On Monday, May 26, around 8 p.m., African American George Floyd, 46, was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota for passing a counterfeit $20 bill. Arresting Police Officer Derek Chauvin took Floyd to the ground on his stomach to subdue him while another Police officer watched. The take down suppression lasted for almost a full 9 minutes, during which time George Floyd begged for his life saying at least 14 times “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.” Paramedics were called and when they arrived, Floyd was none responsive and was dead. The killing and the video sparked protests in Minneapolis and other major cities across the country.

TRUMP’S COMMENTS AND TWEETS AFTER FLOYD MURDER

In his characteristic, combative style, Trump soon took to Twitter as the protests increased across the country. He then made it worse by threatening to call out the military to quell the protests if the Governors did not act.

“WHEN THE LOOTING STARTS, THE SHOOTING STARTS”

On Friday, May 29, President Donald Trump tweeted amid unrest in Minneapolis that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”. Trump’s tweet was flagged by Twitter as violating rules against glorifying violence. The tweet was the same language used by a Miami police chief in 1967 who believed that violent protests should be met with deadly force. About 13 hours after Trumps Tweet, he took to Twitter again to claim that he wasn’t suggesting the shooting of rioters. Instead, he said he was referring to gun violence that has been spurred by the unrest.

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/05/29/trump-tweets-when-looting-starts-shooting-starts-extremists-will-respond

https://kstp.com/politics/trumps-tweet-about-rioters-echoes-1960s-miami-police-chief-may-29-2020/5745055/

READY TO UNLEASH “THE MOST VICIOUS DOGS”

On Saturday, May 30, Trump in a series of tweets hours after hundreds of demonstrators had massed outside the White House and confronted officers in riot gear, Trump belittled them, doubted their allegiance to Floyd’s memory, and said they were only out “to cause trouble” and were “professionally managed.” He offered no evidence to back his assertions. Trump seemed to invite supporters to make their presence felt: “Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???” Trump claimed Secret Service agents were “just waiting for action” and ready to unleash “the most vicious dogs, and the most ominous weapons, I have ever seen” if protesters angered by his response to George Floyd’s death had crossed the White House’s security fence.

Following are the series of tweets:

Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump May 30, 2020

Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. @SecretService. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe. They let the “protesters” scream & rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone….

Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump

….got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard – didn’t know what hit them. The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic. Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had they would….

Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump · May 30, 2020

Replying to @realDonaldTrump ….have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. “We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and….

Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump

….good practice.” As you saw last night, they were very cool & very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you! On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, @ MurielBowser, who is always looking for money & help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. “Not their job.” Nice!

https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-trump-tweets-minneapolis-protests-20200530-73wkifkif5bn5dntjo5hzzbmra-story.html

“MAGA LOVES BLACK PEOPLE”

On Saturday, May 30, President Donald Trump said he was not sure if there would be more protesters or supporters at the White House but claims his supporters, whom he refers to as MAGA, “love black people.” When Trump was asked if he was calling on his supporters to protest, he said, “I don’t care.”

The comments made by Trump as he left the White House to head to Florida for the SPACE X rocket launch included: .

“MAGA says, make America great again. These are people that love our country. I have no idea if they’re going to be here. I was just asking, but I have no idea if they’re going to be here. But MAGA is making America great again. By the way. They love African American people. They love the black people. MAGA loves black people. I heard that MAGA wanted to be there. A lot of MAGA was going to be there. I have no idea if that’s true or not, but they love our country. Remember that MAGA, just an expression, but MAGA loves our country.”

https://thesocietypages.org/toolbox/police-killing-of-blacks/

On May 30, at the SPACE X rocket launch in Florida, and after a huge backlash to his earlier comments, Trump tweeted:

“The death of George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis was a grave tragedy. It should never have happened. It has filled Americans all over the country with horror, anger, and grief. “

TRUMP GOES BALLISTIC ON GOVERNORS

CNN obtained an audio recording of President Trump where he told the nation’s governors in a video teleconference call on Monday, June 1, to aggressively target violent protesters he said would only respond to a show of force. Trump was agitated and distress after 3 nights of violent protests in dozens of cities across the country, including outside of the White House. CNN reported that on Friday night the protest outside the White House caused him and his family to retreat to the underground bunker in the White House.

