Immediate Action Warning!

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5/30/2020

Violence & Civil Unrest

On March 13 and again on May 1 I issued Immediate Action Warnings for violence. In the 11 weeks since the initial warning we’ve seen some sporadic violence, but almost all at the individual level. That all changed earlier this week when Minneapolis police officer (Derek Chauvin) killed a man who was begging for his life…and it was all caught on video. A man (George Floyd) who was handcuffed, who was subdued on the ground, who was compliant, who told the police officers he was having difficulty breathing. And then police officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on the back of George Floyd’s neck with almost his entire weight…until George Floyd was dead. The alleged crime of George Floyd…a clerk in a local convenience store thought that a $20 bill George Floyd used looked “suspicious.”

Now, it is not uncommon for police to use this submission tactic…video and pictures are abundant on the Internet that show police using this tactic. It is not uncommon for people to die in police custody while restrained and compliant. It is not uncommon for people to die in police custody from not being able to breath. It is not uncommon for people to beg for their lives while in police custody and still die. But, what is uncommon in this instance is one very uncommon factor…COVID-19.

No, I am not speaking of any of the people involved having COVID-19. I am talking about the fact that the country has been locked down for two months…and all the fallout from that lock down…namely the stress and tension on a national level. This week it boiled over…and the face of the resulting violence is ugly, extreme, and could grow exponentially worse.

There is also two additional issues associated with the police murder of George Floyd and the resulting  violence…1) the militarized response to the violence, and 2) the targeting of journalists by police officers.

I don’t have to go into details regarding the militarized response…the pictures are all over the Internet of militarized police and army units in the streets of major US cities. But we saw in Minneapolis and in Louisville where credentialed journalists specifically targeted by police officers. In the case in Minneapolis the journalists were arrested (on live TV) based on “orders” the police officers had received from their leadership. In the Atlanta case the journalists were fired upon with crowd control pepper balls from a high powered air guns.

These factors…and more…have caused me to issue this warning.

Warning Specifics –

I am issuing an Immediate Action Warning – Violence & Civil Unrest.

This warning is based on the following:

  • The nature of the confrontations
  • The current high-stress national environment
  • The immediate use of militarized police and military units
  • The violent and destructive nature of the protesting and rioting
  • The widespread, coast-to-coast, outbreak of the protests and riots
  • The specific targeting of journalists by police
  • Gunfire present at the protests, rioting, and looting
  • A developing “us vs them” mentality

To make matters worse, far worse, was the President making the statement of shooting looters. While many may have a personal belief that shooting looters is an appropriate response…especially if you are the owner of the business being looted…it is entirely and completely inappropriate for the President of the United States to make such a statement.

Statements such as that can be seen by law enforcement and the military as having a free hand and simply shoot people vs trying to quell the violence. It can be seen by people in those communities as a complete disregard for their lives. It can be seen by the protesters as a declaration of war. It can be seen by the looters as a provocation to escalate the situation from looting businesses to shooting business owners, law enforcement officers, or military personnel. President Trump’s statement was juvenile at best…extremely provocative and dangerous at worse. Regardless, escalating an already dangerous situation.

Actions to Take –

I won’t repeat myself. To better understand what actions to take please read my Immediate Action Warnings of 3/13 and 5/1:

Note –

I delayed issuing this Immediate Action Warning for good reason.

  1. I wanted to see the facts of the killing by police, including video and bystander statements.
  2. I wanted to see if there would be “sustained” violent protesting and rioting and the level of destruction associated with it.
  3. I wanted to see if the police officers would be charged and the reaction to that event.

Now I see this is an extremely volatile situation with the potential to spread much wider and get much worse. The stress and tension of the COVID-19 lock-down, the historic unemployment, worsening economic situation, etc. are all factors that could drive the escalation of the violence to very, very dangerous levels. I won’t state at this point what that level could be…but I will continue to monitor the situation.

Please don’t disregard this Immediate Action Warning…or take it lightly. Even Rush Limbaugh is calling a “killing” by police officers.

Remember my continual reminding you of one very important and applicable statement of those in power…

“Never let a crisis go to waste.“

They wont.

 

 

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7 thoughts on “Immediate Action Warning!”

  2. OK, what exactly would be a correct response by government or individuals?
    The police have abandoned large areas of several cities. They either can not or will not do anything. How many burglaries, assaults, robberies, rapes, and murders have been committed in the police no-go zones? How many scores settled?
    Does this sound like France, Sweden, or Germany?

