[News] Update on “Operation Ghetto Storm” - The Enduring War on Black People in the United States
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Fri Jul 24 16:26:28 EDT 2015
*U**p**d**a**t**eon“/OperationGhettoStorm”
/**TheEnduringWaronBlackPeopleintheUnitedStates*
byArleneEisen*
Part 1
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Update-on-Operation-Ghetto-Storm-Part-1-20150713-0007.html
Part 2:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Update-on-Operation-Ghetto-Storm-Part-2--20150715-0033.html
Part 3:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Update-on-Operation-Ghetto-Storm-Part-3-20150721-0013.html
All three parts are published by TeleSur English
/“Oncetheclassicmethodoflynchingwas
therope.Nowitisthepoliceman’sbullet….//WesubmitthattheevidencesuggeststhatthekillingofNegroeshas
becomepolicepolicy intheUnitedStatesand
thatpolicepolicyisthemostpracticalexpressionofgovernment
policy….Forceand violencesystematicallyand
consistentlyemployedtoquellthe
righteousangerofBlacksisjustifiedbycallingmurderan exercise‘lawand
order’.”/— from*WeChargeGenocide*,1951
PetitiontotheUnitedNationseditedby William Patterson,endorsedby
W.E.B.DuBois,PaulRobeson,HarryHaywoodandothers.
MorethansixdecadeshavepassedsincePatterson’sauthoritativestudyof
policekillings of Blackpeople.Withinthatspan,theDeaconsfor
SelfDefenseandothersusedarmsto
protecttheBlackFreedomMovementagainstvigilantesintheSouth;theBlackPanther Partyfor
SelfDefenseorganizedthousandsof peoplebasedon thedemandtoendpolice
brutalityandmurderof Blackpeople;andinsurrectionssparkedby
policeatrocities rocked everymajorcityinthecountry.TheninFebruary2012,
avigilante,George
Zimmerman,killedTrayvonMartin.Twoyearsagotodaytheacquittalof George
Zimmermanre-kindledamovementagainstimpunityfor
policeandvigilantekillers.Yet,
despitetheoutrageoverthestate’sprotectionof Zimmerman,andthespotlighton
impunityof policewho summarilyexecuteBlackpeopleon
camera,thekillingcontinues withshockingregularity.And theimpunityof
police,andevenvigilantes,proceeds
apace.
Whatmakesthismoderndaylynchingaseeminglyinoperabletumorwovenintothe
arteriesandsinewof theU.S. body
politic?Thisisthefirstinathree-partseriesthat offersadiagnosisof sortsof
our nationaldisease.
A cornerstoneof policeimpunityisthefailureof
thefederalgovernmenttorequire
reliableandaccuratereporting.Evenorganizationsthathavetheresourcestoamassand
disseminatethedata,stillmustrelyon policeaccountsof
thekillingsthatinvariably
justifytheirmayhem.Impunitybreatheslifeintochronicassaultsby
copsandthestate’s privatizedkillers.In MayandJune2012,
/_OperationGhettoStorm_/_(OGS)_documented30Blackpeoplekilledpermonthby
police,securityguardsandvigilantes.In
May2015,/TheGuardian’s/websitecounted26 killedby
policealone.Theircountfor June2015 is19. If theyfollowedOGS
methodologytoincludevigilantesandsecurityguards,thetotal for June2015
wouldbeatleast28 or oneevery25.7 hours for themonth.
Initiallyenragedby theFloridapolice’srefusaltoarrestZimmermanfor
themurderof TrayvonMartin,webegantocollectnamesof
murderedBlackpeopletodemonstratethat Trayvon’skillingwassystemic.Wefound
thatin2012, police,securityguardsand vigilanteskilledatotalof 313
Blackpeople.Dividethenumberof hours inayearby 313 andyou getoneevery28
hours. WecalledtheReport/OperationGhettoStorm/(OGS)
becausethenameencapsulatesour
conclusionthatthemission,whitesupremaciststate
policiesandinstitutions,hightechmilitaryhardware,andmilitarymind-setthatcharacterizedtheinvasionof
Iraqalsosustaintheoccupationandwaron Blackand Brown
communitiesinsidetheU.S.Securityguardsandvigilantes,protectedby “stand-
you-ground”,“self-defense”,the“homeascastledoctrine”andotherlaws,jointhe
18,000 lawenforcementagenciesemployingapproximately250,000 policeandsheriffs
intheoccupationandcontainmentof Blackcommunities.
*Th**eMissionofPoliceinBlackCommunitiesinHistoricContext*
Whitesupremacyismuchmorethantheideologyor rantingof
aright-wingextremist, admireror memberof organizationsliketheKu
KluxKlan.Whitesupremacyhasflowed inthemainstreamsincethebeginningof U.S.
history.
