liars and bullies, why would you want to perpetuate such a system?
Daniel Triplett says
“Daniel–with all respect–your idea that *most* Americans are out rioting against the police is *entirely mistaken*.”
>>> I didn’t say “most” Americans are rioting.
“This is so strange I’m not even sure what to say about it. Bad luck? Fulfillment of very odd expectations? How many contacts with police have you had?”
>>> At least 10. In my own experience with cops, 60 – 75% are arrogant power tripping jerks, not only at the scene, but also when “creating” their police reports and “test-lying” in court. But this isn’t about me. It’s about policing in America.
40% of all police have reported in the last year abusing their own families with violence. Is it such a stretch then to think that these same, or a bit more, cops are abusing civilians in contacts with their jobs?
http://www.purpleberets.org/violence_police_families.html
https://i0.wp.com/www.johnlaurits.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/police-officers-turning-blind-eye-333×390.jpg?resize=333%2C390&ssl=1
“If you honestly believe that three-quarters of police officers are liars and bullies, why would you want to perpetuate such a system?”
>>> Who said I want to perpetuate such a system?
Daniel Triplett says
https://graphs.net/police-brutality-statistics.html
gravenimage says
Daniel Triplett wrote, in reply to myself:
“If you honestly believe that three-quarters of police officers are liars and bullies, why would you want to perpetuate such a system?”
>>> Who said I want to perpetuate such a system?
………………………….
You said you did not want to dismantle law enforcement.
Daniel Triplett says
GI:
And if you think things are bad now, just see how things would be with violent Jihad running wild in the West if you were to dismantle all law enforcement.
Daniel:
Come on GI, who said anything about “dismantling all law enforcement”? How about we honestly examine and fix the problems instead?
GI:
If you honestly believe that three-quarters of police officers are liars and bullies, why would you want to perpetuate such a system?
Daniel:
Who said I want to perpetuate such a system?
GI:
You said you did not want to dismantle law enforcement.
>>> Yes, as I said: “how about we honestly examine and fix the problems instead?” versus “dismantling,” which was your word.
I assumed by “dismantling” you meant ‘eliminate’. Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant.
gravenimage says
Daniel, as above, I’m afraid I am not sure what point you are trying to make.
Daniel Triplett says
This is unnecessarily complicated. My point is simple. These are valid problems Robert articulates. Correcting these problems is in all Americans’ best interest:
1.
“while the rioting is opportunistic, outrageous, and possibly coordinated and pre-planned, America really does have a policing problem, and it is far larger than just Derek Chauvin.”
–Spencer
2.
“While many police officers are careful professionals doing a dangerous and thankless job, there has been and is a problem on both a large and a small scale with unaccountable policing officials abusing their authority, apparently secure in the knowledge that their colleagues will cover for them.”
–Spencer
3.
“It seems that more police officers than many people would like to admit are bullies and thugs who joined the force because doing so effectively gives them a license to brutalize people without fear of censure or punishment.”
–Spencer
4.
“This is not, contrary to establishment media myth, a race-based issue. It’s a problem of police overreach. Power-tripping cops have victimized people of all races.”
–Spencer
5.
“many other such incidents, large and small. CNN and the rest of the establishment media is extraordinarily irresponsible to perpetuate the myth that black Americans are uniquely the victims of rogue cops and venial law enforcement authorities. The fact is that this is even larger than a racial problem, but it has been obscured by the violent opportunism of Antifa and Black Lives Matter.”
–Spencer
6.
“Recoiling in horror at the riots, conservatives can be tempted to issue a blanket exoneration of the police, and to reject out of hand any report of law enforcement misconduct. That only enables the misconduct to continue”
–Spencer
7.
“A thoroughgoing reevaluation and reform of the entire system is needed, with accountability procedures put into place”
gravenimage says
I have already agreed with Robert Spencer on these points, the day this story was posted–then I have also linked to that post. You do not need to keep reposting large parts of Robert Spencer’s article.
gravenimage says
The Riots Must Be Stopped – But America DOES Have A Policing Problem
………….
Agree on both points.
And I did not know that Robert Spencer was himself assaulted by a security guard–just disgusting. For those who do not know, he is a short, civilized academic in his mid-fifties at the time–obviously not a physical threat to much of anybody.
Meanwhile, we just received notice that the county is under curfew, and my husband passed phalanxes of police officers on motorcycles earlier today heading downtown while he was out on a walk. We’ve got a helicopter overhead, and it looks like another night of insanity.
mortimer says
Sadly, this is an example of police brutality. But politics should not influence the independence of the court. Police of different races were involved, so it is not a matter of racism. The officer acted sadistically. It is certainly against police ethics to torture a detainee. The perpetrator was caught on camera, but has a right to competent defense and his day in court. An experienced judge will punish him according to precedent. Politics should not influence a judge.
