Written by Elizabeth Moon

Yesterday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol building is not the first time in recent years that an armed mob intent on overturning a legitimate government has been successful.  Local police and other forces responsible for the security of state houses have “stood down” in the face of these mobs in multiple states this year, while quite willing to target gatherings that are not aimed at overturning a governor or legislature. Despite the FBI’s repeated statements that white, right wing groups were acting just like foreign terrorists, right-wing politicians have continued to back police attacking “antifa thugs,” and “lawless Blacks/Mexicans/immigrants” for any damage done.

Many people have pointed out that the roots of police violence in this country go back to the slave patrols of the 18th and 19th century…but police brutality and police attachment to “control” over justice has existed widely across history and geography.  Police work attracts those who want to control others.  Thus having good law enforcement means selecting and training law officers in ways that develop their commitment to citizens’ welfare and their duty to “protect and serve” rather than “dominate and harm” citizens.  We cannot expect police to be more selfless and idealistic than everyone else, but we can’t let them be more dangerous, worse, than the criminals we want protection from.

When police welcome one mob, but are prepared to fire on another, and when legitimate government activities are disrupted because the security of governors and legislators and courtrooms is breached through the inaction or cooperation with a mob, it’s imperative that investigation get to the bottom of whose laws and whose orders the police have committed to.  The only way to have a democratic republic, a healthy one, is to have police that know and will obey all the laws all the time, and follow the lawful orders to protect elected officials from violence.  

We have in the past few years seen Capitol Police yanking disabled people out of their wheelchairs, which is of course easier than confronting a large guy carrying a big stick. Images taken of the Capitol steps during a Black Lives Matter march show fully kitted out police, heavily armed, arrayed on the steps, defending the Capitol.  Images taken yesterday show a thin group of Capitol Police, not in riot gear, opening the gates to let a violent and armed mob into the Capitol, where they easily penetrated the Senate and House chambers.

 Thousands were arrested at the Black Lives Matter march; only 56 were arrested for the Capitol invasion.  In some states invasion of offices and legislative chambers has not been opposed at all by the law enforcement supposedly taxed with their protection.  Cities and towns attempting to curb police misbehavior have been threatened with violence as well.  This suggests a widespread revolt by law enforcement, along with some citizens–and the FBI has previous said our various police departments have been infiltrated by right wing groups.

So what do we do?  We defend–with our tax dollars, with our contributions to political campaigns–democratic principles across the board.  The rule of law, not persons, is fundamental to a democratic society, so we start with that, in regards to biased and unjust policing.  

We insist on training, in all LEO courses in colleges and individual PDs, that adheres to the these principles.  We insist on local communities hiring only individuals qualified by such training, and demonstrating that attitude from the get-go.  We insist that law enforcement exists for the welfare and safety of citizens, not just PDs.   

And by “we” I mean white citizens, since it is white citizens who have been running the country for more than two centuries.  It’s the desire of white citizens for privilege and the exclusion of others that’s shoved policing in the wrong direction.  As Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station puts it “If you want a better country, be better citizens.”