1/ This is video from Salt Lake City. The way the man with the cane is knocked down is awful. Notice in the back drop - that's some heavy duty military equipment the police have out there. Stay with me on this one.
2/In May 2015, Obama ended distribution of some types of military equipment to local law enforcement agencies because "it makes police seem like an 'occupying force' instead of public servants." I remember this because my local departments were outraged. latimes.com/nation/la-na-o…
This was in the wake of Ferguson & altho Obama banned weaponized aircraft, bayonets, grenade launchers & armored vehicles on tracks, police could get riot gear, military guns & armored trucks on tires. The point was to prevent militarization of American communities in turmoil.
Fast forward to 2017. Trump restored local police access to equipment like tanks, grenade launchers & bayonets. Sessions called it "lifesaving gear." Trump ended Obama era community policing reforms & made comments encouraging police to rough up people they arrest.
Do you feel safer when you see tanks on the streets in Salt Lake City? Police have expansive powers that must be exercised responsibly. Oversight is good & reminds police they are there to serve, not to occupy. Trump's mindset on policing has made problems worse, not better.
As Trump threatens to use the military to quell legitimate protests over police abuse of power against the black community, remember there are far better tools a leader could use, like committing to systemic reform. Tanks & bayonets are the tools of an autocrat, not a President.
