Sheriffs Helped Lead This Insurrection

[marmar]

Sheriffs Helped Lead This Insurrection
Sheriffs play a key role in right-wing white supremacist movements.

By JESSICA PISHKO
JAN 15, 2021


(Slate) On Jan. 6, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb made a promise. Delivering a speech in Phoenix during the ongoing mob attack on the nation’s Capitol, Lamb accused former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of unnamed crimes and repeated President Donald Trump’s false claims about election fraud. “Now I’m limited to what I can do as the sheriff, but if you live in Pinal County, I assure you I can fight for your freedom,” he said before exhorting his followers to “be vigilant” and to “fight for the Constitution, freedom, and the American way of life.” (The video has since been deleted from social media.)

In the past week, it’s become clear that many members of law enforcement from across the country participated in the siege on the Capitol. That includes former and current sheriffs and their deputies. Ex–Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway was at the Trump rally but says he didn’t march to the Capitol. He described the crowd as “a cross between tailgating at a football game and a NASCAR race—families, dogs, children. Everyone being nice. I mean, it was like a family reunion without some of the hatefulness you can find at family reunions. It was a very good crowd.”

At least one current sheriff admits he was at the riot: Sheriff Chris West of Canadian County, Oklahoma, says he marched toward the Capitol building but did not enter. But long before Jan. 6, sheriffs have been helping to lay the groundwork for violence by the far-right movement. As political leaders in their communities, they have been sowing dissent at home, encouraging their own armed militias to prepare themselves to take back the government just as Lamb suggested.

Ninety percent of American sheriffs are white men, and in recent years they’ve become strongly affiliated with white supremacist groups. Across the country, sheriffs have declared that they will not enforce laws they deem “unconstitutional,” like COVID-19 public health orders or gun laws limiting weapons possession and permits. Their influence has only grown since the pandemic began, as mask wearing became affiliated with progressive liberals and a bare face was a sign of Trump support. Trump has always had an affinity with sheriffs. He met with more sheriffs at the White House than any other president and pardoned ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of contempt of court for failing to abide by a nondiscrimination order, calling him an “American patriot.” .............(more)

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/constitutional-sheriffs-white-supremacists-capitol-riot-insurrection.html

[SWBTATTReg]

1. They are supposed to be upholding the law. Fire them. Fire each and everyone of them.

[tblue37]

3. They are often elected positions, and they get elected because most people in their jurisdiction

Like the way they think and act, unfortunately.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Yes, I know. They have to be recalled if this option is available in certain areas, and I'm

also aware of the 'act tough, be tough' persona, that they all have to act and be, and be even tougher, etc. to the point where it's almost way too much, like that sheriff in AZ that was forced out (and trump pardoned him). When rights get trampled is where the line needs to be drawn.

[LiberalFighter]

13. That doesn't mean the deputies and others can't be fired.

[paleotn]

19. The majority are sheriffs of counties....

with more critters than people. Virtually all counties have sheriffs even if almost no one lives there.

[Maraya1969]

6. Can they do that? I thought Sheriffs were elected so we are

stuck with them.

But is there a governing body that can get rid of them? There must be because what is a serial killer get in and becomes sheriff? Besides going to jail they have to rid him of his title and job right?

[Klaralven]

2. Sheriffs are generally elected. There are far more Republican sheriffs than Democratic sheriffs.

That's because there are far more Republican counties than Democratic counties.

[Maraya1969]

9. I just read on Google that the governor can remove them for

cause.

[paleotn]

20. Interesting thing about those blue counties....

That's were the vast, vast majority of people live. The red ones consist of a sea of empty space....and empty heads.

[BlueIdaho]

4. Fucking Sheriffs...

Ever meet one? The one’s I’ve met are self important hicks. Not surprising they think they are the law unto themselves.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. I believe that.

Give a jerk some power.... repukes are all about that.

[dalton99a]

5. Their top priorities are to protect white supremacists and hire family members

[Wounded Bear]

8. Yep, the Sovereign Citizen movement...

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

10. Law enforcement must be investigated, and then analyzed, nationwide,

and there needs to be federally mandated regulations, including stringent psychological testing, and four year higher education degrees in Law Enforcement, mandated for the hiring all police, everywhere.

Then, cops should get paid more, and be strictly supervised.

It's frightening to hear the banjos playing in the distance, when you get pulled over by a cop in Klan Gulch, Mississippi.

[orangecrush]

17. Great post.

[VA_Jill]

11. Was that dickweed from Michigan there?

The one that wouldn't enforce any gun laws?

[gibraltar72]

12. By and large Sheriffs are scum of the earth.

There are exceptions of course. But generally speaking the lowest form of life.

[Traildogbob]

14. Andy was extreme fiction?

Small NC towns have always been the biggest self righteous White righteous ass wipes. Always.

[RVN VET71]

22. We all saw what happened to Andy Taylor when he entered politics

and renamed himself Lonesome Rhodes.

[malaise]

15. Soon to be ex-sheriffs

That is all

[bringthePaine]

16. fuck 'em - crimers gotta pay - any decent ones can help clean house, "know them by their actions"

[czarjak]

18. I know guys that got into law enforcement just to be assholes.