This editorial is brought to you by a staff writer for Law Enforcement Today.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a civil-rights group, tried to incite a mob against law enforcement officers in D.C. following the officer-involved shooting of 18-year-old Deon Kay.
ACLU Deletes Tweet Saying Cops ‘Murdered’ Deon Kay, Still Decries ‘Racism’ Among Police Officers https://t.co/kRd8nIQz2Z via @dailycaller
— Mark H (@maddad0921) September 5, 2020
The Washington Examiner reported that on September 3rd, the civil rights group sent out a tweet that said:
“D.C. police murdered Deon Kay. He was just 18-years-old. His death is yet another painful reminder that violence and racism is endemic to policing in this nation. We demand justice for Deon and every life taken by D.C. police.”
The tweet has since been deleted, but some were able to take screenshots of it before. It can be seen below. The officer-involved shooting of Kay is not an open-and-shut case of police using excessive force.
It is important for people to know the facts of the case before assuming anything, let alone trying to incite violence against other law enforcement officers.
@ACLU Says DC cop “murdered” Deon Kay pic.twitter.com/8flMA0MyqB
— Ambassador Kosh (@andrew5057) September 4, 2020
This is still a very open and very active investigation. The 18-year-old died under unclear and yet-to-be determined circumstances. At this point, there is not enough information to declare Kay’s death a “murder.”
The circumstances around Kay’s death are unclear and they will remain that way until the investigation produces more evidence of what actually transpired.
Pathetic. Let’s infantilize what happened so that it fits a narrative. Deon Kay was also into guns. He video’d himself rolling around DC brandishing a handgun. You honestly have no idea the rage that is simmering in the “silent majority” of this country bc you can’t be honest.
— manutdfan70 (@manutdfan70) September 4, 2020
According to authorities, police officers were dispatched to southeast Washington after receiving a call about a man with a gun. When officers arrived, they saw a small crowd gathered around one car.
Upon seeing police, two individuals immediately fled from the car, prompting officers to pursue them.
Deon Kay was also into waving guns around and pointing them at people with no regard for anyone else's safety. Looks like he was in a gang.https://t.co/BpzcjF2qrN
— I support black landlords (@QuinnSagan) September 4, 2020
The two suspects split up and a few of the officers continued to pursue Kay. Body-cam footage of the incident shows Kay had a firearm in his hand just prior to being shot.
The footage also shows that Kay was shot in the chest as he was running towards one of the officers.
In the aftermath of the shooting, many Black Lives Matter activists alleged that Kay was unarmed and that he was shot in the back. Body-cam footage shows that those claims are false.
Officers were also heard giving verbal commands to Kay, “Don’t move!” The officers reported that Kay brandished a firearm.
Deon Kay was running towards cops with A GUN! The other two suspects surrendered to police WITHOUT weapons in their hands and they are still alive!!
— 🚁 DustOff (Ret) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Dust_Off70) September 4, 2020
The officers first-hand report of the incident as well as the body-cam footage show what happened, but the ACLU refused to listen and immediately jumped to conclusions, causing anger among many BLM activists, which resulted in violence against other D.C. officers in nightly protests.
It is alarming, though not entirely surprising, that the ACLU, which has been around for close to a century, would jump to such a specific conclusion without all of the facts.
They have over two million followers, which poses a great threat to law enforcement when they send out tweets that offer little to no evidence supporting their claims.
Deon Kay lifted a gun on a cop. All that needs to be said
— Rohan Cassanova (@irishswamp) September 4, 2020
For decades, the ACLU has prided itself on its defense of due process, but it seems for a while now that the alleged pro-civil-liberties organization is being plagued by illiberal rot. Before, the ACLU used to act as a defense against mobs.
It seems now, they incite them.
After the shooting of Kay, Police Chief Peter Newsham said that officers saw Kay on a social media livestream prior to the encounter and that they new him by name from previous contacts. Newsham also described Kay as a validated gang member who had multiple interactions with law enforcement.