The President told the governors in the call from the basement White House Situation Room:

“You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people … It’s a movement, if you don’t put it down it will get worse and worse … The only time its successful is when you’re weak and most of you are weak. … [the] whole world was laughing at Minneapolis over the police station getting burned … So bad a few nights ago that the people wouldn’t have minded an occupying force. … I wish we had an occupying force in there.”

On the phone call, Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Trump the nation was craving a steady hand from the top and told Trump:

“Rhetoric coming out of the White House is making it worse, people are experiencing real pain. … We’ve got to have national leadership calling for calm and legitimate concern for protestors.”

Trump fired back “I don’t like your rhetoric that much either. You could have done much better on coronavirus.”

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/politics/donald-trump-race-police/index.html

TRUMP THREATENS TO DEPLOY MILITARY

Soon after his telephone conference call with the country’s governors, President Trump declared himself “your president of law and order.” He went on to say:

… If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. … I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights … . “

Trump said he would call out and mobilize “thousands and thousands “ of soldiers to keep the peace.

As Trump vowed to return order to American streets using the military, peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets. Trump addressed the nation from the White House Rose Garden.

According to White House senior defense officials, between 600 and 800 National Guard members from 5 states were sent to the nations capital to provide assistance. While he was addressing the nation in the White House Rose Garden, military vehicles and military police accompanied by law enforcement, rolled unto Pennsylvania Avenue and clashed with protesters at Lafayettee Park.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/politics/donald-trump-national-address-race/index.html

TRUMP ENJOYS STOKING VIOLENCE AND HATRED

Trump has an extensive history promoting violence.

On January 23, 2016, Donald Trump said at a rally in Sioux Center that his supporters are so loyal that he would not lose backers even if he were to shoot someone in the middle of downtown Manhattan.

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, okay, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, okay? It’s, like, incredible.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-says-he-could-shoot-somebody-still-maintain-support-n502911

On February 21, 2016, Trump told a crowd of his supporters in Cedar Rapids that he would pay their legal fees if they engaged in violence against protesters and said:
“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell out of them … I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise.”

http://time.com/4203094/donald-trump-hecklers/

On March 9, 2016, as a protester was being escorted out of a Trump rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was sucker-punched by another attendee.

At a Las Vegas campaign rally in March, 2016 Trump said security guards were too gentle with a protester and said “He’s walking out with big high-fives, smiling, laughing. … I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell you.”

In yet another campaign rally in March, 2016 in Warren, Michigan, Trump said of a protester “Get him out. …Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it.”

In July 2017 during a speech to police officials, Trump encourage law enforcement officials to be more violent in handling arrested offenders when he said:

“When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just seen them thrown in, rough. I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice … When you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head you know, the way you put their hand over [their head]”, with Trump mimicking the motion … “like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head. … You can take the hand away, OK?’”

During a rally in Montana ahead of the 2018 midterms, Trump praised Republican Greg Gianforte for body slamming a reporter while running for his congressional seat in 2017 and said “any guy who can do a body slam, he is my type!”

https://www.petedinelli.com/2018/10/26/trumps-shooting-off-his-mouth-is-going-to-get-someone-killed-political-serial-bomber-targets-trump-critics/

On October 25, 2018, the very a day after CNN and 9 prominent Democrats, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden and critics were the targets of a pipe bomber, there was no denunciation of the violence. Instead, Trump in a TWEET blamed the media for much of the “anger” in society by saying:

“A very big part of the anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

Trump told his supporters at one of his pre-2018 mid-term rallies:

“I just cannot state strongly enough how totally dishonest much of the media is. Truth doesn’t matter to them. They only have their hatred & agenda. This includes fake books, which come out about me all the time, always anonymous sources, and are pure fiction. Enemy of the People!”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

A few months ago, as the pandemic worsened, President Donald Trump declared himself a “wartime president”. His appointed Surgeon General even said “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment”. After two months of the economy being shut down and his reelection in jeopardy, Trump realized he was losing the war with the pandemic because of his mishandling of it. Trump has now decided to start a real war, a civil war, with American citizens who are demanding the end of murders at the hands of those who take and oath to serve and protect.

There is no doubt that President Trump promotes hostility, mistrust and violence and he thrives on it and enjoys it. Simply put, Trump is a racist and is incapable of understanding the anger and the frustration of African Americans at the violence they have endured at the hands of law enforcement. He promoted violence when running for President, he does it at his rally’s and he is doing it again after the killing of George Floyd.

Trump has already begun a campaign of promoting civil disobedience during the pandemic by tweeting on April 17 “LIBERATE VIRGINIA and and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!”, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”, “LIBERATE MINNISOTA!” There is nothing that would satisfy Trump supporters more than to blow up our democracy and simply watch as Trump lets the country burn to the ground.

President Trump has repeatedly used harsh rhetoric to trash journalists and political opponents during campaign rallies creating and inflaming an extremely tense and divisive political environment of hostility, mistrust and violence. Trumped has blamed the media for the “anger” in this country, refusing to take any responsibility for it himself.

What Trump does best is to stoke violence which is what makes him so dangerous. His cult like right-wing extremists’ supporters respond favorably to all he does raising fears that they may act amid the violence and tension surrounding public health closures amid the ongoing global pandemic and now the protests over the killing of George Floyd. When Trump says “I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights”, many of his supporters could easily take it to mean it as call for vigilantism.

Vigilantism is not as far fetched as it sounds. In Albuquerque, it was reported on KUNM in the morning on June 2, that the night before, members of a New Mexico “militia,” armed with long guns, confronted peaceful demonstrators downtown. Another local Albuquerque TV news station reported and showed on the June 1 evening news at least 3 civilians armed with rifles had showed up but APD had already left the scene at the time of the news report.

Just when you think things cannot get any worse, Trump encourages and stokes violence. He makes violence more likely with his daily tweeting and self-absorbed, self-center arrogance. After over 3 years of constant daily news coverage and twitters from Trump creating crisis, after crisis, after crisis of his own making, the United States is now faced with not only a major pandemic, over 117,000 dead, a 25% unemployment rate and now protests where he stokes violence revealing a man who is totally unfit, incompetent and totally unprepared to be President.

Trump’s telephone conference with the Governor’s reflects that he is interested only in a “law and order” approach to the protests. His answer is to militarize the response to the protests and essentially declare a civil war that will inflame his base and give rise to violence and chaos in the streets. Trump could care less about the underlying issues of racism and police brutality that have sparked the protests. Trump is deaf and blind when it comes to racial injustice, and will never hear, much less understand it.

The only thing our “Racist In Chief” will hear are voters on November 3 telling him and his family to get the hell out of the White House and out of Washington. Even then, Trump will say the election was rigged. Trump will have to be dragged out of the White House bunker no doubt while clutching a bag of Mc Donald’s Big Macs in one hand and a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the other.

On Monday, May 26, around 8 p.m., African American George Floyd, 46, was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota for passing a counterfeit $20 bill. The video of George Floyd being arrested is extremely difficult to watch. The video clearly shows he did not actively resist arrest. Floyd did not have a weapon on him when the arrest was made and he was handcuffed. Police Officer Derek Chauvin took Floyd to the ground and he was subdued with his stomach and face on the ground.