“WhiteSupremacyisawebof
interlocking,mutually-reinforcinginstitutions—economic,military,legal,educational,religiousandcultural—thatpropelasystemof
exploitationandoppressionof continents,nations,andpeoplesof colorby
whitepeoples andnationsfor thepurposeof maintaininganddefendingasystemof
wealth,power,and privilege.”1
Thegroundbreakinghistorian,GeraldHorne,hasdemonstratedhow
theUnitedStates—a settlercolonybasedon
stolenlandandbuiltwithstolenlabor--wastheworld’sfirst nationfoundedon
whitesupremacy.Itsfoundingheroicdemocraticmythsarelies.Theso-called“AmericanRevolution”was,infact,acounter-revolutionby
slaveownersand landpirateswho fearedthattheBritishCrown
wouldnotallowtheirprofitablewhite
supremacistenterprisetocontinue.2Slaveryandslavetrademadethedevelopmentand
economyof theUnitedStatespossible.
Thesystemof slaveryenlistedwhitesettlers—includingthosewho ownedno
land—to controlthelivesof
enslavedAfricans.Theearliest“lawenforcementinstitutions”or
policeforcesgrewfromnetworksof whitepeoplewhosetaskitwastocontainand
controlenslavedBlackpeople,especiallythosewho
attemptedescape.AftertheCivilWarandendof Reconstruction,between1877
and1950, whitesupremacistorganizationsliketheKu
KluxKlan,civilianmobs,localsheriffsandpolicecolludedtoenforce
sharecropping--differentfromslaveryinnameonly--andtomaintainJimCrow--dejure
apartheidanddenialof citizenship.Theyinstitutionalizedasystemof
omnipresent surveillance,prisonplantationsandmorethan4000
lynchingstoterrorizeBlackpeople
intosubmissionandtore-entrenchwhitesupremacistpower.
Whilethisstate-sanctionedterrorwascenteredintheSouth,manyNorthernandWestern
statesweresitesof lynchingandallpracticedsomeformof
slaveryandthenJimCrow. Whiteriotsor
pogromsagainstBlackpeoplemobilizedwhitemobsinmanynorthern
citiestocontaintheBlackpeoplewho
hadmigratedNorthduringandafterWorldWarI.
LocalpolicethroughoutthecountryenforcedordinancesthatbarredBlackpeoplefrom
livinginthe“Sundowntowns”wheretheyworked.Despitenumerousproposals,the
federalgovernmentneverpassedananti-lynchinglawor
anyotherlegislationtoprotect Blackpeopleagainsttheexcessesof
policeandwhitecitizenattacks.Rather,whenBlack people’straditionof
resistancetowhitesupremacygainedstrengthinthe1960’s, the
federalgovernmentlaunchedCOINTELPRO.Underthatprogram,dissentwas
criminalized,leadersandmilitantswereassassinatedor
incarceratedandtheiractivities weredisrupted.
ThisfailuretoprotectBlackpeople’shumanrightspersistsinthetoothlesspretensesof
thefederalgovernmenttoholdpoliceaccountable./OperationGhettoStorm/documented
how only12 percentof theextrajudicialkillingsof
Blackpeoplemightbejustifiedby
internationalhumanrightsstandards.Thatleaves275
killingsthatweretantamountto
lynching—anastronomicalnumbercomparedtotheheydayof lynching.
As earlyas1960, inanessaypublishedby
*/Esquire/*,JamesBaldwinexplainedthemission of
the“modern”policeinHarlem,NewYork:/… theonlywaytopolicea ghettoistobe
oppressive…..Theirverypresenceisan insult,and
itwouldbe,eveniftheyspenttheir entiredayfeedinggumdrops
tochildren.Theyrepresenttheforceofthewhiteworld,and
thatworld’srealintentionsare,simply,forthatworld’scriminalprofitand
ease,tokeep theblackman corralledup here,inhisplace.Thebadge,thegun
intheholster,and the
swingingclubmakevividwhatwillhappenshouldhisrebellionbecomeovert.”/
In 2013, theNewYork StateSenateheardtestimonythattheformerNYPD
CommissionerKellytoldtheNY
Stategovernorthathisaimwastoinstillfearinyoung
BlackandLatinomeneverytimetheylefthome.A recordingmadeataBrooklynPolice
StationshowedthatKelly’sviewspermeatetheNYPD:“Ifyou gettoobigof acrowd
there,you know, they’regoingtogetoutof
control,andthey’regoingtothinkthatthey own theblock.Theydon’town
theblock,alright?Theymightlivethere,butweown the block,alright?Weown
thestreetshere.”3
WithinthelastyeartheuprisingsandpoliceresponseinFergusonandBaltimorehave
illuminatedhow
consistentthepolice’smissionhasbeenoverthedecades.Whetherthey
areequippedwithcandy,traditionalbillyclubsandsidearmsor tanksandhightech
militaryequipment;whethertheircaptainsgivethemarrestquotasthatrequirepetty
harassmentor followtheprinciplesof
“communitypolicing”,theirmissionremainsthe
same:tocontain,controlandforcesubmissionof Blackpeople.
