Too often this past week and continuing, when people come out to peacefully protest the killing of George Floyd and too many other Black people, they are faced with police in battle lines armed with high-powered rifles, face shields, rubber bullets, mace, tear gas and batons or riding horses which they use to ride over people walking. The object is not crowd control; It is crowd intimidation, fear and an overt expression of white dominance.
When people, black and white, are mourning another in a too-long litany of dead black bodies at police hands, reason says they should be encouraged to express that sorrow through marching, chants and songs – and the police presence should be one of protection and solidarity, expressed by ordinary uniforms and comforting words. The protesters are exercising their right as citizens to express their grievances.
We saw in Raleigh and Durham instances of that solidarity. Unfortunately, in Raleigh and so many other cities it had been preceded by police in full riot gear. The first thing protestors saw was the guns, the batons, the face shields. Was that kind of display the trigger for people who later began rioting, destroying and looting?
Officials in towns and cities should take these protests and the rioting as an opportunity to meet with the protestors, to listen to their centuries-old grievances and to begin a dialogue to right those wrongs. Some cities, some officials have done this, but until the madness stops, until armed uniformed forces are withdrawn and disbanded, we are cannot begin to find a way to heal and to begin working on making a more equal union.
There are people of good sense all over this country who want to end the racism pandemic, who want to find ways to begin to live up to our American ideals. Please step forward, please begin dialogues, please withdraw the police troops and the National Guard troops.
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15 Responses
Defund Wake Forest Gazette! Blue Live Matter
Hello my fellow Wake Foresters and Gazette readers, of all inclinations: Carol Pelosi’s essay was clearly indicated as “Editorial”. As in any respectable news publication, the editor reserves her personal opinions for the editorial section while at the same time, covering the news as objectively as possible. I’ve never seen the Gazette do it any other way.
It is worth noting reader responses from all points of view (including mine, hopefully) are presented here, which reflects the spirit and unique mission of every respectable news publication. Letters to the Editor are precisely where dialogue about current events is supposed to occur. In this space reserved for the exchange of ideas or viewpoints, I trust our differing opinions can be articulated without resorting to insult or vilification.
Each issue of the Gazette is the result of hard work by a real journalist who is a well-intentioned member of our community. It performs a valuable community service, and by the way: it is provided to the readers at no cost.
Thank you for your article and for mourning the death of Mr. Floyd. You not only discussed the grieving of Mr. Floyd and also provided the solution to the incidents that are occurring in the united states. Please, don’t be so close minded you people in the comments section. You are illustrating very close minded behavior. You saying you will cancel your subscription, will conclude that you are close minded and bitter. Well, if you continue the close mindedness, you will never learn anything and grow as a human being. You don’t have to agree but you don’t have to say vile words. Good for you Carol. Continue to write your opinion. Whether we agree or disagree, we are better off for hearing opinions different from us.
No one is being “close minded” when they say they will end their “subscription” to the WF Gazette. Having an open minded discussion on racial issues is welcomed and necessary in this country; however, having an “Editor” who uses her own prejudices, bias and left wing slanted viewpoint in the name of “journalism” is laughable at best, which is what this Gazette has become.
Beatrice, no one is bitter except Carol. That should be painfully obvious if you would simply open your eyes and your mind and read what she wrote. Until you do, you and Carol are both in the same boat, slowly floating down the stream of ignorance and prejudice.
There’s no point in announcing to us you plan to unsubscribe. Please, if you have nothing constructive and argumentative to say, don’t respond to my trend. I’m tired of argumentative people who choose not to have constructive conversations about the issues that are going on.
Useful idiots like the WFG editor allow emotion to guide them rather than rational thought.
The Myth of Systemic Police Racism
http://archive.is/OXbjA
It seems reasonable discourse is a lost art. Having a hissy fit and yelling “left wing media” while slamming shut a door is only another mind being closed.
I don’t recall the Gazette ever being biased in any news story, right or left. The opinion piece is just that – an opinion. I read the John Locke opinions too. Doesn’t mean I’m a neo-con.
It’s a sad truth that a handful of assholes are always looking for ways to manipulate any situation for personal gain. Scores settled, revenge extracted, power accumulated. Stories old as humanity.
Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. Let’s think about the story we’re writing.