Officer Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s neck and he used his full body weight to suppress George Floyd’s head and body to the ground. The take down suppression lasted for almost a full 9 minutes, during which time George Floyd begged for his life saying at least 14 times “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.” Paramedics were called and when they arrived, Floyd was none responsive and was dead. Police Officer Chauvin has been charged with murder and with manslaughter and arrested.

You can view the video here:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/05/29/george-floyd-arrest-video-minneapolis-dp-orig.cnn

RAGE ACROSS AMERICA, INCLUDING ALBUQUERQUE

Across the country where peaceful protest over the killing, started in city’s large and small, burst into violent protests, looting and vandalism. Mayors and Governors have taken action to deal with the protestors including calling out the National Guard.

STATES CALLING UP NATIONAL GUARD

Fifteen states, including the states of Minnesota, Georgia, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio and Utah have called out their National Guard forces to respond to the violent unrest that’s broken out amid demonstrations against black Americans’ deaths in police custody.

Kentucky Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear called in the National Guard to help “keep the peace” in Louisville, where protests have focused on the death of Breonna Taylor, shot by officers who entered her apartment to serve a no-knock warrant. Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp authorized the deployment of the Georgia National Guard to “protect people & property in Atlanta”.

Wisconsin Democrat Gov. Tony Evers authorized at least 125 National Guard members to go to Milwaukee to help police and protect infrastructure.

Colorado Democrat Gov. Jared Polis granted the mayor of Denver’s request for National Guard support as well. Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine has activated the national guard. Texas Republican Governor, Greg Abbott has sent more than 1,500 state troopers to a number of cities in the state in response to the ongoing protests, including Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/30/george-floyd-protests-live-updates/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/may/30/george-floyd-protests-minnesota-governor-riots-looting-police

CITY CURFEWS IMPOSED

The list of city governments adopting curfews as a result of rioting related to the Floyd killing includes Minneapolis, Louisville, Columbia, Columbus, Denver, Portland, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta. All have announced curfews. The Mayor of LA said the city’s curfew will go from 8pm to 5am, an announcement that comes as tensions are already escalating before nightfall while large crowds of demonstrators gather. In the City of Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Bottoms has signed an Executive Order establishing a curfew for May 29, 30 and 31 that begins each day at 9:00 p.m. ends at sunrise 5/31/2020.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/may/30/george-floyd-protests-minnesota-governor-riots-looting-police

ALBUQUERQUE’S PROTEST

Albuquerque has not been spared the violent protests over the Floyd killing. On Thursday, May 28, a peaceful demonstration during the day devolved into acts of vandalism, property destruction and gunfire during the evening.

During a Friday morning press conference APD Chief Michael Geier gave a summation of what happened. According to Geier, a crowd of 400 people were involved in the initial Albuquerque protest. The protest started at Central and Wyoming around 6 p.m. The protesters dispersed after marching along Central as they waved signs and chanted through a loudspeaker.

According to Chief Geier, around 10 p.m., a second “more aggressive” group showed up at Central and Wyoming with “different intentions.” The Chief reported that the majority of officers stayed back to avoid a confrontation as undercover officers watched members of the group spray painting bus stations, vandalizing civilian vehicles and even surrounding a female officer’s vehicle before breaking the windows while she was inside. Geier said the situation escalated even further as a group of people drove around the area and repeatedly fired off gun shots.

At this point, APD intervened and stopped the suspected vehicle at Mesilla and Central. Four people were taken into custody. As police collected evidence from the vehicle, a group of protesters surrounded them, leading dozens of officers clad in riot gear who were staged nearby and an armored vehicle, to move in.

Within the hour, a large crowd of protesters gathered on Mesilla, just north of Central, to face off against a line of officers clad in riot gear and wielding batons. The protesters waved signs and yelled “I can’t breathe” and “fuck the police” as they paced a few feet from the officers. The riot police began to load onto city buses as APD’s helicopter shined a spotlight at the gathering and told the crowd to disperse in between blasts of a siren.