In Part2 of
thisserieswe’llinvestigatetheenduringideologicalandstructural
underpinningsof policestateoccupationandcontrolof Blackcommunities.
/<mailto:arlene_eisen at sbcglobal.net>/
*U**p**d**a**t**eon“/OperationGhettoStorm”-Part2/*
* TheTurningWheelsofState-SanctionedKilling*
/“Plaintiffs’decedent’sinjuries,losses,and
damagescomplainedof,weredirectlyand
proximatelycausedbytheactsofPlaintiffs’decedent,notthisDefendant.”/–
frominitial courtfilingby
theClevelandCityAttorneyrejectingresponsibilityfor thefatalshooting by
policeofficerTimothyLoehmannwho shotTamirRice,a12-year-oldchildashesat
on aplaygroundswingwithatoygun.
SinceGeorgeZimmermanwasacquittedof murderingTrayvonMartintwoyearsago,at
least600 Blackpeoplehavebeenkilledby
police,securityguardsandvigilantes.An unknown numberof
theparentsandotherlovedonesof thosewho diedhavehadto
endurelegalisticcontortionsandmediacampaignsthatblamethedeceasedfor
theirown deaths.
Thisisthesecondof
athree-partseriestoinvestigatetheforcesbehindtheunendingwar
wagedprimarilyby policeagainstBlackpeople.Herewefocuson
theideologicaland politicalstructuresthatperpetuate“OperationGhettoStorm”.
Thesickeningpatternof viciousviolenceandhumiliationby policethatisnow on
full displayinsocialmedialeavesno
doubt.Policepersonneldepartmentsthroughoutthe
countryattract,recruitandmaintainmenandwomenwho holdBlackpeopleinutter
contempt.Yettheirwhitesupremacistconvictionsarenottheprimarycauseof the
chronic epidemicof policekillings.A panelof
expertpsychologistscouldscreenoutall policerecruitswho
displaywhitesupremacistleaningsanditwouldhardlyimprovethe ratesof
policekillingof Blackpeople.Theacquittalof
Zimmermanand_failuretocharge_allbut10 of theofficerswho killedhundredsof
Blackpeoplein2012 isapatternthat persiststodaywiththeexonerationof
DarrenWilsonandotherhigh-profilekillers.This patternisby
design.Itistheproductof awebof supportfor
policeandvigilantekillingundertheauspicesof
legislative,executiveandjudicialbranchesof thestatefromlocalto
federallevelsandreinforcedby ahegemonicwhitesupremacistnarrative.
*Th**eNarrativeonthePoliticalStage*
Politiciansfromrighttoleftpandertowhitesupremacistideologythatassumeswhiteness
astheuniversalstandardfor allthat’sgood andblamesBlackpeoples’pathology,
criminalityandotherpersonalfailingsfor theirown
oppression.Whileright-wing
extremistorganizationsandRepublicans’policiesareovertlyracist,Democratsareoften
notmuchdifferent.PresidentBillClintoncampaignedon aplatformof
“endingwelfareasweknow it”.Thatplatformopenlypanderedtothosewho
agreedwithfar-right ideologueslikeRickSantorumwho,
yearslaterdeclared,“Idon’twanttomakeBlack people’slivesbetterby
givingthemsomebodyelse’smoney.”Clintonalsosponsored
variousget-tough-on-crimepoliciesthatexplodedtheprisonpopulation.Hederegulated
thefinancialsystemandlaunchedNAFTAandotherglobalizationmeasuresthatresulted
infinancialruinthatdisproportionatelyaffectedBlackpeople.MorerecentlymajorDemocraticPartyleaders,HarryReidandJoeBiden,praisedObama’selectabilityon
the grounds thathe“hadno
Negrodialect”andwasa“brightandcleanandnice-looking guy”.
