Carusoswi

I have followed the social fall-out resulting from the k*****g of Mr. Floyd carefully. I have pointed out at least once in previous posts my view that responding to peaceful protests with multiple-row deep phalanxes of police dressed out in full r**t gear marching upon peaceful protestors tends to amplify rather than dissipate aggression during protests that start out as peaceful first amendment expressions of free speech. I am not going to argue that all of the violence we witnessed early-on in these protests can be attributed solely to aggressive police response, and I do not condone violence or l**ting no matter by whom committed, but I find it hard to overlook the fact that communities across this country who have shifted to less aggressive police response and have relaxed or eliminated curfiews have experienced a marked decrease in violence and l**ting.

This doesn't excuse prior violence, but it does support my view that, with respect to peaceful, constitutionally protected right to protest and speak freely, less aggressive police response has resulted little to no l**ting or r**ting.

The heterogeneous societal make-up of the participants coupled with their message, persistently focused on police reform and "black l***s m****r" (weather you agree with B*M or not) is starting to register with local governments across this country.

There is currently a move by some members of the City Council of Minneapolis to defund and dismantle the police department as it currently exists, and reconstruct same with community participation. Many communities are moving (or have moved) to ban use of tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protestors.

Believing, as I do, that, at the root of these nationwide (really, worldwide) protests, there is sincere, bipartisan hope from citizens of all persuasions to honestly address problems inherent in many policing efforts and to make changes that preserve citizen safety, promote justice, and make police officers true friends and protectors of the citizens they are sworn to protect, and eliminate inherent fear (argue all you want as to whether this fear is warranted or not) by citizens of their community police.

Read the news, watch the videos, pay attention to politicians from both major parties (yes, even GOP members are taking notice of what citizens say the desire).

This nation, in my view, is at a crossroads, with an opportunity to make a change for the better. My hopes and prayers are with the protestors, the local, state, and federal governments to unite to solve this thorny problem once and for all.

I do not condemn all police officers. Most are not, IMHO, bad people or corrupt officers. Most are performing consistent with their training. We need to revise the training, and those revisions should come, not from one local administration acting in its own best political interest, but from a team which includes input from local citizens, law enforcement, and local government. We have an opportunity, here, to put our founding fathers' profound provisions for self-guided government to use which will make life better for all citizens.

To those who, for wh**ever reasons, hold the view that inner-city, predominantly black communities are disaster zones for whom violence and economic disaster result from the inadequacies of the citizens, themselves, I pose the following question: would you not rather see these communities become self-sustaining productive communities, protected by a police force that is manned by officers who look like or, at least understand the societal norms by which those same officers are sworn to protect those very same citizens. Would it not be a good thing if, in those communities, citizens looked to officers with respect and regarded them as allies rather than enemies?

I pray daily that the ultimate outcome of these protests results in meaningful, heartfelt change which enjoys participation from local, state, and federal governments, individual law enforcement officers, and, most importantly, local citizens to produce meaningful and positive change.

Respectfully,

Caruso

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

I concur that we need to fix the Inner City Ghettos, these Ghettos were brought on by Housing Projects for B****s which became reservations for liberated people of color, we did such a good job that busing was used to achieve integration. If we keep all our black folk on the reservation by giving them entitlements are we not segregating ourselves from them.