APD police fired three gas canisters into the crowd while they were retreating. One protester began throwing the canisters back at the officers as the crowd ran back toward Central. According to Deputy Chief Harold Medina, someone in the area drove away in the vehicle that police had initially stopped containing the 4 shooting suspects. APD officers followed the vehicle, alongside a couple of car loads of protesters, to the university area, where it was abandoned. Police tried to arrest the driver when he got into another vehicle, but a group of protesters came to his defense. Officers let the man go to prevent another confrontation.

The links to the local news coverage are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1460985/local-leaders-defend-apd-response-to-protest-ex-mayor-we-stand-with-those-grieving-around-the-nation.html

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/demonstrators-gather-in-albuquerque-to-protest-george-floyds-death/

https://www.dailylobo.com/article/2020/05/apd-uses-tear-gas-against-protesters-after-george-floyd-demonstration

MAYOR KELLER AND APD CHIEF MICHAEL GEIER ISSUE STATEMENTS

On Saturday, May 30, Mayor Tim Keller issued and emailed to residents the following statement:

Fellow Burqueños,

I want to talk about George Floyd.

He has been on my heart and mind these last few days, as I know he has been for so much of our community. His death has left us with rightful anger and grief. My words can’t capture the depth of the pain that so many people, especially people of color, are experiencing right now. As your Mayor, I want to acknowledge that pain. Here in Albuquerque, we stand with those grieving these incidents around the nation. We stand with those calling for justice.

The deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and so many more are horrifying, heart-breaking and unacceptable. Although these murders took place outside of Albuquerque, it does not mean that Albuquerque is shielded from anti-Black and racist behaviors. White people have not done enough to address racism in this country.

The Coronavirus pandemic is exposing and compounding the effects of that inequity. All across America the black community and people of color have been horribly disproportionately affected. On top of that, we have the White House stoking racism, violence and division; during a pandemic when we need compassion and leadership the most.

And so here we are, with stress from pandemic, a legacy of discrimination, and all on top of unacceptable violent crime. Many in our city have lost their jobs, many are suffering from vast anxiety about the future; many of us are depressed, many of us are tired, many of us are angry.

I am also here to say unequivocally, the City of Albuquerque believes that Black Lives Matter.

In this city, and in this administration, we each have a responsibility to work together to dismantle racism. This is a long long journey, but it’s is one we are going to continue to take. We also know that there are times to protest, a time to express frustration with the system and all that we are going through. These are incredibly tough challenges for our first responders asked to keep the public, including the protestors, safe.

Our police department works to avoid confrontation and de-escalate to avoid violence, and to be prepared to save lives. This protocol also includes appropriate engagement when violence is eminent, this was the case this past week, as after a relatively peaceful demonstration, families and advocates went home. But hours later, dozens of shots were fired near the protest, and the remaining protesters, officers, and neighbors all needed to be kept safe. That is why the department engaged, and we are grateful that despite the gun fire, no one was hurt.

Here at the city, we strive to dismantle the structures of inequality and be actively anti-racist in our work. We have teams dedicated to civil rights, equity and inclusion, and immigrant and refugee affairs. This work starts with ourselves in our own house through employee trainings, and then is embedded in our work building a city that works for everyone. In this city, we stand up to divisive rhetoric. In this city, we stand together no matter our race or where we come from. We will not let up our efforts for a peaceful, just and equitable Albuquerque.

The City of Albuquerque, and the Albuquerque Police Department, will continue to work on these issues through the work of our Office of Equity & Inclusion and Office of Civil Rights as well as educating our workforce along with the community in our anti-racism workshops through the Equity Training Initiative. We ask that each of you continues to do your part by joining us at these workshops and continuing to call out racism and injustice whenever and wherever you see it.