However,manyhavearguedthatasthefirstAfricanAmericanPresident,BarackObama
hasbeenthemostdisappointingpoliticiantopandertowhitesupremacy.Heshrewdly
strikesa“balanced”pose,inhisspeeches,andactions,likehis2013 addressat
Morehouse.Yetheinvariablyemphasizesaconservative,neo-liberalprivatizedapproach
thatholdsBlackpeopleresponsiblefor overcomingcenturiesof entrenchedwhite
supremacy.In apressconferenceafterthepeopleof
Baltimoretooktothestreetsto
expresstheiroutrageatthepolicebreakingFreddieGray’sspine,Obamajoinedthe
chorus of right-wingpunditsand“objective”mediawho
labeledthe“riotersascriminals andthugs.”
LookatDylannRoof’s rationalizationfor Charlestonmassacrethatobsesseson
“black- on whitecrime”andon therighteousnessof
Zimmerman’svigilantism.Thenconsider how
Dylann’sthinkingoverlapswiththehegemonicnarrative—evenpropagatedby the
firstBlackpresident--thatdemonizes,criminalizesandfearsBlackpeople.Thisnarrative
ismanifestinthe“_"justifications”_policeusefor killingBlackpeople,who
arealllabeled “suspects”.Some47 percentof
policereporttheyshotaBlacksuspectbecausethey(the
police)“feltthreatened”.No corroboratingevidencewasevergivenor
requested. Fourteen percentof suspects“gavetheofficerno
choicebuttofire”becausetheyfled. Only13 percentof
suspectswereactuallykilledinthecourseof firingaweapon.
Unfortunately,someinthemovementsagainstpoliceimpunityimplicitlyacceptpartof
a
whitesupremacistnarrative.Theydedicatetheirproteststothose“innocent/unarmed”
victimsof
policekillings.Itistempting,evennatural,thatcommunityoutragebuildson
thegrounds thatthevictimwasachild,headingtocollege,or
onlycarryingskittles.But, thefocuson
unarmedvictimsimpliesthatitmightbeacceptablefor thepolicetokillan
_armed_Blackperson.Itunderminesmovementsfor justiceandhumanrightsby
accepting themyththatcopsareheroeswho protectthecommunityagainstcriminals.
/OperationGhettoStorm/found that44 percentof Blackpeoplehadno
weaponatallat the
timetheywereexecuted.Giventhemanycaseswherethepubliclearnedthatthe
policemisrepresentedwallets,lighters,cellphonesor pointedfingersasguns,
OGS
recommendedcautioninacceptingpolicereportswithoutcorroboration.Nevertheless,
gun possessionislegalin41
statesandevenwhereitisnotlegal,possessionaloneisnot acapitaloffense.
*P**o**li**c**i**e**sthatInstitutionalizetheBlack“Criminal”Narrative*
TheGreatMigrationawayfromSouthernsharecroppingandterrorformedtheBlack
communitiesthatthepolicenow
occupy.Legislationandregulationsfromfederaltolocallevels,between1934
and1962, deniedBlackpeoplehomeloansor
eventherighttosettleanywhereoutsideghettoes.In the1960’s,
policedepartmentsfirstcreated
paramilitaryunitstorepressBlackrebellionsthatsweptallmajorcitiesintheUS.
In1971, PresidentNixondeclaredthe“Waron
Drugs”,whichgavemoralisticcovertoaraftof
lawsthatcriminalizedBlacklifeandledtoomnipresentpolicing,surveillanceand
massincarceration.In the1986,
PresidentRonaldReaganissuedanationaldirectivethat declared“illicitdrugs
athreattonationalsecurity.”And so beganadomesticarmsrace
amongpolicedepartmentsandindoctrinationof
policeinthewin-at-all-costsmentalityof soldier.
Since9/11,thePatriotActanditsvariousincarnationsstripcitizensof our
basicrights thatprotectagainstallformsof
policetyranny,givevariousagenciescarteblancheto
monitorcitizens’everymoveandutterance,justifyracistprofilingandprovidedinfinite
funds tomaintainasystemof
massincarceration.EdwardSnowden’srevelationsshowed how thebehemothof
masssurveillancehastakenon alifeof itsown,
multiplyingwithoutenablinglegislation.Yetitisclearfromtherecord,themaintargetof
allthissurveillanceisblackandbrown.
Somehow,allthecameras,phonedatacollection, drones,FusionCentersandspy
networkshaven’tbeenabletodetectwhitefacesor
preventamateurattacks,liketheoneDylannRoof, announcedsixmonthsinadvance.
*Fund**i**n**gMilitarizationandPoliticalCloutofthePolice*
TheNationalRifleAssociation,Monsantoandorganizationscontrolledby theKoch
brotherseffectivelypressurestateandfederallegislaturesfor
law-and-orderlegislation
andfunding.Thesamedefensecontractorswhoselobbyistshavesuccessfullygorgedthe
militaryindustrialcomplexandpromotedwarabroadhaveexpandedtheirrealmtofeed themilitarizationof
domesticpolice.
