Saturday, June 20, 2020

Camden Miracle Must be Repeated

As tensions rose following the death of George Floyd, suddenly the news switched to Camden, New Jersey police Chief Joe Wesocki carrying a protest sign at the head of the local protest from Yolanda Deaver’s Hair Salon to the police station.

This inspired copycat events across the country, mostly police officials and one sheriff joining the protesters kneeling for eight minutes 46 seconds. The warm feelings sometimes ended up mired by teargas and looting. The Camden Miracle actually had roots back in 2012, when in a massive corruption and crime scandal, the entire Camden Police Department was disbanded while the county and state police temporary took over police functions. The new police department built up from scratch was a community bases model, as the crime rate went down drastically. In part, the march was a celebration of Camden being different.

Then came calls in many cities to de-fund, disband, or replace the police department with community policing, so Camden with its huge community policing success was again in the spotlight.

Now for the miracle that may be about to happen.

Tulsa Oklahoma's new police chief Wendell Franklin firmly believes in de-escalating tensions. During the Tulsa George Floyd protests. under his direction, the police line slowly backed  off. One agitator was persistent at throwing projectiles at the police, until he was ambushed with teargas and a pepper bomb, but no arrests.

The Oklahoma National Guard was called in to assist without any lethal weapons on them. President Trump and especially right-wing agitators are baiting for trouble while some left wing ones feel obliged to assist.

It’s not over until it’s over. But one possible outcome might be another peace miracle.

Original Camden story,
Http://www.tapinto.net/articles/camden-salon-owner-sparks-protest-heard-round-the-nation-obama-included
Google:
Camden Salon Owner sparks protest heard round the nation Obama included

https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/virtual-town-hall-tulsa-police-chief-wendell-franklin-talks-protests-george-floyd-video-and-being/article_06c907f7-a754-598d-af47-48c02c3879bc.html

Google:
Virtual town hall Tulsa police chief ayorWendell Franklin talks protests George Floyd video and being
More recent update, So far no negative feedback from President Trump,
https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/with-eyes-of-the-world-on-tulsa-police-chief-discusses-plans-to-keep-everyone-safe/article_24753443-467d-5b59-b4cd-163b6852860a.html#1
In Washington DC the mayor told Trump to go back to his bunker.
For Tulsa, I am hoping that President Trump will demand that the Oklahoma National Guard clear the highway and they will refuse sice they are under the authority of the police chief and mayor who told them not to.

JUNE 23 UPDATE:
Sadly I fell for the press release only the reluctance to put people in jail in Tulsa is real. However there is still an urgent need to learn from Camden
Now the Seattle autonomous zone is getting heated as the President dreams of copying Eisenhower’s sending the troops without the state’s permission.


Seattle will move to dismantle:
https://www.scnow.com/news/national/seattle-will-move-to-dismantle-protest-zone-mayor-says/article_199871c1-5024-5e26-9f07-643004662e1f.html


Perhaps two or three police officers could drift back into the closed police station along with mental health workers, deescalation experts, and perhaps a few agile social workers for a future joint response instead of only a police response to future emergencies there.

https://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/22-22/63571-camden-miracle-must-be-repeated
http://RichardKanePA.blogspot.com/2020/06/Camden-miracle-must-be-repeated.html
By Richard Kane, RichardKanePA@aol.com,

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