Wisconsin: Steve Burns: Capitol police should stop ‘protecting’ us

[Scuba]

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2013, 09:52 AM - Edit history (4)

http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=35190

During the first two years of the Solidarity Singalong, when the Capitol’s permit requirement was not enforced, how many people were hurt? Two, as far as I can tell: 1) A singalong participant, punched in the mouth by a gun enthusiast, 2) An assistant state facilities director who used his pocket knife to pop a red helium heart balloon and only succeeded in injuring himself.

Now, after a month of police actions to enforce the permit policy, how many people have been hurt? 1) A man falling down the stairs while handcuffed in police custody, 2) A retired minister, suffering an angina attack that required hospitalization, also while in police custody, 3 and 4) Two brothers, injured while being assaulted by police.

In short, the injury rate under the police crackdown is higher now than under the supposedly “anarchic” situation that preceded the crackdown.

The police may claim their permit policy is needed to maintain order and protect public safety, but it is now clear it is the police themselves who are the greatest threat to order and safety. Please, Capitol Police, stop “protecting” us.

– Steve Burns, Madison

This letter by Steve Burns originally appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal August 31, 2013. It appears here at bluecheddar.net with Steve’s permission.


on edit: you can contribute to the Singers Defense Fund here: Http://www.solidaritysingalong.org

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Well, obviously,

the "natural" injury rate was far too low to decelerate the Singalongs, so the police had to take over the job.

(It's a dirty job, but nobody has to do it.)