[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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