Lobbyistsrepresentingpoliceofficerskeeparelativelylowerprofile,buttheycomeout
inforcetoexpandtheirbudgets,various“Billsof
PoliceOfficers’Rights”,warrantless wiretaps,useof dronesandtoopposedrug
reformandanyencroachmenton their authorityor impunity.In
additiontothemillionstheymayspend,thecombinationof the
whitepublicrespect,evenreverence,thattheycommandinthemediaandtheir
“expertise”thatlawmakersdependupon, givepoliceoutsizedinfluence.
TheNationalAssociationof PoliceOrganizations(NAPO) lists126 member
organizations.ThepowerfulNewYork
CityPoliceBenevolentAssociationandanumber of othersdo notappearon
thelist.TheInternationalUnionof PoliceAssociations(which isamemberof
theAFL-CIO)(AFL-CIO),theNationalFraternalOrderof Police,the
NationalPoliceBenevolentAssociation—eachwiththeirown
localandstateaffiliates—alsojointhelobby.Theirwebsitesfeatureseveralthemesthatareechoedincorporatemedia:(1)
Policeareheroicpublicservantswho neverstrayfromtheirdutytoprotect
citizensfromcriminalsandterroristsandupholdlawandorder;and(2) Policework
is
extremelydangerousandrequiresunconditionalpublic,politicalandfinancialsupport.
Generallytheirmessagehasprevailed.Afterabarrageof negativepublicityinthe
progressivepressexposingthepoliceuseof lethalexcessiveforceinscoresof
cities,a nationalGallupPollreleasedJune19 found thatonly18 percentof
peopleintheU.S.expressed“littleor no
confidence”inthepolice.4Eventhe34,500 memberNewYork
CityPoliceDepartment----whichformerMayorBloombergbraggedwasthe7thlargest
armyintheworld– maintainedpublicsupportaftertheystagedacoup-likework
refusal andopenlyexpressedcontemptfor thepeopleof NewYork
andtheirMayor.A June25
editorialinthe/NewYorkTimes/praisedMayorDeBlasioafterhecavedintothedemands
of thePoliceBenevolentAssociationby hiring1300 moreofficersfor
“community policingandtofightterrorism.”
Theirbudgetsbothreflectandreinforcethepoliticalpowerof
police.Lawenforcement budgetsreceivemoneyfromamultiplicityof
sourceswhichhidesthemagnitudeof their resources.A
formerCongressionalaidestimatedthatwhenfederalagenciesare combined
withstateandlocalagencies,theannualtotalcomesto$266.8 billionor $850
perpersonperyearintheUnitedStates.Thisexcludesbillionsmorefor Homeland
Security,andanadditional$72.2 billionayearfor
nationalandmilitaryintelligence.
Thenthere’stheunaccountedbillionsmorethattheDepartmentof Defense,Justice
Department,andothersdistributetolawenforcementagenciesinthenameof
homeland security.In 2012 _StephanSalisbury_wrotethatthemoneyspenton
armoringandarminglocallaw-enforcementsince9/11couldhave_rebuilt_post-KatrinaNewOrleansfivetimes
overwithmorethanenoughmoneylefttoprovidejobtrainingandhousingfor
everyone of the41,000-plushomelesspeopleinNewYork City,15,000
homelessinPhiladelphia andadditionaltensof thousandsof
homelessinDetroit,Newark,andCamden.“Throwin
somecrumblingbridgesandroads,too,”hesuggested.
In
May,withtypicalfanfare,PresidentObamaannouncedanexecutiveorderwhich,he
claimed,wouldimprovepublicsafetyandrestoretrustinpoliceinplaceslikeFerguson.
ExecutiveOrder13688 would,hepromised,restrictpolicedepartments’useof
tank-like armoredvehiclesthatmoveon
tracksandothermilitary-stylegearthat“cansometimes
givepeopleafeelinglikethere'sanoccupyingforceasopposedtoaforcethat'spartof
thecommunitythat'sprotectingthemandservingthem."As
ifitwerethegear,andnot thepolicemissionthat,for
decades,haveoccupiedBlackcommunitiesandkilledBlack
citizens.However,evengivenObama’slogic,thedetailsof
hisOrderrevealthatitleavesthebillionsof dollarsworthof
militaryhardwarethathavealreadybeendistributedin
placeandthatfuture“restrictions”arefullof loopholes.Moreover,thereisno
serious provisionfor funding,monitoringor enforcingtheprogram.