Your Mayor,
Tim Keller

APD Chief Michael Geier made the following statement on behalf of the Albuquerque Police Department:

“The death of Mr. Floyd is deeply disturbing and should be of concern to everybody in our country. On behalf of our department and the city of Albuquerque, I would like to offer our sympathies and condolences to the Floyd family. Those officers’ actions are inconsistent with the training and protocols of our department. APD has worked tirelessly to build trust between law enforcement and the community we are sworn to protect.

What occurred in Minneapolis is an unfortunate reminder of how quickly a death can undermine interest. The law enforcement profession must do better and hold ourselves to a higher standard. Our officers are trained to treat all individuals with dignity and respect. This is the essence of the principles of procedural justice.

Like APD, most agencies today are taught to teach their officers to de-escalate critical situations and avoid the use of force if possible. We will not tolerate these actions and denounce this type of police brutality. The senseless misconduct demonstrated in this unfortunate incident should not define other police departments across the nation. APD denounces the behavior of the Minneapolis officers and we will continue to build the trust we’ve established in the community we proudly serve.”

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/demonstrators-gather-in-albuquerque-to-protest-george-floyds-death/

APD AND THE DOJ

The Albuquerque Police Department is one of the 18 municipalities in the United States under a Federal Court consent decree for excessive use of force and deadly force. On April 10, 2014, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), issued its report of the 18-month civil rights investigation of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). The DOJ reviewed excessive use of force and deadly force cases and found that APD engaged in a “pattern and practice” of unconstitutional “use of force” and “deadly force” and found a “culture of aggression” within APD.

What differentiates the DOJ’s investigation of APD from all the other federal investigations of police departments and consent decrees is that the other consent decrees involve in one form or another the finding of “racial profiling” and use of excessive force or deadly force against minorities. The DOJ’s finding of a “culture of aggression” within APD dealt with APD’s interactions and responses to suspects that were mentally ill and that were having psychotic episodes. The investigation found APD’s policies, training, and supervision were insufficient to ensure that officers encountering people with mental illness or in distress do so in a manner that respected their rights and in a manner that was safe for all involved.

In November, 2014, the City of Albuquerque entered into its Federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) mandating sweeping changes and reforms to APD. Over the last 5 years of implementing the mandating DOJ reforms, APD has made progress in implementing the reforms under the watchful eye of a Federal Court approved monitor. You can review a listing of the major reforms under the CASA in the postscript below to this article. The reforms apply as much to the treatment of minorities as to the treatment of the mentally ill.

A PEACEFUL PROTEST FOLLOWED BY VIOLENCE

On Sunday, May 31, thousands of people showed up in Albuquerque to honor the life of George Floyd. A candlelight vigil was held for George Floyd at the Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center around 5 p.m. where Mayor Tim Keller was among those who spoke. Hours later the crowd grew to thousands in downtown and started marching down Central Avenue. The march ended around 10:00 pm without any violence or vandalism with the crowd dispersing.

The peaceful Sunday night erupted into chaos overnight as rioters fired shots at police, broke windows at several buildings and set multiple fires. There were also reports of some looting. According to an Albuquerque Journal Report:

“Officers reported that someone fired shots at them in front of the Kimo Theater on the 400 block of Central. The aggression toward police didn’t stop there. Protesters taunted officers, shouting profanities at them. At one point, one man threw what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail toward police, though it didn’t hit anyone. A helicopter circled above after midnight ordering the group of 80 to 100 to disband or be arrested as two columns of police in riot gear, one at Second and Central and the other at Third and Central tried to break up the crowd. The riot police on Third and Central threw perhaps as many as six canisters of teargas at the group. Many in the crowd coughed as some tried to throw the canisters back at police. Protestors scattered south of Central, although many of them were throwing objects at officers. “At this time there are no reports of injuries,” Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos”

https://www.abqjournal.com/1461497/rioters-set-fires-break-windows-in-downtown-abq.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news-alert&fbclid=IwAR3BmdHW4pIhofYpCrEyaMTXcWbWOC6bn50h5HFitZEdmb-auittOl52J0g