Leftists are trying to use this opportunity to start a revolution. Even jihadists are getting in on the act.
William says
We have a policing problem. Yet the police are not alone in deserving blame. The police often are responding to requests from people — business owners, homeowners, people from all walks of life. We need to consider what we are doing when we call the police. Do we need to get the police involved? Can the problem be solved in some peaceable or rational way? Of course there are people who call the police and try to use them for personal gripes and vendettas against others. Many have lost any sense of proportionality. The police is like a sledgehammer. When we call the police it is like going for the sledgehammer to some carpentry. If you are so inclined, think carefully before calling the police.
gravenimage says
You should be able to call the police if you or your property is threatened. The idea that you should be compelled to handle things yourself against violent or potentially violent assailants puts the public at risk.
William says
Gravenimage, you should be able to call the police if you or your property is threatened. More importantly, you should be able to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. If you feel you are not able to do so, and if you can afford it, you may employ bodyguards. But the police are not there to protect you. They can’t and they don’t. And there are under no legal obligation to do so. They are law enforcers. Anyone who relies on police for his protection is putting himself at risk.
gravenimage says
I reject the idea that if you are neither able to personally defend yourself or afford personal bodyguards that you deserve no protection.
Rod says
Put simply, the “policing problem” is that too many white police are killing too many unarmed black people. And they do it too often in broad daylight. (Nothing to do with race. The dead people just happen to be black).
The very stable genius in the White House has a solution, even better than his plan to solve the Covid crisis – which will start working soon – trust me. Let the military do it. Thanks Donald, can’t fail.
CogitoErgoSum says
What do you think about this:
https://psmag.com/social-justice/black-cops-are-just-as-likely-as-whites-to-kill-black-suspects
or this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrpuQz5A7I
gravenimage says
This is true.
Rod says
Why are police killing people? Black (mostly) or white?
Why do Americans kill so many people (including each other). Your murder rate is horrifying. Compare it with Germany, UK, Denmark, Australia (if you dare).
What is wrong with your society?
You won’t solve it by hating Muslims. Why is there so much hate in America? Why did you choose a president who exudes hatred and contempt, and inspires you to hate others?
A sick society.
Rod says
“After decades of supposedly legal police beatings and murders, the protests have swept America’s cities more quickly than even coronavirus.
This is no coincidence of timing. In other crises, in other eras, there have been presidents who understood their most basic duty: to calm the violence and protect the people. In this crisis, however, we have a president who built his entire political career as a gold-painted tower to incite violence.”
Demsci says
I am all for comparing murder rates and do acknowledge the better statistics of the “top countries’’. But (of course there comes a but). Don’t stop there. Compare the full statistics available of 193 countries (of the UN). Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, South Africa and many others are much worse than America. Domestic violence is also more rampant per capita in many countries than it is in America.
The UN itself acknowledges that a lot of countries do not transparently enough keep records. America is exemplary in its thorough transparency. And then there is the trust of populations in their police. It is very high in America, at least for a clear majority. My suspicion is that murder is underreported in many countries where police is trusted much less.
And this touches on the logic that some countries just don;t report honestly and are not held accountable as much as America reports honestly and is held accountable, for reporting less flattering statistics.
Then; look also to the positive statistics of the 193 countries as far as they are available; like wealth, health & longevity, freedom, education, even health care, until recently the economy etc. Then you’ll see America steadfastly in the top, at times high, at times At least in the top 20. So with 173 countries either under America or with no good statistics available.
And finally; consider where from and where to people flee; they don’t flee America (even the African Americans don’t) and millions flee TO America (and not to Russia, China and most of 193 countries of UN).
Please compare America to The alternatives, not to “the Almighty” (copyright Jim Clyburn, African American Democrat politician).
gravenimage says
Does “Rod” have a problem with black Muslim police killing an unarmed, non-violent white woman who in fact called the police herself when she thought a neighbor was in distress?
Of course, he has never said anything critical about *this* police abuse–but then, why would he?
Then, of course, he is enraged that President Trump would take any measures against mass looting–much better for the destruction of America to encourage this.
CogitoErgoSum says
No police involved in this one, Rod, just some protestors expressing their grief.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmFItS-dRi4
Keys says
Thanks for posting these videos, CES.
gravenimage says
+1
Rod says
Thanks Cogito. Looks like USA. Certainly not my country. My guess is that something’s gone badly wrong.
Might help if you hate Muslims? Nah, don’t think that’ll work.
gravenimage says
Once again, “Rod” is implying that if you oppose violence, that you have no right to oppose violence.
How does that work, again?
Rod says
So, gi, hating Muslims will help? How does that work again? How long does it take? Results expected soon?