Meanwhile,militarycontractorscontinuetoinventandpeddlehightechequipmentto policedepartmentstomoreefficientlyterrorizethosewho
policearechargedwith containing.For
example,apopularitem_advertised_in/PoliceOne/magazine,alongwith
armsandothermilitaryaccoutrements,arehandcuffsthatenablepolicetodeliveran80,000-voltshocktoadetainee.Eachsetof
cuffscost$1500, plusanadditional$400 for eachtransmitter.
Themythologyof policeheroisminthefaceof
Blackcriminalityprotectsthepolicefrom scandalwhentheirown
whitesupremacistrantsareexposed.For
example,in“liberal”SanFrancisco,investigatorsdiscoveredrepeatedexchangesof
racistandhomophobic textmessagesamong14
cops.Theyincludedsalutesto“whitepower”,anddeclared,“All n-
mustf-hang.”Yetthankstoagentrifiedpublicindifference,vigorousdefenseby
the
PoliceOfficers’Association,bunglingandbureaucraticcomplacencythatapparently
didn’tseetheurgencyinholdingsuchwhitesupremacistbehavioraccountable,the
offendingcopsarelikelytoretaintheirjobs.Similarexposuresof
whitesupremacistrants by copsinNewYork,
Illinois,StLouis,Cleveland,Ferguson,FortLauderdalesuggest that
thecultureisendemicinmostdepartments.Policeunions’protectionalsoextendsto theofficersafterthey’vebeenfiredfor
“unjustified”extrajudicialkillingsandphysical abuse.A
recent_exposé_in/TheAtlantic/,detailedhow aroundthecountry,70 percent%of
officers’terminationsandsuspensionsareoverturned.
*U**p**d**a**t**eon“/OperationGhettoStorm”-Part3/*
* Whatcanstoppolicefromkillinga Blackperson#every28hours?*
/Iraq war veteranDan Grabowappliedfora
spotintheMichiganStatePoliceAcademy. Thetopbrass arerecruiting400
newtroopersand
theybelievemilitaryvetshavethe//rightstuff."Ithinkthey'reright,"Grabowsaid."Wehavethetraining….Weknowhowto
dress.Weknowhowtodo thingsinstressfulsituations.Alotofus
combatvetshavebeen thereand donethat,"/_Fox News,March19, 2012_
Grabowisoneof thousandsof U.S. veteranswho havetradedtheirarmydog
tagsfor policebadges.Theyarejoinedby anuncountablenumberof
recruitsfromwhite supremacistorganizationsandindividualswho
believeinthecrusadingwhite supremacistmissionof thearmiesof U.S. Empire.
Thisisthethirdof a_three_-part_series_thatinvestigateshow
theextrajudicialkillingof
Blackpeopleistightlywovenintothehistory,hegemonicideologyandinstitutionsthat
constitutetheU.S.A. Our
aimistocontributetoanurgentefforttomovetheconversation on
police“reform”toastrategyfor endingthesystemicwaron Blackpeople(aka
“OperationGhettoStorm”).
*W**ha**tFlagDoTheyFightundertheConfederateorAmericanFlag?*
Theanswerisboth.
_AjamuBaraka_pointedoutinhisJune22 blogthatDylannRoof’s
objectivetotakeover HIS
countryfromBlackrapistsandcriminalswasideologicallyconsistentwiththe
ideologyof U.S. militarypropagandists.
/“Theirrational,violence-proneracialized“other”occupiesa
permanentspaceinthe/
/consciousnessofso manyintheU.S., whichiswhyithas beenso
easytomobilizepublic supportforU.S. militaryinterventionsand
campaignsofpoliticalsubversion,fromIraq toVenezuela.”/
Toooften,theaffinitybetweenfollowersof anti-Blackgroups, veteransof
foreignwars
andthepoliceismorethanideological.SincetheCharlestonmassacrelastmonththe
internethas_reposted_aflurryof
exposés.Theyfeaturewebsiteslike“Stormfront”with300,000
registeredsubscribersandhundredsof
whitefascistorganizationsthatencourage theirmemberstoenlistintheU.S.
ArmedForcesandpolicedepartments.Atthesame
time,“extremists”activelyrecruitfrominsidethesemilitaryinstitutions.
WhitesupremacyischronicanddeeplyrootedintheArmyanditsmission.Eventhe
Departmentof HomelandSecurityissueda_shortreport_in2009
thatpointedouthow the returnof
militaryveteransfromcombatcorrelatescloselywiththeriseinKlan
membership.Theyareonlythetipof aniceberg.Nevertheless,Fox
Newsandahordeof
politiciansdenouncedtheReport.HomelandSecuritydeleteditfromitswebsiteandthe
unitinvestigatingdomesticterrorismwassharplyreduced.Yetthereareatleast2.4 millionveteransof
thewarsinIraqandAfghanistan.Evenifonlyasmallpercentageof
themcontinuetowageaconsciouswaragainstpeopleof
colorathome,the“serviceand heroism”of soldiersreturningfromthebattlesfor
theUS EmpirepermeatetheZeitgeist of U.S. society.
