McCaskill in Ferguson: Time to ‘de-militarize this situation’
Source: Office of Sen. Claire McCaskill
WASHINGTON Following the shooting of teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Mo. police officer, and subsequent clashes between local police and protestors, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is in Ferguson today, talking directly with constituents. She released the following statement:
We need to de-militarize this situationthis kind of response by the police has become the problem instead of the solution. I obviously respect law enforcements work to provide public safety, but my constituents are allowed to have peaceful protests, and the police need to respect that right and protect that right. Today is going to be a new start, we can and need to do better.
McCaskill is also scheduled to speak directly today with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. While the U.S. Attorney General has no jurisdiction over local police actions, McCaskill plans to discuss with Holder what she described as the totally unacceptable situation on the ground in Ferguson as local police and protestors continue to clash, as well as the status of the federal civil rights investigation.
Early Wednesday, McCaskill spoke directly with Molly Moran, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice on the status of a federal civil rights investigation. McCaskill has also spoken directly over the past two days with dozens of local officials, law enforcement, and religious leaders, in an ongoing attempt to deescalate the situation.
Read more: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-in-ferguson-time-to-de-militarize-this-situation
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)to Occupy in places like Portland, Or. and Oakland, Ca.
It is unnecessary and unacceptable.
old guy
(3,283 posts)under the guise of "terror attacks". This is how they are trained and they are only following the training. Sad but true.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)That's the way brass hats in the Pentagon want policing to be handled all over our country:
http://rt.com/usa/180376-ferguson-militarization-police-weapons/
brer cat
(24,592 posts)to this situation. I think getting the local police out of the picture will go a long way to calming this down. McCaskill made it clear that people have the right to peaceful protest and that the officers' responsibility to protect that right.
K&R
Uncle Joe
(58,405 posts)Thanks for the thread, alp.
WestSeattle2
(1,730 posts)DNA. Really - it's only a matter of when, not if they will. There always needs to be strong oversight of police departments by elected officials and the general public. The police are there to protect and serve; some cops just don't buy into that. They believe they're empowered to coerce and intimidate, to flaunt their authority, to act as judge and jury. Well, they're not. The worst thing the feds could have done, is to allow these local yokels to arm up with military garb and equipment. Talk about feeding the monster.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)against the militarization of the police. His statement was very weak, and ignored the well-armed elephant in Ferguson. Not even a mention of the armored personnel carriers and police in body armor on the streets of America!
msongs
(67,436 posts)Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)I always hope for the best.
BumRushDaShow
(129,376 posts)Here's my response that applies here too -
tblue37
(65,483 posts)another_liberal
(8,821 posts)"Demilitarize" the whole goddamned country while you're at it! This Rambo law enforcement nonsense has gotten way out of hand.
Since when have we and our local police gone to war with each other? Do they think they're still in Iraq or something?
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)I have moved on from anger to sad, and I am on the look out for any activist things that I can do. Have sent emails. If anyone has ideas, please post.
msongs
(67,436 posts)tishaLA
(14,176 posts)No. One group is doing the clashing and it isn't the protesters. They are being clashed, if that's what you want to call riot police using excessive force and doing just about everything short of martial law.