A bad journalist means all journalists are bad? Your emotions cause irrational conclusions. Protection from domestic terrorists destroying property, both private & government owned is what we charge our police to do. There police have shown great patience with legitimate protestors. When terrorists hijack the peaceful demonstrations including cause harm to civilians & police, it is necessary to take form action. The police did not start the demonstration, they are only there because those who want to create chaos and those stealing from our business owner neighbors have interfered. Throwing an incendiary device is a threat to life and property and requires full response. Our police have done a great job. They should be commended, painted all bad because of a few. BTW, the most dangerous person to a Black person is another Black person, not a policeman. High majority of Black murder victims killed by a Black person vs a very very small percentage killed by law enforcement. Check FBI stats.
Thank God Greg is no longer on the council. Christianity extremism is a bad sickness.
Carol as the saying goes—until you walk a mile in my shoes—.
You have no idea what you are talking about. Who is going to protect the innocent people who are hurting, becoming a victim due to the actions of those who have no interest in protesting but only in causing destructions and chaos ? Yes, Carol legitimate protestors have the right to protest but too many times hate groups, those who are hell-bent on the destruction of our law and order society, those who have called for the deaths of police officers seem to take control of the innocent protesters and cause the chaos. They are ones that cause the police to suit up tp protect not only themselves but all other innocent citizens. You being of the left wing media group sees nothing but evil in this and always want to protect the bad guys. Our police officers are here to protect the business establishments that people have spent years building up and some putting their life savings into. . Who is going to do that Carol–not you or other left wing media groups. All y`all are going to do is seek the dissolvement of the police. Maybe if the officers on the front lines during these unruly protests had flowers in the rifle barrels you would be satisified. Sorry Carol but you are wrong on this count and I`m sorry you are taking this stand.
As I said in the first sentence–until you have walked a mile in my shoes–naturally I am talking about being a Law Enforcement Officer you will never understand what they go through. There are some that may agree totally with the protests and all that is being said but they have a sworn duty to protect and serve. Something the left wing media does not understand. Are there bad cops-yes-as there are bad reporters and bad people in every job.
Please take me off your mailing list as I can no longer support this type content. Will I get raked over the coals for this post I probably will but as a former Police Officer I cannot stand by and let your articles go without a response.
Greg Harrington
You’re absolutely right Greg and thank you for your thoughts and your service in law enforcement. Carol uses the WF Gazette to further her own very slanted and biased opinions and her left wing views of law enforcement are certainly out of place and in the minority.
I enjoy entertaining both sides of a discussion but not when it riddled with misrepresentations, bias and factually incorrect statements. I’m sure the rolls of subscribers of this “journal” will diminish when one realizes the hate that stems from the author’s views.
What a RIOT.
Luckily, my rights don’t come from you. Last I checked the Bill of Rights, the founders didn’t state “unpeaceable assemblies,” were protected Constitutionally. Please give up your property, since you’re willing to minimize the losses of those who fell victim to recent terror and destruction.
Violence should not be tolerated. We are a Country of rules and laws.
Speaking of folks on horses? We should research the Red Shirts in re: Wilmington Race Riot in 1898. Why not get to the roots of white supremacy?
“The police as antagonist” ? Are you kidding ? When people came out to protest the unfortunate and necessary killing of George Floyd, they were met with a heavily armed police force. Given the violent behavior of so many “protestors” throughout the country that looted, burned and destroyed businesses, I’m glad that the police were prepared to protect themselves, maintain order and protect the small business owners in our community. Some of the demonstrations in Raleigh were peaceful until it got dark and then the looting started along with unnecessary violence.
The police, who are tasked with the responsibility to “serve and protect” had their hands full with potentially explosive crowds and too many “protests” got out of hand very quickly and turned violent.
To say that officials should take the “…opportunity to meet with the protestors, to listen to their centuries-old grievances and to begin a dialogue to right those wrongs. ” is a great idea and merits consideration but in the middle of an emotionally charged group of people hell bent on damaging property, looting, rioting, etc. Come on.
Let’s restore order, repair the destruction and then think about having a meaningful dialogue. That has not happened in decades, through several administrations on both sides of the aisle at both the State and National levels.
Thanks for publishing the Gazette. This is my last edition also.
First of all, drop me from your distribution! Police officers are the only thing that stands between us an anarchy. Are there bad police officers yes, just like their bad doctors, CEOs and in every other profession. I was sickened by the video and am disgusted by the actions of that police officer. However your over reaction will hurt those small business people who count on there taxes to step up and protect them. Looting and rioting is disgusting as well.
One last question, if your livelihood depended on that small business would you want the police in riot gear to protect your future. This isn’t about civil discourse, it has its place, this about lawlessness and anarchy.
I’ve seen multiple videos of police officers being the ones to escalate verbal altercations into physical ones. I’ve also seen many police officers kneel with protestors. I hope that those who are in charge of the hiring and firing are paying attention to who is who!