CogitoErgoSum says
Rod, who says I hate Muslims? Maybe you can’t distinguish between an ideology and and a human being but I can. I hate Islam, not Muslims.
Wellington says
You make little sense. This is not about Muslims but basic law and order. Only a fool cannot see this. You come to mind.,
As for what has gone wrong, it is Progressive Democrats, mayors and governors, who have failed the American people big time. Progressive Democrats make excuses for criminals and your ordinary citizen suffers because of this. This entire farce whereby anarchy continues to reign is due first and foremost to the fact that Progressive Democrats are wussies where proper law enforcement is concerned. They’re worse than useless; they actually abet evil.
gravenimage says
Is “Rod” saying that if you oppose Jihad terror that you hate Muslims?
That would only be the case if all Muslims supported Jihad terror. Sounds as though it is actually “Rod” who is smearing Muslims.
Rod says
Yes, folks. You hate Muslims. Maybe not all of you, but many. The evidence of your posts goes back years. I’ve been watching. You cannot deny your own words.
No, I am not saying “that if you oppose Jihad terror that you hate Muslims”.
I am saying that if you post the ugly, hateful, dishonest, things which appear here daily, you clearly hate Muslims. Perhaps you don’t know it, but I think you do.
Should I look back and repeat some of your sickening posts? No, I leave it to you.
CogitoErgoSum says
Yes, Rod, you should leave it to us until you have gained a better understanding of just how evil Islam is. If you loved the truth you would not be defending a religion that spreads lies far more damaging than any personal opinion I have ever seen expressed here. You may think shutting up those who speak their minds about Islam is a virtuous act on your part but in fact you contribute to the spread of an ideology that has retarded human progress for nearly 1,400 years and will continue to oppress the human mind and spirit indefinitely so long as men like you continue to let themselves be deluded into thinking that a lie is preferable to the truth if the truth makes you feel bad about yourself.
gravenimage says
“Rod” wrote:
Yes, folks. You hate Muslims. Maybe not all of you, but many. The evidence of your posts goes back years. I’ve been watching. You cannot deny your own words.
No, I am not saying “that if you oppose Jihad terror that you hate Muslims”.
I am saying that if you post the ugly, hateful, dishonest, things which appear here daily, you clearly hate Muslims. Perhaps you don’t know it, but I think you do.
Should I look back and repeat some of your sickening posts? No, I leave it to you.
………………….
In other words, “Rod” has no examples of “the ugly, hateful, dishonest, things which appear here daily”. Well, this scarcely surprises.
Wellington says
Absolutely false, Rod. Killings of blacks by police, per the CDC, have gone down 75% over the last forty-five years. But on the other hand, per FBI statistics, a policeman is 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a young black male than the other way around. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Rod says
The lynchings have stopped. That’s progress. But, 1000 people are killed per year by police. I challenge you to tell me that even half that number of police are killed by offenders. As I said, why are police killing so many people?
And horrific numbers of homicides nationwide (per all the statistics). Still lots of hate, fear, violence. Canada, across the border, is vastly different. Interesting.
Hating Muslims is part of the problem.
Ecosse1314 says
Honestly Rod. It seems that you cannot differentiate between hatred of a racist anti- female and sinister ideology and an ordinary muslim who probably never the koran.
Your continual refrain of “hating muslims” is wrong and infantile.
gravenimage says
This is another bizarre comment from “Rod”, considering how many violent criminals police deal with on a regular basis. His implication that things would somehow be equal if only as many police as criminals are killed is very strange.
By the way, about 180 police officers are killed annually in the US. “Rod” must be so disappointed that the toll is not much higher.
tim gallagher says
That was appalling seeing that police officer murder George Floyd. The police officer must have known that he was slowly murdering Floyd and the police officer didn’t seem to have totally lost it and been completely enraged and out of control. Looking at this from Australia, an area of the world where China is (I’m pretty sure) seeking to take over and bully all the countries in our area, I’m alarmed at how divided the USA seems to be. From the big world scene type of perspective, I’m thinking, oh shit, China, run by a disgusting, thuggish Communist regime, might actually win out and really become very dominant in the world, because the USA, which I think is the only nation powerful enough to stand up to China, looks to be very divided and has huge problems of its own to deal with. Maybe the significance of these riots in the USA are not as great as they seem right now, it’s hard to say from the other side of the world, and maybe things will settle down soon, but it is alarming to see what is happening there. Maybe the bad guys win sometimes and if China did win out in the long run, it would certainly be a case of the bad guys winning out over the far better liberal democracies of the world.