    If troops, whether Guard or Regulars, are deployed (in spite of Posse Comitatus), will they have empty rifles?
    For how many years was the traditional ROE for troops and civilians in disaster areas “You loot, we shoot”? Would you expect them to NOT shoot? Easy to say, if you are not in the line of men facing a mob. If not that, then what? Allow the mob to beat them down and take their select-fire weapons, or pull out and once again leave the streets and neighborhoods to the looters? No good choices, but which is worse?
    Not making a choice is still a choice.
    Civilians too will be quickly overwhelmed by sheer numbers unless they use deadly force, and at least one pawnshop owner (yes, a white guy) was arrested. After the arrest, the store was gutted. In law, in every jurisdiction I’m aware of, shooting to stop arson is a justifiable use of deadly force, as is the disparity of force of being faced by a mob. Apparently, MN has a “duty to retreat” law everywhere- except a domicile, so the choices for business owners are death, destitution, or jail.
    https://heavy.com/news/2020/05/john-rieple/
    How about these men, (who I’d side with and you will not find this on youtube)? Would they be arrested as quickly as the white pawn owner?
    https://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhhB2w3tSuRIVkX79A
    Is the only alternative to simply leave the law-abiding at the mercy of the mob?
    Just sayin’.
    I wonder if the mayor and other members of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (yes really) have any idea what they are creating?
    ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Democratic%E2%80%93Farmer%E2%80%93Labor_Party)
    Who will tolerate a place where the cops only arrest the basically law-abiding non-violent “offender”, and the citizens are not allowed to defend either their property or themselves. Governors and mayors of the progressive blue states cry about the flight of the tax base, as they become ever more greedy and tyrannical, but so far, their only solution is to demand more bailouts and blame Trump for their own failings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • So let me respond to a few things just for the heck of it…
      OK, what exactly would be a correct response by government or individuals? (It was the government that caused the problem to begin with. It was one of them that killed the man. So the government is responsible for the problem. I am not saying that to excuse any behavior of the looters, but they didn’t just start looting out of thin air. The foundation of the problem is rooted in the government there.)
      The police have abandoned large areas of several cities. They either can not or will not do anything. (I am not sure if that is true or not. I have no information that there is an official policy or such direction by local government leadership.) How many burglaries, assaults, robberies, rapes, and murders have been committed in the police no-go zones? (No idea, nor does anyone else know what those numbers are…if any.) How many scores settled? ? (No idea, nor does anyone else know what those numbers are…if any.)
      Does this sound like France, Sweden, or Germany? (To me it sounds like a police force that allowed an officer to stay on the force WAY too long and other officers who stood by and watched one of their own kill a man. And it sounds like a subset of the population who are frustrated beyond my ability to comprehend it. And violence and destruction that should not be taking place. It sounds like the USA to me…I saw it many times over the decades going all the way back to the civil rights movement.)
      If troops, whether Guard or Regulars, are deployed (in spite of Posse Comitatus), will they have empty rifles? (I can’t imagine they would have empty rifles and would not want them to have such.)
      For how many years was the traditional ROE for troops and civilians in disaster areas “You loot, we shoot”? (No idea since I am not aware of and have not done research on all of those incidents.) Would you expect them to NOT shoot? (My primary opinion of shooting to kill is in defense of life.) Easy to say, if you are not in the line of men facing a mob. (It is easy to say! Because ALL people are free to have their own opinion and to state such.) If not that, then what? Allow the mob to beat them down and take their select-fire weapons, or pull out and once again leave the streets and neighborhoods to the looters? (Of course not!) No good choices, but which is worse? (You are setting up a binary choice…and that is extremely limited thinking…tunnel vision at its worse. Allow locals to make the right outcome…not someone on Washington, not me sitting in my chair, and no one else unless they are directly involved.)
      Not making a choice is still a choice. (No one ever suggested that.)
      Civilians too will be quickly overwhelmed by sheer numbers unless they use deadly force, and at least one pawnshop owner (yes, a white guy) was arrested. (You are speaking in absolutes….from passion. I understand that but it is quicksand foundation for developing a workable solution to the problem.) After the arrest, the store was gutted. In law, in every jurisdiction I’m aware of, shooting to stop arson is a justifiable use of deadly force, as is the disparity of force of being faced by a mob. (You are talking post-event not at the moment. And I am not familiar with the situation so I will refrain from responding more.) Apparently, MN has a “duty to retreat” law everywhere- except a domicile, so the choices for business owners are death, destitution, or jail. (Once again you are writing from a passionate perspective. “Duty to retreat” is a de-escalation tactic. Leaving the area rather than killing someone makes sense in almost every situation…if you highly value life and its potential. Killing in self-defense is a God-given right and should not be quelled, ever. So duty-to-retreat for a business owner means…life, insurance claims, clear conscious, and a plan to recover…NOT “death, destitution, or jail”!)
      https://heavy.com/news/2020/05/john-rieple/ (Not familiar with the situation and it has zero bearing/impact on my opinion and viewpoint regardless of the facts in the matter. I was not respond to or writing about a pawn shop owner.)
      How about these men, (who I’d side with and you will not find this on youtube)? Would they be arrested as quickly as the white pawn owner?
      https://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhhB2w3tSuRIVkX79A
      Is the only alternative to simply leave the law-abiding at the mercy of the mob? (If the media reporting is accurate…I applaud these folks!!!! They are the property owners and have rights. I hope they are well-informed and know what they are doing. If they kill someone there will legal issues and a life-time of second-guessing and dealing with taking a life. That could be a heavy burden. I hope they are trained in all aspects of dealing with this kind of a situation.)
      Just sayin’.
      I wonder if the mayor and other members of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (yes really) have any idea what they are creating? (No. Unquestionably “No!” That city has been out of control for decades. They have a police force that has been out of control for just as long…a police force that they have created and allowed to act as outlaws. Officer Derek Chauvin has a long documented history of inappropriate and lawless behavior while on their police force. And that police force and city leadership allowed it to continue…if not encouraged it.)
      ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Democratic%E2%80%93Farmer%E2%80%93Labor_Party)
      Who will tolerate a place where the cops only arrest the basically law-abiding non-violent “offender”, and the citizens are not allowed to defend either their property or themselves. (That is rhetorical in nature and not applicable to this situation at all. But if you are speaking more generally…then the answer is a simple…”NO!” ) Governors and mayors of the progressive blue states cry about the flight of the tax base, as they become ever more greedy and tyrannical, but so far, their only solution is to demand more bailouts and blame Trump for their own failings. (And that displays their cowardice, lack of morals/ethics, and an absence of leadership. And oh so typical of who they are. Sad!)

