Thursday, June 15, 2006
Spread the Word
The first place that pressure needs to be applied is on the political front. In order to do this we need to first raise awareness of the exact events from first hand accounts. Letters to the editor of the local paper need to be written from as many individuals as possible. The Lawrence Journal World even has an online submission page for letters to the editor so instead of venting your frustrations to the online messageboards or to the festival, try sending it here.
So far here are the two letters that have appeared.
Ungrateful view
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
To the editor:
When I read Monday’s story about how the Wakarusa Festival goers were upset by the police presence at the concert, I was infuriated. What did these people expect? And how ungrateful of them to not appreciate all of the work that the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and others put into keeping them safe. If they cannot appreciate all that they did, then I guess it’s better that they not return for next year’s festival. I’d like to thank all of the officers who spent their days at the festival, even if the people they protected won’t.
Marissa Ballard,
Lawrence
And #2...
Police presence
Thursday, June 15, 2006
To the editor:
Police loudspeakers are awful alarm clocks. At 8 a.m. Monday, police drove through the Wakarusa Festival campgrounds blaring an ultimatum from their PA systems: Leave the campgrounds by noon. No “hope you had fun” or “drive safely” or “come back next year.”
In the four-hour line to get in Thursday, not a single police officer was visibly directing traffic or checking on people in their vehicles in the heat. With windows rolled up, they trolled the sidewalks.
That behavior summarizes the entire police presence at the festival: They were clearly not interested in public safety; festival attendees were thorns in their sides and not a group of citizens to be treated with respect.
From the constant drone of officers on old gasoline golf carts to the mob of police standing around watching stage gates for no apparent purpose other than intimidation, the behavior of law enforcement was one big overreaction and demonstrated apathy for attendees’ rights. No reasonable person could have watched the police over the four days and believed they were there to do anything other than wage their own miniwar on drugs. Most people at festivals such as this are already suspicious of law enforcement, and these agencies only galvanized that suspicion.
I used to worry about mad cow disease or avian flu making it to Kansas. I should have worried about the epidemic of mindless overreaction by law enforcement and demonstrations of force that have been happening all around the country. Lawrence, Kansas, has been infected.
Rob Dewhirst,
Lawrence
So far here are the two letters that have appeared.
Ungrateful view
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
To the editor:
When I read Monday’s story about how the Wakarusa Festival goers were upset by the police presence at the concert, I was infuriated. What did these people expect? And how ungrateful of them to not appreciate all of the work that the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and others put into keeping them safe. If they cannot appreciate all that they did, then I guess it’s better that they not return for next year’s festival. I’d like to thank all of the officers who spent their days at the festival, even if the people they protected won’t.
Marissa Ballard,
Lawrence
And #2...
Police presence
Thursday, June 15, 2006
To the editor:
Police loudspeakers are awful alarm clocks. At 8 a.m. Monday, police drove through the Wakarusa Festival campgrounds blaring an ultimatum from their PA systems: Leave the campgrounds by noon. No “hope you had fun” or “drive safely” or “come back next year.”
In the four-hour line to get in Thursday, not a single police officer was visibly directing traffic or checking on people in their vehicles in the heat. With windows rolled up, they trolled the sidewalks.
That behavior summarizes the entire police presence at the festival: They were clearly not interested in public safety; festival attendees were thorns in their sides and not a group of citizens to be treated with respect.
From the constant drone of officers on old gasoline golf carts to the mob of police standing around watching stage gates for no apparent purpose other than intimidation, the behavior of law enforcement was one big overreaction and demonstrated apathy for attendees’ rights. No reasonable person could have watched the police over the four days and believed they were there to do anything other than wage their own miniwar on drugs. Most people at festivals such as this are already suspicious of law enforcement, and these agencies only galvanized that suspicion.
I used to worry about mad cow disease or avian flu making it to Kansas. I should have worried about the epidemic of mindless overreaction by law enforcement and demonstrations of force that have been happening all around the country. Lawrence, Kansas, has been infected.
Rob Dewhirst,
Lawrence