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
I’m alarmed at how divided the USA seems to be. Tim
I think it’s all in how one looks at things. I don’t see the peaceful protesters as a sign that we are divided necessarily, I see it as a sign that we are united and evolving to a better place. It’s remarkably commendable that so many people should stand firm for the rights of one human being. It isn’t a bad thing, it’s a wonderful good thing. It isn’t a sign that we are divided, it’s more a sign of our solidarity. The reason it seems like we are divided is because the leftist media and politicians wants us to appear divided so they can portray America as a place of racial injustice and in need of destruction. Don’t be proud of your nation, is their message, cuz we are so lost and sinful with our racism–NO, we aren’t! Nor are the rioters and looters a sign that we are divided. They are instead opportunists trying to capitalize on society’s weakest moment, they are enemies of us all and do not honor George Floyd.
America is a great nation despite our past mistakes. Our constitutional ideals may have proceeded our ability to live them to their fullest potential, but that’s no reason to dig up old racial wounds to inflame hateful passions. And that’s what the left is doing as usual, my own governor was blaming racism even without any evidence it was racism. I don’t believe in that kind of dishonest appraisal of the facts to stir racial hatred and shame present day whites for what Eisenhower’s generation did.
tim gallagher says
Thanks for the comment, Agostino. I agree with what you say about the USA being a great and a good country and society. All of our western liberal democracies are good societies and also the democratic Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea an the Philippines, etc, are also pretty good societies. That is the reason that I am concerned when I see the violence and unrest there in the USA. I also think the peaceful protest is a good thing. But, as I was saying in my first comment, as someone who is far away from this, I am not sure just how big a problem it is and how big a division there is in US society. It looks pretty serious at the moment, but I’m sure most of the society there is pretty harmonious. I do think China, or rather the thuggish, Communist regime in charge there, would be rubbing their hands with glee at seeing the only country powerful enough to stand up to them, having so much trouble. China definitely wants to run the world. I hope this strife in the USA is resolved somehow very soon. To my mind, the USA, along with all our liberal democratic nations, are the good guys and Communist China and all Islamic nations are the bad guys. Every nation is made up of somewhat flawed human beings who have not behaved perfectly during every nation’s history. As you say, the left love to run our countries down all the time. They seem to hate our western civilisation’s values. Agostino, your comment put things there in the USA into perspective. So thanks for that.
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
Thanks for your reply, Tim. I agree with what you said, but would like to expound on one thing. I’m sure the Communist regime is “rubbing their hands” over our “trouble.” But one man’s trouble can be another man’s asset. Free speech is far more troubling to a tyrannical government like China, in America it’s a golden asset, a cornerstone of freedom. China is the one who is truly in trouble with their shocking human rights violations and suppression of free speech. The light of freedom has already gone out in China while we in America are evolving to a better place for freedom and human rights. It’s painful and it hurts sometimes, but the alternative would be even worse. I’d rather have to get the painful shot in the arm than die from the disease. The vandals and looters weren’t part of the discussion, they were violent trolls hurting us all. It’s true, even the peaceful protests were loud, angry, and disruptive. But their import was equal to the cause, I say. No pain, no gain, the glory is in the doing. China’s government is afraid to evolve, they only want control, and they are willing to destroy what’s best for humanity to do it.
I’m not trying to argue or nitpick with this paltry offering, I only wanted to build on your good words. Thanks. 🙂
tim gallagher says
Thanks for the reply, Agostino. I agree with what you say. The USA, the European democracies, Australia and the Asian democratic countries are all far better places for the human spirit to thrive than dictatorial China, but, unfortunately, that revolting regime can impose its repressive way of life on other countries. Hong Kong looks to be about to be crushed by China soon. Probably the thuggish Chinese regime will then seek to crush Taiwan, etc. They crushed Tibet a long time back. I just hope the good, decent regimes can win out in the long run. I agree with your outlook on things and I never mind people having a different view of things to my own, so there was no need to mention that you weren’t trying to argue or nitpick. You always seem like a polite, courteous, and wise commenter from what I read here at Jihad Watch.
gravenimage says
Good exchange, Agostino and Tim.
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
Something bothers me greatly about this sad incident in the current national narrative, and that is the media and politicians stirring up old wounds about the poor black man who has been oppressed for 400 years. It’s true, there has been terrible racism in this country and the world and it shouldn’t exist. But it’s not the same world it was, say, during the Detroit riots of ’67. Black people have the same opportunities as any one else these days in America. How many millionaire athletes are there? movies stars? and respected politicians and “Don Lemons” in the media who get rich promoting their racist-leftist agenda? The vast majority are afforded the same chance at a happy life as the rest of us. Life is hard for everyone, not just black people. Personally I think there are too many black people that don’t want to let go of the past because it affords them the opportunity to portray the present in the same terrible light. But not all your problems can be because of your “blackness,” it may just be because you need work as a person. Do ya think?
