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• Saturday, August 30, 2008 04:39 PM

  Where's the Outrage?

  Do we actually know who is doing these raids? Oh, the nutjob sheriff of Ramsay County is claiming credit for breaking up an anarchist criminal conspiracy and all of that, but apparently the raiders themselves are from a number of jurisdictions, and none of the individuals involved has been identified (probably because they can't be, unmarked vehicles, unmarked uniforms, etc.) All we know is they're big and loud and they threaten people with big guns.

  Could be anyone.

  Who's the judge approving these blanket warrants? Where's his court? Why hasn't there been an attempt at injunction against these warrants and raids? Why hasn't anyone called for the sanctioning of the judge and whatever authority is being used in conducting these raids?

  Bob Nestor is not a lot of help. He seems to be ok with the premise of the raids, doesn't seem to be aware of any outrageous violation of constitutional rights and protections. Defenses will be offered for those arrested; suits may be filed on behalf of those detained and harrassed. Confiscated items may or may not be returned. Carry on.

  This business as usual demeanor is something those who conduct these raids -- and as others have pointed out, this sort of thing goes on every day all over the country -- count on. Nobody will get too upset if the lawyers play along, file their petty little suits, defend -- even get off -- the arrested, doesn't matter, because the point is to do the raids themselves, make a big splash, scare some folks, maybe shoot em up now and then, and keep the masses too terrified to get out of line.

  Nobody cares too much as long as it is somebody else being "detained," having their stuff taken, houses broken into.

  That's what comes from an individualist paradise.

  And of course it could happen to you at any time.

  The point should be to build so much outrage things like this couldn't happen any more because they are violations of the basic rights of citizens. Police would be too frightened of what would happen to them, instead of citizens being terrified they'll be targeted next. There should be so much outrage no judge -- not even a rightwing nutjob -- would dare approve warrants like the ones issued in these instances. There should be so much outrage, city, county, state and federal authorities would use discretion and judgement before daring to do something like this.

  But there is no such outrage. Not even when innocent people are killed in raids like this -- as they are. There is typically no more than a shrug -- and sometimes a payout. And it's been like this for decades.

  Where's the outrage?

  —Ché Pasa Read Ché Pasa's other letters
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