Federalandlocalgovernmentsgiveincentivestopolicedepartmentswho
hireveterans.A websitefor theInternationalAssociationof Chiefsof
Policefeaturesresources,including guideson how
tomarketandrecruitveteranstopolicedepartments.TheOfficeof
CommunityOrientedPolicingintheDOJ hasalsosetup aprogram,“VetstoCops”,to
encouragelawenforcementagenciestohireveterans.Itfeaturesavailablegrants,toolkits
andotherresources.Manylocalpolicedepartmentsactivelyrecruitveterans,withor
withoutgrantsfromthefederalgovernment,andgiveveteransextrapointsinthehiring
process.
*Look**i**n**ginVainforJudicialRelieffromthePolice*
Thegrowing_list_of refusalsby
localdistrictattorneystoindictpoliceisinfamous. Refusals by
theAttorneyGeneralandSupremeCourtareslowerincomingtolight.Yet, in
April2015, the/_NewYorkTimes_///documentedthat“Atthe
SupremeCourt,wherethe limitsof police
powerareestablished,Mr.Holder’sJusticeDepartmenthas supportedpolice
officers_everytime_anexcessive-forcecasehasmadeits wayto arguments.”
A consistentlineof
SupremeCourtprecedentssetandreflecttheprevailingpolitical
powerasexpressedby theU.S. AttorneyGeneral,theDepartmentof
Justiceandtheir regionalappointees.Since1989, inGrahamv Connor,
theSupremeCourtlegalizedpoliceuseof
forcewheneverthatuseisjudged“reasonable”fromthe_pointof viewof the_
_officeron thescene_.In recentyears,a_raftof
SupremeCourtrulings_haveenhancedpolicediscretion.For example,inMay2014,
Plumhoffv.
Rickford,theCourtruledthatpolicecouldmoreeasilyjustifyshooting-to-killa“fleeing”driver.
Familiesandprotestersseeking“justice”for Blackpeoplekilledby
thepolice,security
guardsandvigilantesoftenplacetheirhopeintheDepartmentof Justice(DOJ). In
early May2015, someprotestersof
FreddieGray’skillingcelebratedwhentheyheardthatthe Departmentof
JusticehadopenedaninvestigationintotheBaltimorePoliceDepartment.
However,areviewof theoutcomesof DOJ investigationsindicatesthattheDOJ is
understaffed,oftenlackssubpoenapower,haslimitedenforcementpower,andmost
importantly,lacksthepoliticalwilltochallengetheirown
commitmenttosettlercolonial tradition,theentrenchedpowerof
policeunions,pro-policepoliticiansandmedia.
SincetheDOJ’s firstinvestigationin1997, ithasreviewed65
departments--including
Pittsburgh,LosAngeles,MetropolitanDC,Cincinnati,Detroit,Oakland,NewOrleans
(twotimes),Portland,Seattle,LasVegas,Philadelphia,Miami(twotimes)andmost
recentlyCleveland(twotimes),FergusonandBaltimore.Withsomecities,likeLos
Angeles,Oakland,Detroit,DOJ investigationsdragon for
morethanadecade.Finallya
consentdecreeisnegotiated,departmentscommittocosmeticchanges,anddespitea
flurryof mediapublicityandthethreatof courtenforcement,recordsshow
thatpolice departmentsgo backtobusinessasusual.
TheDOJ’s failuretoreformor protectthepeopleof
Clevelandfrom“systemicexcessive anddeadlyforceby
police”isasignificantcasestudy.In 2004, theDOJ
completedafour-yearinvestigationof
theClevelandPoliceDepartment’sexcessiveand discriminatoryuseof
force.Theout-of-courtsettlement,includedaprohibitionagainstofficersfiringatfleeingvehiclesunlesssomeone’slifewasindanger.YetinDecember2012,
some62 of Cleveland’ssquadcarsjoinedthechaseof aBlackcouplewhoseonly
“crime”seemedtobethattheircarbackfired.Communitymemberslikenedthefrenzied pursuittoalynchmob.In
theend,TimothyRussellandMelissaWilliamsdiedina barrageof 137
bullets.CommunityoutcrypressuredtheDOJ toopenanother
investigation.Itdidn’ttakelongfor
investigatorstofindsystemicdiscriminatory problemsinallaspectsof
thedepartment’sstructure.Nevertheless,theCityreceiveda DOJ grantfor
$1.25 milliontohire10 newofficersandanothermillionfor “crime
prevention”.Thefollowingyear,justbeforethenAttorneyGeneralHolderformally
_releasedascathingreport_thatexposedtheDepartment’s“systemicdeficiencies”,the
DOJ grantedthemanother$1.9 milliontohire15 newofficers.In November2014,
they summarilyexecuted12-yearoldTamirRiceasheplayedon aswingwithatoygun.