…the stain we need to be working on, is what happened to those fundamental institutional racism that allows a man to be held down in broad daylight…~Governor Walz
The Governor didn’t seem to finish his thought, falling short of accusing the officer of murder. But he said enough to blame racism. I don’t think he should have done that. He had no evidence that it was racism, people kill purposefully or accidentally for any number of reasons. Get your evidence first before you start stirring racial hatred, Governor.
If racism is a social stain like the Governor said, then I suggest it’s no greater than the rich against the poor, the beautiful against the ugly, or the smart against the dumb–or vice versa on all those. The world is full of injustices as bad or worse as any racism in America, like islam’s genocidal culture of murder and abuse for a demon as one example. I’m not defending racism because it does still exist on some level, but it’s wrong to misrepresent the truth and inflame old passions for past wrongs real or imagined.
The governor and Mayor Frey made a few other statements that reveal, in my opinion, their radical left agenda to shame white America and stoke racial hatred. And so even though I feel I witnessed an act of brutality on a man who was literally begging for breath, I also think I’m seeing the left exploiting the situation to promote their self-loathing, anti-America agenda. If you want to blame yourself then go ahead, Governor, but don’t blame me. This self-deprecating attitude is what compels politicians and media to grovel before islam, too, because they think we should be too ashamed of ourselves to love what’s best about our nation to want to defend it. And I think that’s a very wrong message to send.
gravenimage says
Good post, Agostino.
scherado says
Very well stated, superb, Mr. Spencer!
Sukabumi Joe Joe says
Did you guys see Biden do the Kaepernick bow? I must say that that is just about as low as you can go. When I first came to the US in the seventies, I was amazed at how proud Americans are (were) of their country: the pledge of allegiance, the stars and stripes, wow, I was favourably impressed, I can tell you that. Back home that was considered fascist (like the antifa would right now). And now look at you guys… And if you scrutinize it carefully, you can only come up with one answer: it’s the left that has been polarizing your country like mad. Neomarxism is extremely dangerous, I guess.
gravenimage says
+1
Mallikarjuna Sharma says
A serious investigation should be done also into the point whether Derek Chauvin and other officers were psychos motivated by irrational hatred and anger, or was there any previous enmity between Chauvin and the victim George Floyd?
Roger White says
I would have thought the rioting and looting etc. would not have the approval of the majority of African Americans because it reflects on them.
Shastra says
As USA has a shitty habit of interfering in Indian affairs and lecture India to take of care it’s minorities ( aka Christians and muslims). This is a chance for India to return the favour. To lecture USA to how to take care of their minorities.
CogitoErgoSum says
Are you talking about the lectures from Barack Obama?
gravenimage says
Most likely.
And his whole shtick here is that Westerners are committing genocide against Hindus, which makes no sense whatsoever.
Rarely says
The inability of the Prosecutor’s office to IMMEDIATELY charge the 4 officers involved appropriately has fueled much of the unrest. Presumably that office is fully staffed with “experts” in criminal law who should have been able to determine what laws had been broken and by whom within an hour or two of seeing the videos. The autopsies, although necessary, could not possibly change the videos. Every third grader knows that Mr. Floyd was not killed by a fall from a helicopter.
Charges, of course, can be changed later. That there almost certainly was an unlawful death and that the four attending officers were all responsible to one degree or another demanded immediate action. Had they not been police officers immediate action would certainly have taken place.
Any charges now laid against the three other officers will have the appearance of being the result of public pressure even if they are not.
A simple situation complicated unnecessarily.
gravenimage says
The idea that criminals–police officers or otherwise–are always brought up on charges “within an hour or two” of the crime’s being committed is mistaken. It often takes a while to assemble evidence for charges to be brought, especially if prosecutors want a case that will stick.
Wellington says
Seconded, gravenimage. Some people just don’t know how the law works. More should—like Rarely.
gravenimage says
Wellington, thanks for confirming this, as a person who has a strong background in the law.
Rarely says
I’m not familiar with the practice in the U.S. but when a murder is committed in Canada in front of 2 or 3 video cameras and numerous witnesses the police usually find an excuse to arrest those involved without delay. Charges would filed in a short time.
In a “delicate” situation as exists here one would reasonably think that everything would be expedited but not so here.
Rarely says
I’m sure you are correct. However, assembling enough evidence here to bring charges should not cause any significant delay at all — like about a minute and a half. This isn’t a case of fraud or the like which would take some time to assemble evidence but a killing that was captured on video in front of numerous witnesses.
Rarely says
BTW Wellington.
Your “strong background in the law”, as GI stated, may or may not be a tad overrated.
But you fail to explain why, with so much evidence so readily available at the outset, a prosecutor’s office filled with “experts” in criminal law, and an outraged country calling for action it would take 6-9 days to make arrests and lay charges. Perhaps it’s time for a few early retirements.
