OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Democrat Party depends on the black vote and, to that end, staying on the good side of the Black Lives Matter group has been something that the Party has worked hard to do.
But there is a crossroads between common sense and extremism and the schism that had formed between the two has widened.
Last week President Joe Biden signed an executive order on police reform and it did not appease the far left group who appeared to suggest that the only solution is to literally end policing.
“Maintaining a white supremacist institution like policing costs Black lives. This continued commitment by politicians to support our killers makes them accessories to our demise.
Maintaining a white supremacist institution like policing costs Black lives. This continued commitment by politicians to support our killers makes them accessories to our demise.
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) May 25, 2022
“Politicians have been protecting systems of policing as if it could magically abandon its roots of slave patrolling and anti-Black violence,” it said in another tweet. “Banning choke holds and requiring body cameras doesn’t keep us safe. More money for ‘training’ doesn’t keep us safe.”
Politicians have been protecting systems of policing as if it could magically abandon its roots of slave patrolling and anti-Black violence. Banning choke holds and requiring body cameras doesn’t keep us safe. More money for “training” doesn’t keep us safe.
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) May 25, 2022
“President Biden’s EO willfully ignores the inherently racist origins of policing & advances the same ideas over and over again as if somehow it will magically make old, outdated approaches work. Halfway measures will not save our people from white supremacy and state violence,” it said.
President Biden’s EO willfully ignores the inherently racist origins of policing & advances the same ideas over and over again as if somehow it will magically make old, outdated approaches work. Halfway measures will not save our people from white supremacy and state violence.
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) May 26, 2022
The White House explained Biden’s Executive Order:
Creates a new national database of police misconduct. The EO orders the Attorney General to establish a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database, in which all Federal law enforcement agencies (Federal LEAs) must participate. The database will include records of officer misconduct (including convictions, terminations, de-certifications, civil judgments, resignations and retirements while under investigation for serious misconduct, and sustained complaints or records of disciplinary actions for serious misconduct), as well as commendations and awards.
The database will have due process protections for officers. All federal agencies must use the database in screening personnel, and it will be accessible to state and local LEAs, who are encouraged to enter their records as well. The Attorney General will make aggregate data, by law enforcement agency, public, and will assess what whether and in what form records from the database may be accessible to the public.
Strengthens Pattern or Practice Investigations. The EO requires steps to improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights violations, including directing the issuance of best practices for independent investigations and improving coordination to address systemic misconduct through pattern-or-practice cases.
Ensures timely and thorough investigations and consistent discipline. The EO requires Federal LEAs to adopt measures to promote thorough investigation and preservation of evidence after incidents involving the use of deadly force or deaths in custody, as well as to prevent unnecessary delays and ensure appropriate administration of discipline.
Mandates the adoption of body-worn camera policies. The EO orders all Federal LEAs to adopt and publicly post body-worn camera policies that mandate activation of cameras during activities like arrests and searches and provide for the expedited public release of footage following incidents involving serious bodily injury or deaths in custody.
It also bans chokeholds, limits the use of force, further restricts military equipment being given to police forces.
And in his comments upon signing the executive order he cited the protests by Black Lives Matter and other groups as a reason for the reforms.
“Two summers ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we saw protests across the nation the likes of which you hadn’t seen since the 1960s,” the president said.
“They unified people of every race and generation. Athletes and sports leagues boycotted and postponed games. Companies and workers proclaimed “Black Lives Matter.” Students staged solidarity walkouts,” he said.
“From Europe to the Middle East to Asia to Australia, people saw their own fight for justice and equality in what we were trying to do.
“The message is clear: Enough! Just, Enough,” he said.