Then,inMay2015, OfficerMichaelBrelowasacquittedof
voluntarymanslaughter.He wasthecopwho, inDecember2012, hadclimbedon
thehood of TimothyRussell’s crashedcarandfired15
shots,pointblankintothemotionlesscouple.ThesedetailsleadtotheinevitableconclusionthatratherthanenforceBlackpeople’srights,DOJinvestigationsserveaspacificationprogramstoplacatebesiegedBlackcommunities.
*B**u**il**d**i**n**gResistanceandSolidarity*
GalvanizedBlackcommunitiesinthestreetsof
FergusonandBaltimore,alongwiththe slowboilof
Blackpeopleincommunitiesacrossthecountry,havefinallybrokenthrough
the“mythof apost-racialAmerica.”Theyarechallengingcomplacencyanddenialby
the majorityof
whitepeople.Theyareforcinganationalconversationaboutracism.Willthat
conversationleadtoanendtothewaron Blackpeople?Theanswerdependson many
complicatedconditionsthatcannotbepredictedapartfromthevisiongainedfroma
protractedstruggleledby Blackpeople.
Yet,theimplicationsof our studydo suggesttheneedfor
certainstrategicassumptions. First,body
cameras,improvedtraining,reducedmilitaryhardwareandother“reforms”
arecosmeticandcannotchangethebasicstate-sponsored,violent_mission_of
thepolice.Second,relianceon theJudicialSystemfor substantivejustice(or
evenrevenge)willlead
tocommunitypacificationandeventualfrustration.Third,no presidentor
politicianwhoseelectiondependson pleasingthecaptainsof
financialandmilitaryindustrywill seriouslycommittoendingOperatio
GhettoStormanymorethansheor hewillendthe U.S.
Empire’smilitaryinterventionsaroundtheworld.Fourth,giventhedeeprootsandpervasivecontrolof
thewhitesupremacisthegemonicnarrative,apriorityistoeducateandorganizemassesof
people,block-by-block.Themovementmustbecapableof sustainingastrugglefor
alloppressedcommunitiestobecomeself-determiningwithfull
humanrightstolife,housing,health,educationanddignifiedemployment.Last,withthe
recognitionthatsurvivalfor mostof thepeopleof theworlddependson
defeatingthe
whitesupremacistimperialproject,buildinginternationalsolidaritybecomesessential.
1.ElizabethMartinez—earlymemberoftheBlackSouthernFreedomMovementorganization,
SNCCandLatinaactivist—formulated thisdefinition.
http://soaw.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482
<http://soaw.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482>
2.GeraldHorne.The*Counter*-*Revolution
of1776*:SlaveResistanceandtheOriginsofthe
UnitedStatesofAmerica.NYUPress2014.GlenFordoffersasummaryofHorne’sargumentat
http://blackagendareport.com/white_supremacy_protects_imperialism
<http://blackagendareport.com/white_supremacy_protects_imperialism>
<http://blackagendareport.com/white_supremacy_protects_imperialism>
3<http://blackagendareport.com/white_supremacy_protects_imperialism>http://www.operationghettostorm.org/uploads/1/9/1/1/19110795/operation_ghetto_storm.pdf
<http://www.operationghettostorm.org/uploads/1/9/1/1/19110795/operation_ghetto_storm.pdf>
4
http://www.gallup.com/poll/183704/confidence-police-lowest-years.aspx?utm_source=Politics&utm_medium=newsfeed&utm_campaign=tiles<http://blackagendareport.com/white_supremacy_protects_imperialism><http://www.operationghettostorm.org/uploads/1/9/1/1/19110795/operation_ghetto_storm.pdf>
**/A/**/rl/**/en/**/eEisen/*/i//stheauthorofthestudycalled//“//Ope//r//a//ti//o//nGhettoStorm:2012AnnualReporton
theExtrajudicialKillingsof313BlackPeoplebyPolice,SecurityGuardsandVigilantes”(Also
knownasthe#every28hoursReport)originallypublishedbyMalcolmXGrassrootsMovement//.
//Th//erevisededitionisavailableat//www.operationghettostorm.org
<http://www.operationghettostorm.org/>/
/Sh//ecanbereachedatarlene_eisen at sbcglobal.net
<mailto:arlene_eisen at sbcglobal.net>/
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