The request for the arrival of the
National Guard may seem alarmist, however it’s actually a counter-intuitive
savvy move by the Missouri governor to reduce unrest. And because the US
government did not directly request – “federalize” – the National Guard, their
deployment to Ferguson, Mo is not legally defined as “troops.”
Because the black community has
expressed their fury and frustration by the “disrespect” directed at them by
the Ferguson police for many years, law enforcement’s continued presence, particularly in military
gear and equipment, would only escalate the crisis further. The National Guard
is a de facto UN Peacekeeping force
(or should we now say “US peacekeeping force”?), a neutral crowd-control force
whose presence placates the community to a certain degree and relieves the
pressure on local law enforcement. Additionally,
the National Guard’s occupying presence is temporary vs. a permanent presence
by local police. This maneuver also buys time, not much, for review and
negotiations.
Now just think how astounding it is
that Missouri deployed an overwhelming force to quell unrest in a small
community of about 21,000 residents. We’ve deployed fewer soldiers to occupy
Iraqi cities. Compare Ferguson to larger communities with fury and frustration,
notably the NYC nabes of Brownsville and East New York. Brownsville has a population of about 58,000,
98% of which are people of color. East
New York has a population of 183,000 of which 88% are people of color. Both
these nabes almost half the families are below the poverty line compared to
Ferguson, Mo which has about20% under the poverty line. Just imagine how much law enforcement and/or
military force would be required to quell a similar disturbance in Brownsville
and East New York geographically connected with a combined population of
241,000, or 11 times the population of Ferguson? Or cities with almost the same
population such as Orlando or St. Petersburg, Florida or closer to NYC like
Jersey City.
Ferguson is a microcosm of what could
happen to large communities in cities throughout the US whose residents have
been economically and geographically marginalized for years similar to what has
already occurred in Paris and London. US law enforcement officers adamantly
insist that such disturbances would never spiral out of control because of
their closer relationships with the community.
The movie The Siege (1998) – well before 9/11 and eerily presicent – was
released at the time a far-flung fantasy plot, is a blue print of what can
occur. Even Major General Devereaux
played by Bruce Willis, implored the
politicos not to deploy the Army to occupy the cities.
Under the ‘wrong’ circumstances the
influence of even moderate community leaders can be neutralized by a new and
radical community leadership who can ‘hijack’ a community’s emotions and push
it towards the abyss. We’re sitting on a tinderbox whose exploding anger and subsequent
roaring flames may be difficult to control.
Prescient scene from the movie The Siege (1998)
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