Support the Black Lives Matter cause

Jun 15, 2020
Jun 15, 2020 Updated Apr 13, 2025
3

Editor,

On May 25, African American George Floyd died a painful, slow death as white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The incident shook America.

(3) comments

Dirk van Ulden Jun 15, 2020 9:13am

The irony of what happened in EPA. Yes, it was the murder capital of the world and why was it cleaned up? Very strong police presence and a major change in demographics. She is clearly not very well informed on the history of EPA. She actually makes the case for not supporting BLM which had fortunately no role in EPA and by now has just become another shakedown organization funded by oblivious liberals..

Mike Dunham Jun 15, 2020 11:11am

Quite ironic that Dirk suggests the writer is "not very well informed on the history of EPA." Palo Alto Online published a piece a few days ago that goes through that history: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2020/06/12/east-palo-alto-police-were-once-feared-and-mistrusted-listening-to-the-community-made-all-the-difference

Just two representative facts: "Things got so bad that the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury in December 1997 recommended the police department be disbanded."

And: "Pastor Paul Bains, police chaplain for the East Palo Alto and Palo Alto police departments today, recalled that misfits from other law enforcement agencies who often couldn't be hired anywhere else landed in the city."

Dramatically reshaping the police department was primarily responsible for the change in crime rates in EPA, not a "very strong police presence" and a "major change in demographics." Those who reject calls to reform our police departments should learn history themselves.

Dirk van Ulden Jun 15, 2020 10:50pm

Mike - I believe you are proving my point. Strong police presence in the form of weeding out misfits was a given and made the difference. You can't tell me that demographics have not changed dramatically in EPA with the arrival of the Sun Microsystems campus, now the HQ of Facebook. There was a small strip mall on the east side of the 101 that was called Nairobi where drug dealing was rampant and dangerous for anyone. My main issue is with the BLM which had no role whatsoever in reshaping that city as the author seemed to refer to as an example. Wherever the BLM rules, violence and mayhem follows. It is a pity that the author recognizes BLM as a legitimate organization that has the minority community at heart. Reforming police departments is not the issue; hiring the right policemen/women is most important along with leadership that is not chosen because of their gender or skin color.

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