So, yesterday, we went a little gauzy…  We waxed poetic about the celebration of Martin Luther King Day, like we’ve solved the problems that Dr. King wanted us to address each and every day.  (His two issues – which are still, to more than some degree, intertwined- were racism and poverty.  Both of which are blights on the American (and the world’s) ideal.)

Institutional Racism is what persists in America.  Even though too many on the Right deny its existence. Yet, time and time again, any sentient being can recognize its existence.

Consider 6 January.

When TheDonald broke the law, inciting a mob to attack the US Capitol.  Where the WrongWing, aided and abetted by a significant (at least 50% of those on the march) portion of QAnon nihilists, Proud Boy terrorists, along with off-duty police (which also explains the problem voiced across America about their anti-Black, anti-Other credos) and militias, invaded the hallowed halls of the US Capitol, beat its protectors with iron bars, flag poles, and fire extinguishers, and sprayed those lawfully in the building with bear spray.

Had those invaders been Black or Arab- there would have been countless shootings and deaths.   Hundreds of arrests.  Screams of rage from GOP leaders and, of course, from the witless Orange-In-Chief.  (Keep in mind that the Secret Service NEVER moved TheDonald to a secure location.  Because the Secret Service knew he was behind the riots at the Capitol. The rioters wouldn’t dream of attacking him or the WhiteHouse.)

Instead, selfies were taken with the marauders, while others were allowed hours to seek out Senators, Congressfolks, and even Vice President Pence.  (Not to mention how many of the GOP Congressfolks- most of those same traitors claiming that Joe Biden did not win the election in one of the most well-run election runs ever- had illegally brought the leaders of this riot into the hallowed halls  earlier in the week to learn of secret passages, locations where the denizens of the Capitol had offices and where they would be hiding in an invasion.)

Or, go back just another few weeks.

It’s Christmas Day.  When Christian kids awake before dawn, desperate to learn if their fondest dreams (or at least, wanted toys) have appeared under the tree.  Where Jewish kids – in a non-pandemic year- search for an open diner with a buffet to satisfy their brunch desires, right before heading to the movie theater to enjoy a new release.

But, not this year.  Not because of the pandemic.   No, this year, we are glued to the news peering at the destruction in downtown Nashville.  Where an RV was parked in front of an AT&T switching station.  And, once it blew up,  phone service was disrupted throughout the South, rendering 911 calls futile and shutting down the Nashville Airport. (Tell me again when we are going to upgrade our infrastructure?)

And, with time, we found out that the perpetrator stayed in his RV.   Anthony Warner, a 63 y old semi-recluse, killed himself as he destroyed a good portion of downtown Nashville.

I know the media reported that he was a recluse.  Except his girlfriend (how many recluses do you know that have girlfriends?) had notified the police that Warner was producing bombs inside an RV that he owned.  On his property.

That’s right!  The cops were warned that there was a good possibility that someone was going to blow up something pretty soon.

And, what did the cops do?  They knocked on Anthony’s door a few times.  But, he didn’t answer.  They looked in his yard and saw the RV.  But, you see, Anthony didn’t erect any neon signs saying “Bomb Factory” or “I’m going to blow up the city”.

They did call in the FBI to examine Anthony Warner’s background when his girlfriend threatened suicide and also informed them her boyfriend “was building bombs in the RV trailer at his residence.”  Her statements were verified by Raymond Throckmorton III, Warner’s (and his girlfriend’s) attorney, who informed the cops that Warner “frequently talks about the military and making bombs” but he also “did not care for the police”.

But, the FBI had no records on Warner.  And, the Nashville Bomb Squad (formally called the “Hazardous Devices Unit”) were informed by Throckmorton that a visual inspection of Warner’s RV.

So, they did nothing.

Hmm.

 

Maybe that’s what the Louisville cops could have done, instead of obtaining (and poorly executing) a “no-knock” warrant on the home of Breonna Taylor.  Who wasn’t the girlfriend of Jamarcus Glover (who had been kicked out of her house.  And, was already in police custody when the cops executed Breonna.)

Or the countless youth protesting the murders of George Floyd, who were arrested pretty much for being black and annoying the cops.  (And, as is true for many of these such arrests were thrown out for “lacking probable cause”.)

But, you can bet if Warner were a Black man- or worse yet (from the cops point of view) a Muslim, the property would have been raided and the RV invaded.

Did you know that  probable cause had a skin tone component?