TheAgitator.com
Rep. Conyers Calls for DOJ Investigation of Police Militarization, Cites Your Humble Agitator
Monday, May 24th, 2010Rep. John Conyers is asking for a federal investigation into the death of Aiyana Jones.
But he’s also asking for an investigation into the broader issue of police militarization. Interestingly, in his letter to Eric Holder (PDF) the longtime Democrat and liberal stalwart cites Cato (my Overkill paper), Reason (my article on the Columbia, Missouri SWAT raid), and National Review (this blog post).
I’m pleased Conyers has cited my work. But I’d also respectuflly suggest he consider conducting his own investigation. As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he could certainly do so. Congressional hearings on this issue similar to those held by the Maryland legislature in response to the Cheye Calvo case would be pretty darned powerful.
It is sad that it took the death of a little girl to spark this, but I hope this opens this up to widespread debate.
You’ve worked long and hard on this issue, Radley, and it is glad to see that you are getting recognition for it outside of your loyal Agitator readers.
should read “…it is good to see that you are getting recognition…”
Does that mean I need to stop hating that idiot?
Nah, even a blind squirrel, etc. etc. etc.
Good for you, Radley. That is some well deserved recognition.
Radley, that is truly fucking awesome dude!
I hope something good comes of it, and I hope you get the credit you deserve for your work.
It is sad that it took the death of a little girl to spark this
What else could have possibly sparked it? However, since she was not a white girl the chances of the POA accepting any reform are quite slim.
Congratulations. Perhaps this is part of some secret plan to keep you in DC.
I used to hate guys that ‘made a difference’… congratulations!
[quote]respectuflly[/quote]
But yeah, congratulations.
Dammit, like this?
RM: It’s (blockquote) text (/blockquote), but with > and < instead of ) and (.
Congrats, Radley. You deserve a whole lot more recognition than that.
I wonder if anyone in the police establishment will notice?
The message needs to get out that they need to balance officer safety with civilian safety. Shoot em all and let God sort them out is not a good approach to community relations.
Congrats Radley.
Radley,
Congrats.
Let us know who we need to call to get you testifying in front of the committee on CSPAN.
No one will watch it of course, but still, let us know and we’ll get it on YouTube.
Good work on this one, and the whole litany of abuses all the lurkers on this site have had to deal with.
Keep up the good work.
Best journalist ever!
Good to see someone at least considering the piles of data piling up on this issue.
On a less impressive, but geekier note, io9 is linking to your work as well:
http://io9.com/5546659/a-map-of-american-swat-raids-gone-wrong
Good to hear though I suspect a few reasons Conyers doesn’t investigate himself. He’s been under an ethical cloud for some time. His wife recently pled guilty to bribery and then acted rather bizzarely during the hearing.
Though Conyers could hold the hearing, he is more like attempting to pass the buck so he can avoid any blowback or accusations of a coverup.
Radley,
You belong close to the D.C. area where policy is set.
Here’s to hoping you find Nashville comfortable, but not quite as exciting as D.C.
Radley, I wish you had a button to share your articles on facebook, I post them up all the time!
+eleventy million !
Wait. Doesn’t federalism demand that each state be free to terrorize its citizens without fear of meddling by the central government? I mean, especially since the federal government has traditionally been such a cheerleader for terrorizing ordinary citizens ( you know, to fight the drug war and shit).
As the U.S. meets with success after success in its mission to spread its military influence throughout the world, dispensing freedom and democracy from hard points under the wigs of F-18s, it seems only natural that military technology can also be used to liberate our own citizens from the evils of their own poor choices and misdeeds. I foresee a day when a Predator drone will effortlessly launch a Hellfire missile with GPS precision at any residence that harbors an enemy of the state reducing wrong house raids and collateral damage just as our forces in Afghanistan and Iraq have done.
this is long overdue. hopefully some republicans too will muster the courage to challenge the, cowardly, un-american, dog-shooting, jack-booted-thugs. if they do not, more and more americans are going to start shooting back and i wouldn’t blame them.
military-style raids have become so common that lawmakers only questioned the implementation, not the tactics themselves.
“when the police are ordered to kill the first born, there will be outrage when they kill the second by mistake. ”
-motersicklebum tim-
Mr. Conyers is right. He is also a little angry with the justice system, see what happened to his wife if you have any questions.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. Conyers is an embarrassment, a senile and dithering old fool. It’s no compliment to Radley that Conyers cites him. Conyers probably doesn’t know anything beyond what his aides put in front of him. What probably happened is that one of his staff members decided that this was a politically viable issue and put something together on the subject.
Hellfire missiles have laser precision!
I stand corrected.