      Like

      Reply

  3. AH, I have to disagree with you.
    Looters WILL BE SHOT!
    Shoot enough of them and the looting stops. There are no innocent by standers. If your out in the crowd when looting is taking place you are part of it. Any honest person will depart the area. Unless they are protecting their property or interest, at which point they’d be doing the shooting.
    Be the “roof Korean”!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • wunhunglo2, There you go!!!! Sounds as if you picked a place for the right reason. Small towns are far more likely to avoid problems like the violence we are seeing in the big cities. In small towns and rural communities the peace officers are friends, relatives, and neighbors…less likely to take inappropriate action. And you are less likely to have your neighbors steal from you for a whole host of reasons. Same reasoning we picked when moving to this area.

        Like

    • Cavguy, Disagree??????? Say it ain’t so!!!!
      OK, seriously now…..I am not saying don’t shoot. I believe in defending life and property. But, I am very, very careful when thinking I will shoot and kill someone. Everyone only has this life…sometimes mistakes are made…should life be taken for a “mistake”? Especially over a TV or stereo? Yes, I know there is the “principle” and all that…believe me I’ve had property stolen and vandalized. And I never said not to shoot. If we are talking about the same thing I am talking about the President saying to shoot looters. I don’t care what your politics are…that statement is just wrong…very wrong. It is beneath the office of the President. He is just posturing and trying to sound the tough guy. Let the locals handle it. Especially the local property owners whose stuff is being, or about to be, looted. If the cops get all puffed up and go in guns blazing…or worse yet, the military…what is the outcome and what is the precedent? Sorry, the older I get the more precious life appears to me. I made plenty of mistakes in my youth…glad no one shot me to prove a point or defend a TV. Oh, a TV that insurance will probably cover anyways. No, I don’t want the looting any more than the next guy…but I also believe a person must stop and think about the larger principles…the more far reaching actions…the priorities in a more eternal perspective. And the last thing I want…the last thing I want to see in this country…is a “new normal” where police or the military become trigger happy. That is the stuff of third world countries…I don’t want to see that in the USA. We are better than that. If we start shooting people over stealing a case of beer…we are no better than the person, maybe worse, that is doing the stealing.
      BUT!!!!!! Please don’t get distracted from the whole point of the post…Take Action!

      Like

      Reply

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