By Christian Gardinier
Yes, some Law Enforcement (L.E.) officers have unjustifiably brutalized and killed people of color, LGBQT, and Female Americans; most of America knows this. But, here in Redding, at the April 05 Hands-Off rally, all that was a universe away from this world.
Full disclosure: My high school was on Telegraph Avenue, next to People’s Park in Berkeley, CA. I have been beaten, gassed, and buckshot, and I forever will remember Ronald Reagan, one of MAGA’s founders, who, on April 7, 1970, said, “If it takes a bloodbath, let’s get it over with.”
I’m guessing that the joyful and peaceful 1000 protesting against Trump on April 05 here in Redding, CA, were primarily center-to- progressive socially and politically. Yet I talked with a few older white male Vets, one stating, “I’m an 83-year-old conservative. This is the first demonstration I’ve ever been to. I don’t know why he (Trump) is doing this to us (Vets).”
Without formally interviewing any peace officers that day, I only speculate that a few may be asking the same question as L.E. layoffs, budgets, and pay increases have been cut by the Republican Congress and Democratic Governor, and in difficult socio-political-economic times like now, L.E. gets exceptionally challenging. However, as the rally started, I had occasion to talk with a few law enforcement (L.E.) officers over the phone, resulting in a case ID. This is what happened.
Shortly before noon, while walking from the back parking lot to the rally, I heard the motorcycles revving loudly, slowly coming up behind me. I knew what was up, but I held my ground and kept walking straight ahead, saying nothing and doing nothing.
Both intentionally bumped me as they passed, continued towards the rally, parked at the Civic Center Fountain, and proceeded to rev their Harleys in typical harassment behavior seen before, along with jacked-up coal rollers “protesting” non-violent protesters. I would have walked way out of their way if they hadn’t intentionally bumped me a minute before. Instead, I stopped about 12 feet away and peacefully asked if they were going to bump me again. One yelled back, “WTF did you say?” quickly got off his bike, came up, and chest-bumped me, calling me an unpatriotic piece of —-,—— —–, and —–, grabbed my sign from my hands and threw it.
All I did in response to this violence was step back a bit, pull out my phone, call Redding City Police, and the assailant walked back to his bike. Here, things got weird.
A group of seemingly well-intentioned people dressed in all black approached and started giving me orders, including telling me not to call L.E. To paraphrase, the spokesperson stated that L.E. was not our friend, and they would come and “shut us down.” This led to a later conversation about how their group was missioned to direct behaviors at the rally and protect “vulnerable” citizens. They stated that if I had gone to their de-escalation training, I would have done as they ordered, and the reason I’m not afraid to call L.E. to report harassment and assaultive behaviors is because I’m an egotistic, white privileged male.
Strangely, none of the L.E. I talked with that day asked me what color I was. So, I call B.S. Later, the leader of the dressed-in-all-black crew invited me to a coffee. We likely have more in common than not; maybe we can both de-escalate over coffee. I accepted but have not heard back from them.
Having worked as a licensed clinician in psychiatric settings, jail, and other at-risk situations, I have had certified Intensive Response Team (CIRT) and other de-escalation training. Things can and do go sideways due to psychiatric disorders. Recently, as some may know, I was assaulted in a Board of Supervisors meeting. I told the District Attorney to drop the case; yes, my stomach hurt for a few days, but the person in question apologized and may have reacted out of P.T.S.D. Both motorcyclists reported in this story may have a psychiatric diagnosis; I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Admittedly, without verification, I think I may know who the assailant was.
That day, as videoed in Benjamin’s Nowain North State Breakdown report, I had telephone interactions with law enforcement that resulted in a description of the motorcyclists involved, a report of their behaviors, a license plate number, and, as mentioned, a case number. I did thank the officer at the end of the call, and they expressed appreciation for that. The officer closed by asking, “Please stay out of the street (guilty as charged).”
No peace officers showed up at the rally, and there was no more harassment from the bikers. Nationwide, I don’t know if any protesters were arrested or if any rallies were shut down. I did read that at a Hands-Off Rally in Lafayette, Ind., a guy “jumped out of a truck, pulled on a Trump shirt, retrieved a gun from his vehicle, and threatened protesters before being handcuffed and driven away by Lafayette police.”
Here’s my point: Demonizing peace officers without specific, real-time evidence doesn’t benefit anyone. All communities need law enforcement; without it, civilization would quickly descend into chaos. As Jack Web used to say, “That’s just the facts, ma’am.”
Recently, militia member Jesse Lane, of the infamous debunked Black Lives Matter “Bus Incident,” aggressively threatened me in front of the SCBOS Chambers, yet on another occasion, Lane peacefully told me the militias are necessary because “they (L.E.) can’t enforce the law by themselves.” The minute we buy into that malarkey is the minute street thug “militias” feel empowered, and some citizens start thinking peace officers can’t protect, or worse. That’s just what fascism wants: normalizing Trump’s cauldron of Rolling Thunder Bikers and Proud Boy Street Thugs.
Instead of demonizing, some local Shasta County organizations, like the Justice Coalition and others, dialog with L.E. to develop and sustain positive community relations. I personally congratulated Sheriff Johnson for bringing forth a comprehensive proposal for a corrections and rehabilitation campus to house an expanded alternative custody program that would include job skills development, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment programs, giving people who’ve committed low-level or nonviolent offenses tools to help them from becoming repeat offenders. Like Leonard Moty before him, my supervisor, Allen Long, was a peace officer for many years; his experience and training have brought clear, level thinking and solution-focused action to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors.
As we slide into recession (or worse), expect more concerned citizens to “Speak up, speak out, get in the way,” and use non-violent “Good Trouble” and increase petitioning against the chaos of Trumpism and its attack on democracy, civil rights, and economic policies. Yet, as well-intentioned as the local self-appointed defense force may be, I have much more faith in a peace officer for protection than an ad hoc community member without law enforcement training or experience who, out of paranoia, advocates, that we all dress in black “so they can’t identify us” and march to their orders.
Community law enforcement is an instrument that, when treated with respect, as we should treat any person or instrument, can and often will protect. Yes, there’s some strange stuff here in Shasta County, with an ex-officer dressing up like Hitler and such. But, like all of us, peace officers are human, not monolithic. We hear loudly of L.E. mistakes made and too seldom hear of successes, yet they do a job many won’t do at any pay level.
I’m like a friend, Nathan Blaze. Out of respect for civil rights, I will call the police when I or anyone else is assaulted. I encourage you to do the same and let the officers know you appreciate them.
On People’s Park https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jul/06/the-battle-for-peoples-park-berkeley-1969-review-vietnam
On Good Trouble https://www.brookings.edu/articles/five-things-john-lewis-taught-us-about-getting-in-good-trouble/
Christian Gardinier is a retired mental health professional. He lives in Redding.
