60% of elected representatives worldwide have been victims of violence or harassment, and in many cases this has led to the end of their careers. This is not a new phenomenon. These elected representatives are in majority progressive, and their actions have challenged traditionalist society. A young woman in charge, a white man who wants to give rights to blacks, the content of what is taught in school, etc. These elected officials are victims of traditionalists who feel deeply threatened by the actions of these leaders. The elected officials sometimes leave office, which is anti-democratic. More than 600 police emails were found in the FBI archives when Obama was president from officers who said they didn’t want to obey a black man. Obama backed down on abortion rights because he was afraid. Some people no longer dare to criticize far-right themes or run for office for fear of such violence. In Finland, for example, after the harassment of Sanna Marin, the main left-wing leaders did not dare to run.
Against the progressives, there’s a long history of traditionalists resorting to violence. What can be done to improve things? Why don’t the police protect the progressivists more? Why do progressives get attacked more? John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed in Dallas, a Republican state. But in the attacks on presidential candidate Donald Trump and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, there were also police failings.
In police forces worldwide, there’s a corporate phenomenon. The organization perpetuates beliefs and traditions. The police force decide who they will protect and who they will not.
In the Roman Empire, the Praetorian Guard protected the Emperor. They decided who was emperor. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guards?
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quis_custodiet_ipsos_custodes%3F
Police do the minimum when protecting a progressive. Police delayed responding to Nancy Pelosi’s husband’s call for help. It was 4 hours before the police arrived during the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. There was no evidence that a leader had given an order not to intervene. There is no national guard in Washington. The police force decides whether or not to protect elected officials. This violence is applied against people who want to change society: elected officials, against LGBT+ people, against teachers, against journalists. The police drag their feet and don’t protect them.
A quoi sert la police? – Les Idées Larges – Arte: https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/117234-001-A/a-quoi-sert-la-police/
If we want the police to be in tune with the diversity of ideas in society, policing must be carried out on the model of the American National Guard. Time must be allowed for people to be trained in weapons handling and policing. The career police officers are selected, they are recruited by the former, they can be bought. Policemen should be citizens as long as they are physically able to do so. This would train citizens to de-escalate conflicts, protect their neighbors and so on. We are all entitled to protection.
The criminal investigation department requires professionals, because it’s highly technical, but not law enforcement.
The police are the kingmakers. They should be protecting democracy.
The list of politicians who have been unable to carry out their programs because of violence is long:
Matthias Ecke (SPD candidate in the European elections)
Pedro Sanchez (Spanish Prime Minister)
Léo Varadkar (Irish Prime Minister)
Yannick Morez (mayor of Saint-Brévin-les-pins in France)
Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister of New Zealand)
Sanna Marin (Prime Minister of Finland)
Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the US House of Representatives)
Robert Kennedy (U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (President of the United States)
Léon Blum (Prime Minister of France)
Jean Jaurès (Prime Minister of France)
Abraham Lincoln (President of the United States)
and so on.
Ukraine’s new military branch: Citizens protecting their neighborhood – Politico: https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-military-citizen-reservist-defense/
Le nombre d’agressions d’élus marque une hausse – Le Monde: https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2023/03/15/l-inquietante-hausse-du-nombre-d-agressions-d-elus_6165642_823448.html
Violence against women active in politics in the EU – A serious obstacle to political participation: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/759600/EPRS_BRI(2024)759600_EN.pdf
A deluge of violent messages: How a surge in threats to public officials could disrupt American democracy – CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/07/politics/threats-us-public-officials-democracy-invs/index.html
Thousands turn out at rally for Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez – BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68914181
Gardien de la Paix – La Chanson du Dimanche S01E11: https://youtu.be/C-nViGKosyE?si=Z1-mFHrqrdy_jl9X
Elections législatives : une campagne électorale sous haute tension, émaillée de violences – Public Sénat: https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/elections-legislatives-une-campagne-electorale-sous-haute-tension-emaillee-de-violences
Germany’s first African-born MP to stand down after racist abuse – The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/03/germanys-first-africa-born-mp-to-stand-down-after-racist-abuse
Fifty attacked in French election violence — and officials fear riots – The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/fifty-attacked-in-french-election-violence-and-officials-fear-riots-d9rqvq3db
