Alex Svoboda and dislocated knee, Thanks LEOs.

The June, 2010 issue of the Industrial Worker tells the story of Alex Svoboda who was brutally attacked by three police officers while participating in a union solidarity rally.  The attack left her pinned to the ground, handcuffed and her left knee severely dislocated.  She was then charged with assaulting an officer.  The police assault charges are, now, officially in doubt.

In Lagrane, Missouri an American Bulldog named Cammi is filmed while the local police department proceeds to subdue her, secure her… then shoot her in the head.

In Seattle, Washington police officers are filmed screaming racially charged threats and kicking the head of a compliant and innocent man before letting him go.

El Reno, Oklahoma ten police officers suffocate and taser a disabled eighty-six year old grandma who was confined to a hospital style bed.

As the stories of insane abuse keep flooding in many local law enforcement agencies, instead of reflecting on their behavior, their judgment or the validity of the laws being enforced, are seeking State and Federal protections.

Several states have made it illegal to record the Police as Wendy McElroy explains:

“In response to a flood of Facebook and YouTube videos that depict police abuse, a new trend in law enforcement is gaining popularity. In at least three states (Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland), it is now illegal to record an on-duty police officer even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to your defense, and even if the recording is on a public street where no expectation of privacy exists.”

And Jenn, writing for copblock.org, points out that even a police officer’s credibility is becoming beyond reproach:

“Recently, a defense attorney was ordered by a judge to apologize to a police officer witness for implying the officer was untruthful. While the whole point of trial is to discredit the other side’s witnesses, apparently, cops are supreme beings, more deserving of respect and authority than the rest of us peons. This judge felt implying a cop is not a credible witness was an offense by which a lawyer should be humiliated.”

Why is this happening?  How do we stop it?

The revered and radical historian Lord John Acton can offer an insight into both these questions.

Why is it happening?

“Where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control.”  –Lord Acton

It must be understood that the “services” police claim to provide are, also, the right of anyone and everyone to perform: Defending yourself and your friends from violence.  Dispute resolution.  Restoration.

And it is exactly the “services” that the police are known for providing that no one has the right to perform: Theft through taxes, fines and asset forfeiture.  Intimidating and assaulting people walking down the street. Torturing old ladies in their beds.  Dislocating knees.  Shooting pets.

Stopping it is a matter of time and pressure.  There really is only some much abuse good people can take, if they wish to remain good.  This is similar to the way Lord Acton describes the run up to the Reformation:

“During the latter part of the Middle Ages, the desire for reform of the Church was constant.  It was strongest and most apparent among laymen, for a famous monastic writer of the fourteenth century testified that laity led better lives than the clergy.  To the bulk of ordinary Christians reform meant morality in the priesthood.  It became intolerable to them to see the Sacrament administered habitually by sacrilegious hands, or to let their daughters go to confession to an unclean priest.  The discontent was deepest where men were best.  They felt that the organization for the salvation of souls was serving for their destruction, and that the more people sought the means of grace in the manner provided, the greater risk they incurred of imbibing corruption.”  –Lord Acton; Lectures on Modern History, Pg 90.

Law enforcement has become, has always been, the organization claiming to administer justice for citizens all the while serving up their destruction; and the more people sought justice in the manner the police provided, the greater risk they incurred of imbibing the same corruption.

Reformation (fingers crossed it’s a revolution too), as long as the people wish to be or remain good, is only a matter of time and pressure.  God I hope Americans want to be good.