Links to TV news station coverage are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-comes-out-to-march-for-george-floyd/32724610

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/hundreds-of-protestors-march-in-support-of-black-lives-matter-in-downtown-albuquerque/5747382/?cat=500

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/george-floyd-honored-with-vigil-march-down-central/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

No doubt many will say that the APD needs to be far more aggressive with the use of force and even deadly force when peaceful demonstration devolved into acts of vandalism, property destruction and gunfire during the evening. That will only make things even worse. If that does happened, it will result in further violence and even more violent protests in the city. It can very easily result in the death of both protesters and police officers. Instead, the city is seeing its Police Department exhibit a remarkable amount of restraint and professionalism that so far has resulted in no one getting killed.

DOJ REFORMS ARE WORKING

One thing is for certain, how APD is handling protests is evidence that all of the training and all the reforms that were mandated by the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) have in fact changed APD for the better. The reforms are working. The Albuquerque Police Department and the officers of APD are commended and credited for the manner and approach they are taking in handling the protests. Mayor Tim Keller and Chief Michael Geier thus far are setting the right tone and example. Both are saying what is needed to be said. They to are commended for their words and actions. Cool heads by APD are prevailing during the crisis that is likely preventing the loss of life.

WHAT ARE WE FAILING TO HEAR?

In his speech, “The Other America,” from 1953, the Reverend Martin Luther King said the following:

“I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. In the final analysis, the riot is the language of the unheard. What is it that America has failed to hear? … In a sense, our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our winter’s delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these occurrences of riots and violence over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”

Sixty seven years later, we are still asking “What is it that America has failed to hear?” The murder of George Floyd has ignited protests across the country, with the peaceful protests overshadowed by the violent protests. It is happening in Albuquerque. George Floyd was murdered by someone who took an oath to “serve and protect” the public. George Floyd is now another name on the extensive litany of unarmed African Americans killed by police. It must stop. It must not ever happen here. Justice must be served for the murders and people of color must feel safe within our community.

We must finally do something about ending racism once and for all for ourselves and for the sake of our future generations. As individuals, we must, in some manner, make it very clear to all who we interact with, our families and friends alike, and people we work with that racism is not tolerated on any level and it must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

Out of crisis and chaos can come opportunity. Once again, we have an opportunity to look within ourselves and acknowledge the racism in this country is very real, very pervasive and tearing our communities and our country apart. We must look within ourselves and our communities and finally do something about it to end racism once and for all. As a free country, we must seize this opportunity and reach out to all communities of color more than ever before and work together to end racism in this country and for our future generations. As individuals, we must, in some manner, make it very clear to all who we interact with at work and in our daily lives, our families and friends alike, that racism is not and will not be tolerated on any level and it must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

Our law enforcement community must understand with complete clarity that police brutality, excessive use of force and deadly force based on racial profiling and the presumption of guilt because of a person’s color and not evidence will not be tolerated. No Hispanic, no African American and no person of color should ever feel uncomfortable talking to any police officer or feel they cannot call the police to ask for help or to report a crime. Police must recognize that performing their motto to “serve and protect” is not determined by skin color.

APD must seize this opportunity and reach out to all of Albuquerque’s communities of color more than they have ever before. APD must, in some manner, make it very clear to all minorities that racism within the department is not tolerated on any level, and neither is police brutality and racial profiling. No Hispanic, no African American and no person of color should ever feel uncomfortable talking to an Albuquerque Police Officer or feel they cannot call APD asking for help or to report a crime. Until that happens, Mayor Keller’s “One Albuquerque” is nothing but an empty public relations slogan.

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POSTSCRIPT

COURT APPROVED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (CASA)

The DOJ Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) was negotiated over a 6-month period after the DOJ released its investigation report finding that APD engaged in a “pattern and practice” of unconstitutional “use of force” and “deadly force” and finding of a “culture of aggression”.

