Follow-up on Open Letter

[plutherus]

Dear NYPD,

So, I just wrote that long letter acknowledging that most of you were not corrupt at all and are, indeed, actually good police. I pointed out that the problems are caused just by a few bad apples, and urged the rest to report those and remove them from your barrel.

And then, within minutes of posting the entry, I learn that J.P. Morgan paid the NYPD 4.6 million dollars to go in and arrest all the protesters?? And not a single one of you spoke out? None of you refused the order? Not a single man or woman in the entire New York Police Department could be bothered to stand up and say, "No, we're police, not the private army of JP Morgan, and we are *not* for sale!"

Because when you don't say anything, you're saying you agree that the NYPD are not really police, but just an armed gang for sale to whoever wants to hire them.

Comments

[amritarosa.livejournal.com]

Somewaht vaguely related fun fact:

193 CE : Roman Empire is auctioned in its entirety (!) to Didius Julianus (bidding against Titus Flavius Sulpicianus) for rule of the empire. The bids were to pay the soldiers. Julianus won, was declared the emperor by the army. Julianus ruled for only three months, was executed by his successor Septimius Severus.

Who won? The guy who says he can pay the army.(He didn't, which was why he was later assassinated by the army and replaced).

[reynard52.livejournal.com]

While I don't disagree, I still say being a cop in New York at the moment is like watching TV with your nose on the screen: its hard to see the big picture when you're in the midst of whats going on. Additionally, many of these people have homes and families, and speaking out may endanger their wobbly stability. Many police HAVE spoken out, like they did in Madison, Wisconsin, and I am certain they will and have in New York, especially as they are union workers. You work for Nike. Do you rail against unfair work ethics and push loudly need for change and revolution in the halls where you work? If not, how come? You're in the belly of the beast and could be pushing for real change in their business practices. To say nothing makes you complicit in their activities. Or is that true? I guess what you're calling for is for supposed good guys to really be some of the good guys...and I agree.