If anybody happens to be in Seattle right now they are replaying the public hearing that happened here Weds. night for the Seattle City Council on channel 21 / public access cable.
Many of the stories are incredible. A website has been setup where accounts and comments are posted:
www.e-flection.com
From the site:
<As a Police Officer
from: K. John 12/8/1999 12:59 pm EST
I have been a police officer for nearly eight years and used to live in the Seattle area. I thought the city was one of human rights and dignity to all men and women, regardless of color, creed and sexual preference. I now see the real city politics at work. "Screw the common man, let's talk money and popularity of our city as it becomes a hub for world trade!"
My duty as a law enforcement officer is to keep the peace, bring criminals to justice, and ensure the protection of each citizens constitutional rights against any person or entity which stands to violate their rights.
I must preface this next statement by admitting I am a staunch conservative. However, this slightly less than lethal combat used against American Citizens is an absolute atrocity of justice. I am truly appalled at the city of Seattle and the Federal Government for allowing this to happen. What have we become. I believe the framers of our constitution would be horrified if they were alive today. God help us all...>
Two of those that testified at the Council meeting had a particularly chilling observation. One was a designated legal observer, the other was the head of an organization called "Mothers for Police Accountability". What they both observed was that the police were instructed not interfere with the "anarchists" who were breaking windows and setting fires SO THAT A CIVIL EMERGENCY COULD BE DECLARED, which would then FEDERALIZE all police actions.
Please don't confuse King County Sherrif Reichert with Seattle Police Chief Stamper. Stamper is the one who stepped down. I think it is right that he did, but Stamper has a positive legacy of introducing reform and community policing to the SPD in addition to being involved in the negative impacts of the WTO. As more anectdotes are related, we come to find that most of the out of control police elements on Capitol Hill during the WTO were from the Tukwilla, Renton, and Kent police, not the SPD.
Because so many were unable to testify at the hearing Weds due to limited space (500 showed up for 200 seats). They will be having another hearing Tues. at Seattle Center.
I will attend if I can, and post anything relevant here.
Mosko |
