[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Stop militarizing the police - from Peace Action

Fri Aug 15 15:25:07 EDT 2014

The national attention to the appalling militarization of police has had 
a good effect in Ferguson, MO - at least the beginning of one. Let's go 
forward with it here as well.   We don't need to see Champaign County 
police grinning atop their new trophy tank. Military hardware should be 
turned back into scrap, or better, into needed US infrastructure, not 
deployed on streets - neither here nor abroad.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Stop militarizing the police
Date: 	Fri, 15 Aug 2014 14:11:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: 	Kevin Martin, Peace Action <peaceact at reply.salsalabs.com>
Reply-To: 	peaceact at reply.salsalabs.com
To: 	stuartnlevy at gmail.com

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Dear Stuart,

The tragic death of Michael Brown at the hands of the Ferguson police is 
a reminder that the upsurge in violence is not restricted to the Middle 
East or any one place.  It’s right here in our own communities.

Like the Trayvon Martin killing two years ago, the problems of racism, 
easy access to firearms, and the assault on our civil rights are all, 
once again, in the spotlight. I suspect I don’t have to explain why 
peace activists are taking action, mostly in support of activists of 
color who are leading the organized response to this latest perversion 
of justice.  Anti-violence is at the very heart of our struggle.

In this case however there is another element that directly connects to 
our ongoing work to build a more peaceful and just future – that is – 
militarism. It’s time to demilitarize our police. 
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2c4KINoSrf75zCPBU9%2FdHBFGNnz3FC1h>

As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ‘wind down’ (though clearly not all 
the way down) the Pentagon has been offering surplus weapons to local 
police forces for free.  Tens of thousands of M-16’s, as well as 
mine-resistant trucks and other battlefield hardware have already been 
transferred to jurisdictions around the country – but the Pentagon still 
has lots and lots of free stuff to give away.

A bipartisan chorus has already begun to speak out in Congress against 
this practice.  Even Tea Party and right wing extremist Ted Cruz is 
raising alarm.

Tell your Member of Congress where you stand. 
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qjhGeeOgLDARO0%2FfwT2SykMbREHcOLJ2>

How much military hardware has been transferred to local jurisdictions?  
It’s not easy to know as the Pentagon makes the trail difficult to 
track.  Most of the data available comes from local and state officials 
– like the State of Missouri which CNN reports has received some $17 
million worth in transfers from the Pentagon.

I find, and I’m confident you do as well, the images of police in full 
military gear aiming assault rifles at unarmed protesters upsetting. We 
can expect to see more and more of this in the future too, if we don’t 
do something about the economic terrorism visited upon the poor in our 
society at the hands of the 1 percent.

We know, for example, the Pentagon has in place plans for dealing with 
civil disorder brought about by economic or environmental disaster 
threatening the stablity of the government. Arming local jurisdictions 
is a step in the wrong direction. 
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=oxF8ZOXGcD4RQgzXolj%2BnhFGNnz3FC1h>

Since the 1980’s the US government has enabled the militarization of the 
police force as part of its so-called War on Drugs.  Post 9/11 politics 
opened the flood gates with grants from the federal government to 
prepare for the imminent terrorist threat.  Now, as combat missions in 
Iraq and Afghanistan have ended, the Pentagon is literally giving 
battlefield hardware away.

The militarism of policing – both in terms of weaponry and tactics – is 
a threat to our freedom as great as any coming from outside our 
borders.  It’s time to put it to a stop.

Write you Member of Congress today! 
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=yOuHeKNo4AfQfLTHk3iOkhFGNnz3FC1h>

Please forward this message to your friends.

Humbly for Peace,

Kevin Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action

      Take Action:

Tell your Member of Congress:  Stop militarizing the police. 
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