Your reply, should you chose to make one, should prove interesting.
gravenimage says
Wellington has a law degree, is a member of the bar, and has taught law at the university level for many years. I think that does indeed qualify as a strong background in the law.
LR says
Well, I don’t know what the process is either, but with the onslaught of our immediate technology, it changes things. I could understand hesitating so they could go through the normal procedures. But, as we know once that video was seen by the masses all hell broke loose.
The old way of doing things has not caught up with the new reality.
********
“I’m not familiar with the practice in the U.S. but when a murder is committed in Canada in front of 2 or 3 video cameras and numerous witnesses the police usually find an excuse to arrest those involved without delay. Charges would filed in a short time.
In a “delicate” situation as exists here one would reasonably think that everything would be expedited but not so here.”
Hank Mansfield says
It was good to see Robert Spencer bring up the case of Tony Timpa.
The footage of a white man dying while a cop is sitting on him is available on Youtube. After watching it, I can say it’s even more horrific than the George Floyd video.
Since this happened in 2016, the natural question is why didn’t it get the same 24/7 coverage from the media? Think about it, if it had and the police abandoned the tactic of sitting on handcuffed prone individuals then George Floyd might still be alive.
gravenimage says
Important point, Hank.
LR says
Hank. The Timpa case doesn’t fit into the ‘systemic racism’ narrative so the MSM isn’t interested. If Timpa had been ‘black’ I wonder what kind of coverage it would have gotten?
Personally, I don’t think police should be the ones called to deal with the mentally ill. We need some kind of separate emergency team for that, or something.
LR says
Hank. The Timpa case doesn’t fit into the ‘systemic racism’ narrative so the MSM isn’t interested. If Timpa had been ‘black’ I wonder what kind of coverage the case would have gotten?
Personally, I don’t think the police should be called to deal with mentally ill people. There needs to be a separate emergency response team, or something.
cephash says
This is an important and insightful aritcle. We do have a policing problem. We do have issues about the abuse of power–and I’m a law-and-order man myself. The mishandling of the Waco compound was a travesty, for which Janet Reno should’ve been jailed; and I am not supporter of Branch Davidian cult. As for Ruby Ridge, my family makeup precludes me from being a sympathizer with hite supremecists/separatists, but that was another one where force was excessive. I note that a couple of the BLM’s “martyrs” were anytihng but; but I’m not arguing with them in the Floyd case.
But we have an even bigger problem. American ejjikashun and popular culture have been busy destroying any bonds of community we might have apart from positive law and government power. The definition of morality is up for grabs, and perilously close to degenerating into whatever Massa will whip us for constitutes “wrong”, when we have no idea of “right”. We do not hold each other accountable because we, as a society, have no common idea of that to which we are ccountable. We yearn for “I and thou”, but are stuck in a situation where most of our relationships are “I and it”.
LR says
cephash…I hadn’t ever seen the word ‘ejjikashun’ before so it took a sec for my mind to ‘decode’ it. At first, I thought it was some goofball auto correct mishap. Ha!
I appreciate your post, and like your little clever play of purposeful misspellings. You have an insightful, and decent take on things. That last sentence summed it up quite accurately. I am hoping you are a writer for some blog, or publication.
The ‘whippings’ of course have already begun. Martina Navratilova was ‘whipped’ into apology last year. NFL’s Vic Fangio the other day.
Have no idea what goes on behind closed doors, but I know it ain’t pretty if a strong athlete like Navratilova ends up apologizing for not bowing down to the current PC narrative.
I was very bummed when she caved. I sure wish she would have been able to withstand the brutal storm.
David M says
They knew each other from working at the same club in the past.
gravenimage says
Who?
David M says
The cop & the victim. They were both bouncers at the same club.
gravenimage says
You are right, David–this is the first I had heard of this:
“George Floyd and Derek Chauvin worked at same club and may have crossed paths, owner says”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/derek-chauvin-nightclub-george-floyd-security-shifts-el-nuevo-rodeo-minneapolis/
If they did know and recognized each other, this may be a factor in what happened–or it may just be a weird coincidence. In any case, thank you for this information.
LR says
Yes, they worked at the same club. Don’t know if they ever ran into each other. The club owner said Chauvin was known to ‘go off’ sometimes, and he didn’t always seem comfortable when around a lot of black people.
He should have never been cleared to be police officer in the first place.
gravenimage says
Agreed, LR.
A. Makki says
What a bunch of dumbass comments (everyone single one of them…), I feel ashamed of our nation of uneducated people, becoming pawns in a game of dirty politics and arguing endlessly without substance!!!
Demsci says
A. Makki: you are my opponent in your assertions.
So I write to any judges or jury of objective, neutral readers, not you, because neither of us can convince the other in this matter.
