The Capitol riot is a reminder of the links between police and white supremacy
Almost 30 police officers attended the Capitol rally. It should come as no surprise.
Jan 16, 2021
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And in addition to perpetuating racist violence and mass incarceration while on the job, police have also had a presence in white nationalist groups. In the 1920s, “probably the single largest occupational group in the Klan were police, or other officers of law and order, like sheriff’s deputies,” Gordon told Vox. And while we don’t know the specific affiliations of the officers under investigation for their role last Wednesday, it should be no surprise to see police at a rally alongside white nationalists or to see pro-police “blue lives matter” flags at the same event with Confederate flags and other racist symbols.
“White supremacy has really crept into police forces,” Sabrina Karim, a professor of government at Cornell University who studies global policing, told Vox earlier this week. And to a meaningful extent, it’s been there from the beginning.
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https://www.vox.com/2021/1/16/22233514/capitol-riot-rally-police-white-supremacy
What It Means That Trump Has Abandoned The American Flag For The Blue Lives Matter Flag
October 29, 2020
Donald Trump’s racist attacks, dog whistles, and comments haven’t slowed down in the weeks and days leading up to the presidential election. From his digs at Barack Obama to his refusal to condemn white supremacist groups, Trump is feeding the flames of white supremacy more than ever — despite his assertion that he was “the least racist person in this room” during last week’s debate. In his latest "least racist" act, Trump has taken to blatantly featuring Blue Lives Matter flags at his events and rallies.
At gatherings in Wisconsin, including one in Janesville, Trump displayed the flag in a prominent place next to the American flag. But then there was a noticable shift: last weekend, at a rally in Waukesha, WI, the Blue Lives Matter flag replaced the American flag altogether.
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/10/10135048/blue-lives-matter-flag-trump-rally-replace-american-flag
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