Major reform mandates under the settlement include:

1. Sweeping changes ranging from APD’s SWAT team protocols, to banning choke-holds, to auditing the use of every Taser carried by officers and re writing and implement new use of force and deadly force policies.

2. The CASA mandates the teaching of “constitutional policing” practices and methods as well as mandatory crisis intervention techniques and de-escalation tactics with the mentally ill.

3. The City agreed that APD would overhaul and rewrite all of its “use of force policies” and “deadly force” policies, recruitment procedures, training, internal affairs procedures and implement field supervision of officers.

4. Stricter training and restrictions on the use of nonlethal force is required under the CASA, and it requires more training and controls over the use of Tasers by officers along with quarterly audits of their use.

5. The city agreed to the creation of a Police Oversight Board (POB) as a civilian review agency that independently reviews citizen complaints, serious uses of force and officer-involved shootings by APD. The civilian agency also monitors, reviews and make recommended changes to APD policy on use of force.

6. Under the CASA, the city agreed to the creation of Police Civilian Advisory Councils (CPCs), one in each of the 6 APD area commands, designed to increase community interaction.

7. The CASA broadens and removes obstacles to the types of civilian complaints Internal Affairs and the civilian oversight agency can review.

8. The CASA provides for the appointment of a Federal Court Monitor selected by agreement of the parties with the City to pay for the auditing services of the federal monitor. The primary duties and responsibilities of the federal monitor is to report directly to the federal judge on APD’s compliance with the mandatory reforms.

9. The agreement mandates that APD adopt a new system to hold officers and supervisors accountable for all use of force incidents with personnel procedures implemented and outlining details how use of force cases would be investigated. It requires far more reporting by officers and field supervisors and also requires detailed reviews of those reports up the chain of command within the department. Sergeants and lieutenants are required to be much more involved in field supervision and review of use of force by officers.

10. Under the agreement, officers who point their firearms at a person, but don’t fire, must fill out a use of force report that will be reviewed by field supervisors. That review is separate from a city civilian police oversight agency that will be independent of the department and will review police use of force incidents as well as civilian complaints.

11. The City agreed to create a new “Use of Force Review Board” to oversee all internal affairs investigations of use of force and deadly force. A new chain of command for the review of Internal Affairs reports of officer-involved shootings was created that reviews the Internal Affairs Reports and makes recommendations on discipline or asks for further investigation of an incident, and the board makes recommendations on discipline to the APD Chief. The Use of Force Board is required to make quarterly reports after reviewing all use of force reports to identify trends and policy changes.

12. APD agreed to revise and update its policies on the mandatory use of lapel cameras by all police officers.

13. Under the CASA, the City agreed to abolish the Repeat Offenders Project, known as ROP, within three months of signing the agreement for the reason that members of the unit were involved in a number of the controversial shootings investigated by the DOJ.

14. The agreement provides that if the city fails to implement the reforms or shows bad faith in the implementation of the CASA, the DOJ has the option of filing a federal lawsuit against the city over the city’s unconstitutional policing practices found by the DOJ investigation.

15. Certain types of hand-to-hand techniques are barred under the CASA unless the officer is in a situation that require the use of lethal force if it were available. Neck holds, sometimes called choke-holds, are explicitly forbidden to be used by officers except in situations where lethal force would be authorized.

16. A major change in the CASA bans APD officers from firing their weapons at moving vehicles in all but life-threatening situations.

The CASA provides that it is “designed to ensure police integrity, protect officer safety, and prevent use of excessive force, including unreasonable use of deadly force, by APD.” The settlement agreement requires APD to strive and use its best efforts to come in compliance with all requirements within four years, and if that were to occur, the case would be dismissed.

https://www.cabq.gov/mental-health-response-advisory-committee/documents/court-approved-settlement-agreement-final.pdf

For a related blog article see:

City Moves To Be Released From Portions Of DOJ Consent Decree And Monitoring; Commentary: Intent And Purpose Of CASA Accomplished, Dismiss Case