Diary: Riots Aren't Always Started by the Police

Contrary to popular belief riots aren't always started by the police. I still vividly remember being caught in a riot between celebrators and police after the Denver Broncos won their first Superbowl in 1998. For the most part police tried to maintain order and maintain the safety of the thousands that poured into the street to celebrate. That was until a few drunken kids thought it would be funny to start throwing bottles and other objects at the police and other people in the crowd. I personally witnessed this and helplessly watch things quickly spiral. What happened next was my first experience with being tear-gassed and all hell broke loose. When a tear gas canister goes off in a downtown area and depending on which way the wind is blowing it can quickly become dispersed in areas that were not intended. It is also very aptly named. I dispersed and stumbled around until I found refuge in a nearby restaurant. The police were taunted and boxed into a corner in my opinion. They had to resort to what some probably would consider heavy-handed tactics to keep things from spiraling into an even worse situation. Some will always argue that things could have been handled differently.

Clearly if there is evidence that comes to light that the police in Saint Paul purposefully targeted journalists, media, or even everyday citizens than that needs to be addressed in a very vocal way by us as citizens and taxpayers as this is the foundation of our country and our freedom. Let's not forget that as taxpayers we wholly pay for and fund the police departments across this great country. Thus the police work for us and their mission should be and can be dictated by us. I realize they can very often become an instrument of the state and in that sense can be directed to do things that would be contrary to the mission of the common good. That is when we as citizens need to voice our concern as is being done this week.

Let's be clear about one thing though, the St. Paul police are not really calling the shots on this. The FBI and Homeland Security are. I realize St. Paul Police chief Jon Harrington is going to take some heat on all the problems but let's keep in mind that Chief Harrington has done alot of good for the St. Paul police force and the St. Paul community. I have met him and seen him speak to numerous youth groups. He is one of the few strong and visible African American role models in the Twin Cities. I know for a fact that there are plenty of people in the Twin Cities that would love for him to become the fall guy for all the police problems that are occurring at the RNC this week. I just want to remind people that there are real people with real families to support on both sides of this equation. I am by no means condoning what the police have done to the peaceful protestors but at the same time most of us have not walked in the shoes of a police officer even for one day. Every day not knowing if today you might get shot at and/or killed.