Thurston County Democrats

This resolution was presented at the November 26th TCD meeting,  This resolution will be voted on at the January 28th TCD meeting where PCOs, Proxies and paid members of 30 days or more are welcome to vote.  We are posting it to TCD Blue to encourage discussion about the resolution in preparation for the vote in January.

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Resolution to Investigate the Abuse of Authority by Law Enforcement Officials During the November 2007 Olympia Port Protests                                           

WHEREAS, the Citizens of the United States have a constitutional right to publically voice their dissent to the actions and policies of their elected representatives and all public officials are constitutionally mandated to respect this right  

WHEREAS, the actions and policies of the current federal administration with regard to the instigation and pursuance of the War in Iraq are arguably illegal and opposed by a large majority of the American people

WHEREAS, public demonstrations and civil disobedience have been traditional avenue of action by our citizens to challenge unethical and extra-constitutional abuses by the institutions of our society.

WHEREAS, public law enforcement officials are required by law and precedence to remain neutral, respecting the individual rights and persons of those citizens exercising this right to dissent and most especially avoiding excesses in the use of force and coercion that might create a climate of fear and intimidation against all citizens’ right to dissent.  

WHEREAS, the Olympia Police Department clearly used excessive and unreasonable force beyond their legal authority during the November 2007 Olympia Port Protests Against the Iraq War, as witnessed by both participants in that protest and by other casual observers.

WHEREAS, it is in the interests of every citizen into ensure that law enforcement officials, who are acting under the authority granted to them by the people, must use restraint in the exercise of that authority, respecting the principles of free speech and the right to assemble as enumerated in our constitution and thus guarding rights of all the people.
 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Thurston County Democrats (TCD) call for an investigation by an independent authority into the actions of all law enforcement officials, up the entire command chain, to determine if officers committed illegal or reprehensible actions against the protesters during the November 2007 Olympia Port Protests  

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCD will ask that if unacceptable actions are found to have occurred, either by direct testimony or by the preponderance of evidence, that those responsible be held accountable and that a review of police policies and procedures be undertaken by legally accountable authorities with the goal of eliminating policies and practices within enforcement organizations that encourage or condone these unacceptable actions.