If you have been keeping an eye on the media over the past month, this is an image you have probably seen circulating the internet. In an unfortunate game, the viewer is asked to distinguish between Iraq (a warzone that has seen over 1.5 million American soldiers, roughly 100,000 deaths, and the destruction of homes, businesses, and families since the United States invaded in 2003) and Ferguson, Missouri (a highly segregated town nestled outside of St. Louis rocked by the recent killing of an unarmed, African-American 18 year-old).
The differences between these two images are few and far between. The automatic weapons, combat gear, army tanks, and camouflage (An aside: The military use of camouflage began in the 19th century with the sole purpose of making our men (and eventually women) in uniform indistinguishable from their surroundings. It was and is a tactic that allows soldiers to discretely approach a target and defeat the enemy. Why camouflage is needed by local police forces in the broad daylight of mid-western America in response to protesters making use of their First Amendment right is beyond me. More on this later.) bring to light an important and alarming trend in America: the militarization of our local, civilian protective forces.
The differences between these two images are few and far between. The automatic weapons, combat gear, army tanks, and camouflage (An aside: The military use of camouflage began in the 19th century with the sole purpose of making our men (and eventually women) in uniform indistinguishable from their surroundings. It was and is a tactic that allows soldiers to discretely approach a target and defeat the enemy. Why camouflage is needed by local police forces in the broad daylight of mid-western America in response to protesters making use of their First Amendment right is beyond me. More on this later.) bring to light an important and alarming trend in America: the militarization of our local, civilian protective forces.
Police officers ride an armored vehicle as they patrol a street in Ferguson Image: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters via CNN.com
If you are like me, it is unlikely that you knew of the Department of Defense 1033 Excess Property Program (DoD 1033) prior to the Ferguson riots. And, if you are like me, it is likely unsurprising the United States would institute a program where local police forces receive surplus military kit from the Pentagon. DoD 1033 is a 24 year-old program, having been authorized by the Clinton administration in 1990. The increasing militarization of US police is largely due to this program. Originally under the 1208 section of the National Defense Authorization Act, the title was changed to 1033 after being reaffirmed in 1996. According to the Missouri Department of Public Safety website, DoD 1033 is “for use in counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism operations, and to enhance officer safety”.
Unless I am terribly misinformed, while there have been a few “bad apples” among the protestors (as there always are), the peaceful civilian protesters of Ferguson, Missouri are neither terrorists nor drug lords. They are neither enemies of war nor a threat to the State. Citizens of Ferguson, like many others across the nation are frustrated. They are frustrated with the militarized police state that our cities have turned into. They- we -are disheartened by the normalization of the killings of our young, (and overwhelmingly) people of color. We are alarmed at the overzealousness of our police that make it simple to mistake America in 2014 with the 1950s South or the current Middle East. But, mostly, we-I-am saddened that while the response to the killing of Michael Brown is unique, the circumstances surrounding his death are certainly not.
Let’s keep the conversation going. What are your thoughts?
Rest peacefully, Michael Brown.
Written By: Amber Aspinall, PREP Programming Chair
Unless I am terribly misinformed, while there have been a few “bad apples” among the protestors (as there always are), the peaceful civilian protesters of Ferguson, Missouri are neither terrorists nor drug lords. They are neither enemies of war nor a threat to the State. Citizens of Ferguson, like many others across the nation are frustrated. They are frustrated with the militarized police state that our cities have turned into. They- we -are disheartened by the normalization of the killings of our young, (and overwhelmingly) people of color. We are alarmed at the overzealousness of our police that make it simple to mistake America in 2014 with the 1950s South or the current Middle East. But, mostly, we-I-am saddened that while the response to the killing of Michael Brown is unique, the circumstances surrounding his death are certainly not.
Let’s keep the conversation going. What are your thoughts?
Rest peacefully, Michael Brown.
Written By: Amber Aspinall, PREP Programming Chair