Oh the ACLU lying again to push their divisive narrative. Hey ACLU, did you mean this Deon Kay ?!:https://t.co/seXJY2RiH8
— SideOverride (@SideOverride) September 4, 2020
Newsham said:
“Everyone can go and look at the video themselves. You can stop it frame by frame and make your own determination. We will do the same when we conduct our investigation.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowers said:
“What I know is that our officer was trying to take guns off the street and what I know that he encountered somebody with a gun.”
Emergency legislation passed by the D.C. Council in June requires police to release any body camera footage from any fatal shootings or use-of-force incidents within five days. Newsham said that his department worked overnight to make the footage of Kay’s shooting public well ahead of that deadline.
He said:
“One of the reasons we put it out as quickly as we did is because there’s a lot of misinformation in the current climate we have, not online Washington D.C., but across the country. Misinformation can lead to some disturbances in our city and that’s the last thing we want to see.”
Here is another article from Law Enforcement Today about the ACLU and how they are pushing to dismantle the department of Homeland Security, which remember, protects ALL citizens of this country:
PORTLAND, OR – The federal agency tasked with protecting Americans from outside threats has become the target of a once well-respected civil rights organization.
The American Civil Liberties Union tweeted Monday:
“BREAKING: We’re calling for the dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security.
Dismantling DHS, breaking it apart into various federal agencies, and shrinking its federal budget will allow for more effective oversight, accountability and public transparency.
Nearly 20 years of abuse, waste, and corruption demonstrate the failure of the DHS experiment. Many knew DHS to be an ineffective superagency, but President Trump has converted DHS into our government’s most notable badge of shame.”
Nearly 20 years of abuse, waste, and corruption demonstrate the failure of the DHS experiment.
Many knew DHS to be an ineffective superagency, but President Trump has converted DHS into our government’s most notable badge of shame.
— ACLU (@ACLU) August 10, 2020
The call to dismantle and defund the Department of Homeland Security comes at a time when the massive federal agency is critically needed.
The department’s 240,000 employees are dealing with the threat of a pandemic, layered on top of already wide-ranging duties like cybersecurity, counterterrorism, aviation security, border security, protection of national leaders and infrastructure and emergency response.
Right now, DHS agents are working to slow the spread of the coronavirus by limiting all non-essential travel across borders. Within US borders, they’re working non-stop to defend against criminals who are attempting to use COVID-19 for financial gain.
In Portland, violent and destructive protests are dovetailing with the pandemic, and the federal agents sent in to serve and protect have become punching bags for controversy.
That’s where the liberal civil rights organization is building the cornerstone for its shaky argument. It is using the protestor versus police clashes in the Rose City, as purported evidence to dismantle one of our nation’s frontline federal protectors.
In an op-ed in USA Today, ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero wrote:
“In recent weeks, the actions of federal agents have shown us all that the Department of Homeland Security isn’t capable of acting consistently with the Constitution, and should no longer exist in its current state. The scenes unfolding in Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere are a reminder of the red flags many have raised about DHS throughout its history: that its powers are too great, and that it lacks the oversight and management to be effective.”
In the article, Romero doubles down on the ACLU’s past claims that paramilitary forces kidnapped protestors after coming to Oregon uninvited by the governor.
Those claims have been proven untrue in recent weeks.
Federal agents have been in Portland since last month when, according to a DHS press release, they were invited in by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. The press release reads:
“Such cooperation between federal and state/local law enforcement is routinely done in every city in the United States. As a result of the governor’s long-delayed, though welcomed, change in direction, the area of the Hatfield Federal Courthouse has finally seen a stark downward trend in violence perpetrated towards federal facilities and federal law enforcement officers. While some violence has continued in the city, Sunday, August 2nd marked the first evening in nearly two months with zero reported attacks against federal officers or property thanks to the coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
The op-ed also links the turmoil in Portland to the White House. Romero writes:
“If there is one thing we have learned from the authoritarianism on display in Portland, it’s that we have to remove the loaded weapon that sits on the proverbial coffee table in the Oval Office.”
