As SWAT trucks rolled down the streets of Ferguson, Mo., last night, conservative talk show host Dana Loesch criticized the “militarization” of local law enforcement.
At almost the same time, singer/songwriter John Legend, a liberal, said pretty much the same thing:
The fact that the small town Ferguson police dept has all this equipment should disturb us all. Priorities.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 12, 2014
Apparently the equipment was brought in from other communities. But still…
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 12, 2014
Politics makes strange bedfellows!
Some Twitter users agreed with the Loesch/Legend view:
https://twitter.com/codematic/status/499028532799229952
https://twitter.com/CureOurCountry/status/499028300921335808
Dana is right. http://t.co/sSfxibtQTX@DLoesch
— Jeff Rakestraw (@RakestrawJeff) August 12, 2014
@johnlegend Man, I lost faith in you for a while, as far as government type issues go. I'm glad to see you're still for the people!
— ♊ seizuhn 6.4. (@AlanEyezwide) August 12, 2014
We are witnessing the militarization of local law enforcement, another trend in our transformation from Republic to Oligarchy.
— erik willey (@erikwill) August 12, 2014
The militarization of our police is frightening. And I say that as someone with family in law enforcement.
— THAT Amber (@buriedbybooks) August 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/ivan_hernandez/status/499014838790918146
Others seemed more understanding of law enforcement’s need for heavy equipment in high-risk emergency situations. In Ferguson, police are trying to protect themselves from miscreants who are shooting at them:
@DLoesch Really ? What do you want them to do Dana ?
— Hutch Bailie Jr. (@HutchBailieJr) August 12, 2014
@dloesch What are they suppose to do Dana? Let a repeat of last night happen? Damned if they do, damned if they don't?
— Stephen Muschany (@SVMuschany) August 12, 2014
@DLoesch And how would you like them to deal with the lawless rioters? Harsh language?
— LTC William Kilgore ? (@TallestTinker) August 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/Alphey/status/499029033313902593
@DLoesch Tonight may be one of the nights lives are saved because the police are militarized. Police have a right to defend themselves
— GLENN (@GCGATOR24) August 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/SavannaWootWoot/status/499032668181254146
In fact, it doesn't. . @johnlegend The fact that the small town Ferguson police dept has all this equipment should disturb us all.
— David Sheets (@DKSheets) August 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/stephaniedmv/status/499031918739193857
@johnlegend what should disturb us is not what the police are prepped with but how bad the communities have become.
— Adam Bradley (@ABradley5) August 12, 2014
Loesch initially defended her statement:
Why I'm anti militarized police? Well, forget that #MO put dissenters on terror watch list signed by Gov? http://t.co/sku0lYKzQc #ferguson
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 12, 2014
Remember when Missourians rang the alarm against Gov. Nixon putting innocent citizens on terror watch lists? http://t.co/sku0lYKzQc
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 12, 2014
There is a history of heavy-handedness here that has affected BOTH sides of the political aisle in #MO. http://t.co/sku0lYKzQc
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 12, 2014
In the end, however, she seemed to acknowledge that at a certain point it becomes necessary to bring in the heavy equipment:
@jpwilloughby When it gets to that point, what do you do, you know? But their inept handling was gas on the fire.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 12, 2014