Just in time for the Iowa Democratic Caucuses on Monday, the anti-police activists driving many of the conversations on social policy in that party have shown their true colors. This past Friday’s coordinated riots at Grand Central Station and other spots throughout New York City were a civic travesty caused by the weak, chaotic leadership of Mayor de Blasio and a political culture that celebrates radical policies that defy reality.
To be clear, so there is no misunderstanding – this moment demands that Democratic presidential candidates declare whether they support America’s police. To allow these oval office hopefuls off the hook on this vital point would be to indulge the consequence-free fantasy world the radical left-wing of the Democratic Party insists on.
Does Pete Buttigieg support the vandals tagging subway station walls with graffiti targeting police? Where does Amy Klobuchar stand on crowds hurling curses towards police? What is Joe Biden’s position on the destruction of public property by criminals wearing t-shirts with logos calling for violence against police? Would Bernie Sanders have joined the riot? Does Elizabeth Warren believe police shouldn’t be patrolling subways? What are Andrew Yang’s thoughts on the social media video of masked organizers calling for the riot? Michael Bloomberg walked away from some of his mayoral policies on police – what is his opinion on all this? Tom Steyer? Tulsi Gabbard? Michael Bennet? Deval Partick?
This isn’t a thought exercise, these are real questions that need immediate answers.
The police exercised enormous restraint in protecting New Yorkers during the riots, including those who were attacking them. They did their job despite knowing that City Hall does not have their back, despite knowing interactions were being recorded on smartphones for distorted use on social media by those who loathe them for no good reason, despite the uncertainty of what might happen after they made an arrest unpopular with politicians.
Bill de Blasio ran for president to feed his enormous ego. Democratic candidates in 2016 had no use for him and this time around public opinion polls set him packing long before the first vote was cast. These riots in “his” city are now a problem for all Democrats. He simply cannot help but make a mess of things.
“F*** the pigs, f*** the MTA, f*** mass transit, make Wall Street pay” was the rioter’s chant. I’m sure that in their minds they were marching in solidarity with those protesting against strongmen in Venezuela, but this wasn’t political activism. It was a childish temper tantrum with adult consequences.
Closer to home, with our state legislature being driven by like-minded anti-police activists, these in suits and with titles, what can hardworking first responders expect? More of the same, sadly – efforts to violate personnel file privacy, no bail policies for violent offenders and empty promises at press conferences in the face of spikes in hate crimes, rapes and felony assaults.
The young adults quoted in news stories about their participation in the riots have instigated vital questions that must be answered at the highest levels of politics. They wanted to make an impact? They have, but it’s likely not going to look like what they hoped for.
Ed Mullins is president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
