P President
Mark Carroll
Getting protests in perspective T
he Police Association was unequivocal in its condemnation of the killing of 46-year-old US citizen George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last month. We not only acknowledged the shock and anger which swept across much of the US after his death but also understood why protests for change erupted globally. And, as an organization which has itself undertaken peaceful protest marches, we would scarcely have criticized other demonstrators. The association respects and supports the right of citizens to assemble and protest. Our tolerance was an absolute zero, however, when it came to protest participants who resorted to violence, arson, looting and killings in the US and UK. No fair-minded observer doubts that they were infiltrators, who in no way honoured George Floyd. US authorities should, and must, hold them to account for their criminal acts. As we all know, the Floyd killing and, more broadly, the perceived failings of US law enforcement sparked the protests. Almost none of the ways in which we go about policing in Australia bear any resemblance to police practices in the US. 10
Police Journal
Almost none of the ways in which we go about policing in Australia bear any resemblance to police practices in the US.
