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CLOSING ARGUMENTS AUGUST 10, 2020 ¦ 43

EDITORIAL BOARD

Homeland Security or Customs duties to the rest of the world.
and Border Patrol, but there is a The driver is required to dis-
sprawling patchwork of armed play a legitimate, legible license
federal law enforcement agents Any officer who is plate as a prerequisite for the au-
nationwide. Their numbers have authorized by the thority to drive. Accountability
been increasing at the rate of government to wield life- is built-in, even for those with
about 2,500 a year, since 9/11. threatening power against high rank or special immunity.
Even the shadowy CIA has an civilians in the United People, being human, can be de-

armed security force. They sim- States, depriving them pended upon to err. That’s why

ply label their vehicles “Federal of liberty on the spot, license plate identification and

Police.” should be identifiable and accountability are embraced
It turns out that some of the without question as basic rules
unmarked federal officers con- accountable. of the road.

trolling demonstrators in D.C. Government’s power, collec-
were from the federal Bureau of tively, is almost inconceivably
Prisons in Texas. They were specially trained in vast. When it is deployed excessively and illegally,
suppressing prison riots. The demonstrations they the public expects some level of justice to be done
were assigned to included citizens of all ages. Sig- — if not immediately, eventually. Without some
nificantly, the Pentagon’s top military officials have hope for an ultimate correction, the country will
pushed back against President Trump’s idea of continue to be torn apart.
flooding the cities with armed troops. They were Now, Attorney General Barr urges protest-
repelled by the image of the U.S. cities occupied ers to allow the justice system, and its remedies,
by our military, like a banana republic in the midst to address the fallout of George Floyd’s apparent
of a coup. murder at the hands of police.
At the heart of all this is a struggle over what If Barr truly believes this, his strategy for getting
kind of country we are. there is wrongheaded.
Power, in our democracy, is supposed to flow Sending masked, unidentifiable John Doe riot
from the governed and be used for their benefit. troops into crowds as the spear tip of government
It’s not to empower a militaristic strongman, a power short-circuits any justice system, shielding
theocrat, a monarch or a dictator. This was the lawbreakers from facing criminal or civil legal re-
revolutionary premise put forth by this country’s dress for wrongful acts.
founders when the American experiment began. We have a problem with that.
When people peaceably assemble, seeking a re- The way out of this is not increasing secrecy,
dress of grievances, exercising their constitutional fear and hopelessness. Now is the time to improve
right to free speech, the government should be the transparency and responsibility of government
on high alert about rushing in. This is hallowed action. Any officer who is authorized by the govern-
ground, mapped in the Bill of Rights. ment to wield life-threatening power against civilians
Americans agree that people, especially those in in the United States, depriving them of liberty on the
government, should be accountable for their ac- spot, should be identifiable and accountable.
tions. Anonymity undermines this. Identification should become federal policy. It
It is universally agreed that anyone operating will be a step toward justice, and a much-needed
something as powerful as a motorized vehicle has step toward peace.
¦

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