Capitol Hill Police Officer: "I hope somebody assasinates Mandela"

[rman]

video, article:

GNN
The Last Plantation
Capitol Hill Police Officers Speak Out
01 Aug 2006
McKinney-Capitol Police incident part of systemic racism of Capitol Police force says African American officers
Capitol Hill is ‘Last Plantation’ according to officers
http://gnn.tv/videos/63/The_Last_Plantation

..."They don't respect our black leaders when they come to the Hill. I think that Mandela had just been released. And Mandela was being honored in the Cannon Building and we had a ceremony prepared for him. And they were assigning officers to work the ceremony and the guys were on a break. And we heard a white officer say: "I hope somebody assasinates him." And i mean, you could see the clash about to take place in that locker room, white officers against black officers. And that's just how bad it is.
It's been unbearable. The bottom line is, that's why the black officers brought the class action lawsuit.

---

Another officer in the video recalls white U.S. Capitol Officers actually preparing to confront African American Members of Congress.

'I’ve heard them say, "Well when certain members come through here, in particular Cynthia McKinney, she ain’t just gonna run up these steps. I’m gonna stop her," said the officer. 'It’s almost like they be waiting … want confrontation.'

The McKinney incident was just the latest in a long line of questionable situations and occurrences that are part of what the officers call the “good old boy system” in the Capitol Police Force. They term the Capitol the “last plantation”.

<more>

[Catherine Vincent]

1. I know this is probably just gossip, but I believe it.

And of course, not all capitol officers are that way.

[keepCAblue]

4. gossip?

The people in the video are officers who, should their identities be found out, have put their careers on the line to speak out. I hardly think they would put careers and reputations at risk for mere gossip.

[EFerrari]

6. This is the second report. The first one came out just before McKinney

"lost" her election.

It's not gossip. When we went to D.C. for a conference, I couldn't believe how segregated it was. It just made us :wow:

[rman]

9. These are witness accounts,

unless it is faked. In either case it is not gossip.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Okay, thanks.

[malaise]

14. I don't think it's gossip at all

What's more Cynthia should have received more support following that incident. Bushco and his base have facilitated more overt racism in high and low places.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. very interesting

hmmm

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Wherever we see these power abuses, we need to bring it out in the open.

Racial conflict is only one dimension of the problem. If good-ole boys tend to be racists, the problem occurs when they reach positions of authority, because, even people who aren't racists by nature feel they have to play by their rules in order to succeed. Before you know it, we have the kind of ethics problems that are destroying our country.

[shadowknows69]

5. "Some of those who work forces"

"Are the same who burn crosses"
-RATM

[longship]

7. Fire HIM. Then arrest him for making a terrorist threat.

Let him cool his heals in jail for a bit and see if he doesn't change his song and dance.

[Selatius]

8. Historically, police forces have a bloody history of violence and hate

The origin of the modern police forces in America have their roots in modern capitalism. They served as the hardened spear in the attack against workers, the poor, and all who stood in the way of capitalism. They were the enforcers, the hired muscle men, who were brought in to crush union workers. Thousands died over the years for the very right to organize a union. Their history with Blacks in America is equally atrocious if not even more so from extra-judicial executions and lynchings and their collaboration with the KKK and their attacks on peaceful Blacks protesting Jim Crow.

I know my history, and history tells me this kind of hate and violence does not go away easily. From the FTAA protests in Miami to the problems police brutality in America's inner-cities to this story about the Capitol Hill police, I know that hate and penchant for violence is still there below the surface.

And I know they still frown down upon those who exercise their freedom. It doesn't matter if you wear a badge or not, if you are a racist or you like the idea of smashing the heads of protesters and unionists for fun, you're still a thug.

[Vidar]

11. Hear, hear!

[rman]

12. kick

[Time for change]

13. The McKinney incident was so unfortunate

I didn't realize that it may have been related to racial prejudices on the part of the police.

And that is probably why she was voted out of Congress -- again.

That's so sad -- I believe that we very much need people like her in Congress - who are willing to speak up for us no matter what the consequences.

Of course, our corporate news media had a lot to do with this too.

[d_b]

15. And I hope Mr. White Officer is sent to a bantustan.