There was a community meeting downtown last night. The Phoenix Police Chief was there, dishing out empty words like "there will be change" but offering nothing concrete. The Mayor was there. Numerous people in the audience spoke of instances of police brutality at the hands of the Phoenix Police. There was a sense of deep, years old anger and hostility, well earned and richly deserved by the Phoenix Police, that will not heal in this lifetime.
This time around I actually have some hope. This time the police went so far that hatred and hostility of them is climbing up the social ladder and that's very heart warming to see.....to see people who live in the fantasy America actually waking up and seeing the police as they truly are, never to see them the same way again. There is so much anger this time around - it is not just going to go away. And the police response does seem a bit like deer in headlights - they really seem stunned that there might be the faintest chance that they may be held accountable. Truly this event has shown what American police are all about, to the entire world. As an activist I'd be lying if I said this didn't please me, you know?
At any rate, protests are coming and I am very much looking forward. Rob