Xtrapolating from what Makki sais; Perhaps (s)he regrets it that the Neanderthals (who had the bigger brain)) died out, And did not become the dominant species. Because (s)he sees so little good and so much bad in hormo sapiens (perhaps except him/herself and him/her favorites, a tiny minority?).
And If (s)he fails to notice enough intelligence and education in JW visitors, perhaps (s)he fails in objectivity, ability or effort to notice These traits in the first place.
gravenimage says
What is the incoherent A. Makki trying to say here? (Note that this is almost certainly a Muslim name).
Rob R (Brit stuck in Britainistan) says
Hi Robert
I was just on “BarenakedIslam” and there’s posts by the author there condemning the protesters.
I don’t see what anti-Islam people would gain from condemning black people for being angry about the way they are sometimes (or often) treated.
Instead, I want Americans who read this blog to ask themselves why aren’t you protesting Google HQ, Facebook HQ etc. (and the other big tech giants) for all the censorship they do?
They use their power to suppress the truth about Islam and falsely using the word “racist” against those like us who try to say the truth about how Islam is. If you don’t feel able to do that, protest Trump at the white house for failing to stop them. Where are the big crowds just like the ones that used to show up for Tea Party rallies? Where’s your passion?
The riots will stop eventually and people will get back to “normal” and you guys should be asking yourselves why you aren’t doing more to protest…
gravenimage says
The demand that we stay silent about riots and looting is very strange.
Daniel Triplett says
Wellington and Gravenimage
I agree 100% with Robert Spencer’s positions in the article he wrote here. It’s his article. Would you like to comment specifically on each of these points he makes?
1.
“while the rioting is opportunistic, outrageous, and possibly coordinated and pre-planned, America really does have a policing problem, and it is far larger than just Derek Chauvin.”
–Spencer
2.
“While many police officers are careful professionals doing a dangerous and thankless job, there has been and is a problem on both a large and a small scale with unaccountable policing officials abusing their authority, apparently secure in the knowledge that their colleagues will cover for them.”
–Spencer
3.
“It seems that more police officers than many people would like to admit are bullies and thugs who joined the force because doing so effectively gives them a license to brutalize people without fear of censure or punishment.”
–Spencer
4.
“This is not, contrary to establishment media myth, a race-based issue. It’s a problem of police overreach. Power-tripping cops have victimized people of all races.”
–Spencer
5.
“many other such incidents, large and small. CNN and the rest of the establishment media is extraordinarily irresponsible to perpetuate the myth that black Americans are uniquely the victims of rogue cops and venial law enforcement authorities. The fact is that this is even larger than a racial problem, but it has been obscured by the violent opportunism of Antifa and Black Lives Matter.”
–Spencer
6.
“Recoiling in horror at the riots, conservatives can be tempted to issue a blanket exoneration of the police, and to reject out of hand any report of law enforcement misconduct. That only enables the misconduct to continue”
–Spencer
7.
“A thoroughgoing reevaluation and reform of the entire system is needed, with accountability procedures put into place”
–Spencer
gravenimage says
Daniel, I wrote this two days ago, above:
gravenimage says
Jun 1, 2020 at 8:05 pm
The Riots Must Be Stopped – But America DOES Have A Policing Problem
………….
Agree on both points.
…………….
My position has not changed. What point are you trying to make?
Daniel Triplett says
Seemed a bit like you and Wellington were climbing on me for expressing the same or similar principles Robert articulated.
So, I wanted to know how you felt specifically about “The Riots Must Be Stopped – But America DOES Have A Policing Problem” by Robert Spencer.
If I misunderstood you, I apologize.
gravenimage says
Daniel, I have stated several times on this thread that I agree with Robert Spencer on both points.
My only disagreement with you is that three-quarters of all police officers are ‘bullies and liars’.
Daniel Triplett says
I’d put the number at 60 – 75%. We apparently disagree then. Nothing wrong with that.
We could spend all evening sharing links and stats with each other, but that’s really unnecessary. We’re on the same side in the big picture here. Right?
gravenimage says
Absolutely, Daniel.
Daniel Triplett says
God bless
Wellington says
I am with gravenimage on the percentage of police who are rogue cops. I don’t think it’s even 25% let alone 75%. I would say 5-10% are awful and another 10% or so are not awful or engage in illegal activity but they act unethically at times.
Do remember, as I already mentioned, that police regularly deal with the detritus of the human race and put their life on the line every day they go to work. Most police are quite professional and I remain very much pro-police because they are the first line of defense against the forces of barbarism; they are indeed the thin blue line. And when you take into account that a policeman in America is, per FBI statistics, some 18 times more likely to be killed by a young black male than the other way around, well, put yourself in their shoes for a moment.
gravenimage says
Agree, Wellington.
Yohanan says
Good article by Spencer. There are big problems to protest and to fix. People have to demand honest judicial, legal and enforcement systems and the politicians who oversee them. Police do a necessary and often hard job.