He suggests dismantling DHS, breaking it into smaller federal agencies and using its funding for oversight and public transparency.
As of Monday night, DHS has yet to respond to the article or the ACLU, seemingly prioritizing national security over social media mudslinging.
Portland Mayor lashes out at Department of Homeland Security: “Stay inside or better yet leave Portland all together”
July 15, 2020 – PORTLAND, OR– It’s the kind of story that makes you wonder if these politicians believe in law and order at all.
On Tuesday, Mayor Ted Wheeler lashed out at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via his Twitter account.
Throughout a handful of tweets, the Mayor is seen urging federal agents to “stay inside” or “leave” as the city faces its 6th straight week of protests against racism and police brutality.
The President did not quell it, he escalated it. His heavy-handed tactics led to a serious injury and enflamed an already tense situation. https://t.co/V1lZeOLWD1
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 14, 2020
According to FoxNews, DHS deployed officers from multiple federal law enforcement agencies this month to help protect government installations, including the courthouses. Demonstrations have taken place from coast to coast after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Since Floyd’s death and the protests, city businesses have reported $23 million in losses due to looters and rioters. This is happening amid a coronavirus pandemic that is already causing massive economic damage to businesses around the country.
Businesses all over the country are trying to figure out how and if they can survive both the pandemic and the protests.
Today the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security asked to speak with me about demonstration activity in Portland. He expressed his concern about ongoing violence and asked how his agency can help.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 14, 2020
In Portland, chaos has broken out in the city’s streets, often aimed at federal property as activists and some local leaders have objected to the presence of federal officers. According to FoxNews, over the weekend, a 23-year-old demonstrator allegedly struck a federal officer in the head with a hammer outside the courthouse.
This same demonstrator is accused of beating a hole into the building’s door with the hammer before officers came inside. According to the Portland Police Bureau, the demonstrator then struck the officer in the head and shoulder with the hammer before being taken into custody.
I told the Acting Secretary that my biggest immediate concern is the violence federal officers brought to our streets in recent days, and the life-threatening tactics his agents use. We do not need or want their help.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 14, 2020
According to Wheeler’s tweets:
“The best thing they can do is stay inside their building or leave Portland all together.”
While we’re busy cleaning our streets and buildings, the two federal buildings are covered with graffiti that has been there for weeks on end. Our plan is this: protect our community. Clean up our city. And re-open.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 14, 2020
He also criticized DHS for not cleaning the graffiti of the federal buildings by saying:
“While we’re busy cleaning our streets and buildings, the two federal buildings are covered with graffiti that has been there for weeks on end.”
The best thing they can do is stay inside their building, or leave Portland altogether. Our goal is to end these violent demonstrations quickly and safely. And in the meantime, I asked him to clean up the graffiti on local federal facilities.
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 14, 2020
According to the Portland Police Bureau, they have been struggling to contain the unrest. Their department’s official Twitter account shows images and videos of the demonstrations that have been going on for weeks on end. Some of the videos and images shared shows projectiles hurled at police, crowds refusing to clear out, and weapons seized from protesters.
Some of the items thrown at officers include paint, ball bearings, and glass bottles, which are all criminal acts. pic.twitter.com/9ghKqB8urT
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 14, 2020
Here is another post from @Portlandpolice:
A snapshot of the crowd on N Lombard St on July 13-14 that remained after numerous lawful orders to disperse. Glass bottles, paint, rocks, ball bearings, and other projectiles hurled at Officers. The arrest is for a subject unlawfully directing a laser pointer in officer’s eyes. pic.twitter.com/59TPx84j6B
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 14, 2020
Police officers have been injured in a number of incidents on multiple occasions due to protesters throwing fireworks at them. Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement:
“Our officers are tired, but they are resilient. Our community deserves better than than nightly criminal activity that destroys the value and fabric of our community.”
In contrast, other city leaders are exploring ways to reform the city’s police with proposals such as establishing a civilian board of commissioners or a community-controlled oversight board.
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