Circle the chairs and lets form a snake line. Today's suggested topic is about Rev. William Barber's call to action and Goethe's famous saying:
''It is better for you to suffer an injustice than for the world to be without law. Therefore, let everyone submit to the law.''
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832)
This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome. What is for dinner? How are you doing? What is on your mind. If you are new to Street Prophets please introduce yourself beyond the fold in a comment. (Please forgive me for paraphrasing Goethe in my title of this diary.)
The police department in my town, Vallejo, is having an "open house." And I'm planning to attend it and ask questions about the militarization of the police forces general, about getting body cameras for the officers, and about what our officers think about the events in Ferguson. Below is the invitation to the event that I received via email from the City of Vallejo.
The Vallejo Police Department will be opening their doors and inviting the public to come inside and meet us. On September 6, 2014, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the entire Police Department will be on display. Visitors will be able to take tours, watch demonstrations and explore our vehicles. They can also:
• Get to know your Police Officers, Command Staff, Supervisors
• Meet members of the SWAT Team and try on their gear
• Watch K-9 demonstrations and meet our newest K-9 member, Sparks
• Explore patrol cars, armored & emergency rescue vehicles and motorcycles
• Learn fire safety tips
• Talk to members of Neighborhood Law Program
• Learn the history of the Vallejo Police Department
Children will get to:
• Bring your bike to ride the cone course and get tips from Bike Patrol Officers
• First 150 children get a free bike helmet
• Play in the jump house and obstacle course
• Get fingerprinted
• Balloon animals and games
• Win prizes
• Plus a few surprises...
I'm planning to bring a video camera and I going to be recording some of the answers to my questions. The announcement email provided a contact number for "media" and going to make sure the police department knows I'm doing a diary on the event for a future diary on Daily Kos. (I'm hoping they will break the rules and let me get fingerprinted. Sounds like a lot of fun.)
Below Reverend William Barber talks about the importance of voting. And reminds us that who we vote into office on the city and county level is important. I want to add to his message that follow up and engagement is also important.
So, my follow up and engagement is to attend the open house and see it as an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Vallejo. However, I'm keeping Goethe's saying in mind as it brings up the key question I have about my police department.
How can my City Police avoid committing injustices such as we see in Ferguson?
Street Prophets Moral Monday Action Tip #5
Register to Vote! And help others to register!
“You’ve got a lot of young people that say they’re angry about what they saw in Ferguson, so let them know this,” he said. “Mayors and city councils hire police chiefs. People elect mayors and city councils. So if you’re concerned about who the police chief is, you need to be organized and registered to vote.” - Reverend William Barber
From: clip from Pre-Moral Week of Action LiveStream Broadcast
Below are some of the diaries published in the last week about the Moral Mondays Movement:
TODAY: Day 2 of Rev. Barber's Moral Week of Action in NC. Stand with us! by DocDawg
Moral Mondays - Rev. Barber talks about Ferguson (updated w. transcript) by Denise Oliver Velez
Rev. Barber's NC Moral Week of Action begins today! Will you stand with us? by DocDawg
Wisconsin Forward Together coalition kicks off "Week of Moral Action" in Madison by Giles Goat Boy
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Don't Trust Your Heart Trust God by linkage
Below is a quick round up of past diaries on Daily Kos about Rev. William Barbers ideas for those that have not been following the Moral Mondays movement.
Will you help Rev. Barber stand for us all, Aug 22-28? by DocDawg
A week of (moral) Mondays in North Carolina. Y'all come on down! by DocDawg
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Hazel Wilson Ignores Grand Jury by linkage
Rev. Barber on Religious/Political Inclusion by Frederick Clarkson
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Barber, Lakoff and Morality
DKos Asheville: Mountain Moral Monday by DKos Asheville
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Above The Snake Line by linkage
This week in the war on workers: 'We're going to win this if we keep fighting. We can't stop.' by Laura Clawson for Daily Kos Labor
Rev. William Barber's electrifying speech at Netroots Nation 2014 by Egberto Willies
William Barber Takes Us to Church at Netroots Nation by Frederick Clarkson
Moral Monday - Street Prophets Coffee Hour by linkage
Sad, But True: Activism Just Ain't Sexy to the So-Called Netroots by shanikka
Rev. Barber may be the one I've been waiting for by Arrogant Ape
NN14, Rev. Barber, and the snake line by dkmich
North Carolina's Moral Mondays Movement: 90% of Success is Just Showin' Up by DocDawg
I'm glad I didn't miss it: Transcript of The Rev. Dr. William Barber at NN14 by TrueBlueMajority
Morality As A Secular Concept by kevinbr38
(please bring to my attention any other diaries that should be on this list in the comments below and I will add them.)
This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome. And, what you think the sign says?
Best,
Jonathan Gordon (linkage on Daily Kos)