Today Mattis, the grey eminence, gave his moral critique of Pres. Trump as a divisive politician and not a leader for this time… (Here in Israel, nearest counterpart to Mattis would be former prime minister and CoS Ehud Barak, who calls out our own divisive and corrupt prime minister B. Netanyahu. But different context and smaller scale.)
gravenimage says
Actually, Benjamin Netanyahu is the most anti-Jihad PM Israel has had in decades. I think that makes up for a lot.
Demsci says
Yohanan, I saw Mattis comments on CNN. He complained about a “weird photo op of Trump”. That would be him whining about something very unimportant, but apparently the Real complaint was that the police for that “foto op” violently cleared the streets of peaceful protesters. But on PJMedia I read That a part of the protesters threw bricks, ice water bottles etc to police and 51 of the police officers were wounded. And the police only broadened the perimeter around vulnerable buildings, and it was the police’s decision, not Trumps.
This was another spinning lie (half true facts, half negative spin, often omitting essential context) of CNN. People should factcheck CNN and the likes in the MSM when they criticize Trump.
Even if They think Trump is as bad as Attila the Hun, all reasonable people should not want the media to lie about him because What they can do to Trump they and others, can do to us all, one by one.
And James Mattis comes out after the Corona virus destroyed the economy. Before that the country was doing great economically. But this crisis of course fuelled the demonstrations. And here he comes, at a time the president is vulnerable, through no fault of his own, to surrepteously blaming Trump for disunity.
But at least 40 % of Americans, and, yes, many people in Holland, where I live, know how DIVISIVE
CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, Huffington Post, New York Times (and co) and their echo chambers in Holland actually are
with their Goebbels like incessant spinning lies About the president. These media;s credibility about Trump has sunk soooooo low among so many.
The likes of Mattis are not elected, but the likes of Trump are.
Marigold says
Dear Robert, Thankyou for your very honest and reasonable article. You only have to observe how a few police responded to the policing of the lock downs in Australia to realise that power goes to some people’s heads if they are given too much.
George Floyd and his family deserve justice . Any fairminded person would agree with that. No one should have to die like that I don’t care what he did.It was cruel and uneccessary and the policeman who did it should be brought to justice and those standing by should also have to pay for their complicity.
However, all police forces everywhere are drawn from the people they serve so it will be the kind of police force which represents the people it serves.Obviously, because there are so many people who are outraged about what happened and have protested peacefully something needs to be done about the police force in the US.However, large demonstrations have the potential for extremist elements to infiltrate them for their own political ends. It has always been so and it seems that is what is happening with the disgusting looting and burning .
It would not be easy for any leader of any political persuasion to know the best way to deal with such a situation in a democracy especially when you have a media which is so openly biased against the leader as they are against President Trump.
LR says
I tend to think it depends on where one lives. Many places are fine with their police depts.
Obviously, there is a need to bring higher standards into play. Police Departments need to make more effort to screen out unstable, hot tempered ah*les like Chauvin. He was known to be ‘edgy.’ And as Mr. Spencer noted, police are just not trained to deal with the mentally ill. Personally, I don’t think police should be the ones called to deal with them.
While peaceful protests, and addressing real grievances is important, I don’t automatically assume the number of people protesting means it’s always as bad as many say. A lot of people need meaning, and some excitement in their lives. Boredom, along with unemployment, and a popular social cause gives that to certain individuals.
I feel for the families of the good cops who were basically assassinated these last few days while just doing their jobs. The MSM doesn’t care about them.
gravenimage says
LR, I have also wondered if the fact that so many people have just been bored during the lockdown may explain part of this. Not that people loot and riot just out of boredom, of course.
LR says
Well, boredom, moral compasses broken, not much gratitude for how good most of us have it, etc, etc. Not actually deeply examining how much of current narratives are true, or not.
Now, people are calling for doing away with the police, and even doing away with cop shows on t.v. Becoming hysterical seems to be in fashion.
Right before this covid pandemic, I read a very interesting article about our culture thriving on crisis.
Despite our big challenges, for the most part we still have it pretty darn good. At least here, when I go to the store there is an abundance, and variety of food. When opening my Norwegian crackers, I thought of the young woman I read about in Bangladesh that had worked her butt off for years and was able to pull her family out of grinding poverty by making $30 a month for a manufacturing company. She was quite distraught that with no job because of shutdowns they were going to fall right back into the grinding poverty.
Maybe every College student should be required to go work along side someone like her for a semester.
I can only hope that more of our society will stop losing so much of it’s formerly, reasonable collective mind, peel their eyeballs away from screens, and start talking with each other about their differences, instead of being afraid, and trying to shut each other up.
gravenimage says
+1