Tom Cotton: NYT Column Calling To Abolish Police ‘Puts Lives In Danger’
Chuck Ross on June 13, 2020
Sen. Tom Cotton criticized The New York Times over an op-ed the newspaper published Friday calling on cities to abolish their police departments, saying that the column would put Americans’ lives in “danger.”
“Running this column puts lives in danger,” Cotton wrote on Twitter in response to an op-ed from activist Mariame Kaba entitled “Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police.”
Cotton was using the same line of argument that a group of New York Times staffers adopted to force the newspaper to apologize for running an op-ed from the Arkansas Republican published on June 3.
In the op-ed, Cotton called on the National Guard to tamp down on looting and rioting that stemmed from protests over the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, video showed.
A group of Times staffers openly revolted over the Cotton op-ed, saying it put the lives of the newspapers’ black staffers in danger.
The Times caved in to the internal pressure by attaching several editor’s notes to Cotton’s article. Editorial page editor James Bennet resigned. Cotton responded by mocking the Times for bending over backwards to appease the “woke children” on the newspaper’s staff. Cotton also pointed out that his op-ed differentiated between peaceful protesters, whom he said he supports, and rioters and looters who descended on numerous cities across the United States.
Kaba’s op-ed echoed the arguments of the “Defund the Police” movement that sprung up in the wake of Floyd’s death.
Some activists who support the spirit of the defund the police movement have said that the slogan is not meant to convey that police departments should be shut down. Instead, they assert that police departments need to reallocate resources toward social services.
Democratic lawmakers — including former Vice President Joe Biden — have said that they do not support defunding police departments, instead supporting widespread reforms.
But Kaba rejected those half measures in her op-ed, writing that police departments are beyond reform.
“Enough,” she wrote. “We can’t reform the police. The only way to diminish police violence is to reduce contact between the public and the police.”
She added: “But don’t get me wrong. We are not abandoning our communities to violence. We don’t want to just close police departments. We want to make them obsolete.”
“We should redirect the billions that now go to police departments toward providing health care, housing, education and good jobs. If we did this, there would be less need for the police in the first place,” she said.
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All those in favor of getting rid of the police need to identify themselves by wearing some kind of emblem. It would basically say, I do not want police officers in my life. Then their names with drivers license, and residence needs to go into a data base. If they should call for police aid, they are to be told, no, we can not help you. Regardless of the reason, YOU signed up for “no police in my life” of your own free will. Now, do what you can, for yourself. If any of them begin to howl about that being unfair in any way, simply remind them that their agitation for defund the police comes with consequences. The rest of the population that sees the police as a good thing should not have to carry the burden of paying taxes to keep police protection up for those that do not want them. Same for CHAZ, they are freeloading off of the rest of the people of Seattle. They are getting free water, sewer, gas and electricity. If CHAZ can’t pay for it, CHAZ should not get it. Why should all others pay their bill for these services, or others like police and fire.
Kaba is another left wing radical screaming for recognition. So sad when real people have to absorb her nonsense.
Does she carry a gun, does she have security? Who is she going to call when the bad guys cone a calling??
Defund does not mean abolish ??? What is she smoking? Does she think PD’s will run on air and staging will be a voluntary act???
Strange person and needs a little comforting. Sorry she had such a bad childhood..or so it would seem.
In other words shut down the police and give the crims an open go, shoplifters,looters, whatever you want ti call them. They want to go back to the old west, very few law enforcement and every one carrying weapons, where would that get us, MORE SHOOTINGS and more dead bodies ex
Abolish the police..IN NEW YORK?!?
Well, I guess there goes any chances of ever seeing a Broadway Show or museum in New York ever again. man, I;’m gonna miss them too. Those were the ONLY good reasons for going to New York, but now I don;t DARE go there anymore!!
Police are citizens also and have the right to be “innocent until proven guilty” in a legal trial – NOT by mob rioting! Trust me , rioters, you will like dealing with them better than armed citizens if they are disbanded. I respect diversity of ideas & peaceful protests. Have no respect for mob law of rioters!
The Times position is downright stupid. A certain part of the population will continue to get intoxicated, peddle drugs, abuse the people in their households, speed, get into serious accidents and a whole lot of other unsocial behaviors. Their will also be robberies, burglaries and muders. All the social programs we can think up and implement are not going to change human nature to the point where policing is rendered obsolete.
The only way to abolish police violence is to stop resisting arrest. If the police went to arrest you let them fight it in court that’s what the courts were made for.. If they want to arrest you let them if you were not guilty then you have the alternative just sue them and become a millionaire.
The failing and horrific NYT should be pulled. This Marianne Kaba is a wacko. Abolishing the police would put this country in extreme horror. Wonder when Kaba needs police who would she call? NYT PRODUCES MORE MORONS THAN NORMAL PEOPLE THE USA NEEDS TRUMP TO STRAIGHTEN OUT BLM AND ANTIFA. STRONG LEADERSHIP. Also question came up about what Obama would do if the KKK invaded a city. Would he accept it and want to meet their demands or would he call ion those that could stop them and their squash their demands?
AMERICANS WE HAVE TO TAKE BACK OUR AMERICA FROM THE EVIL CRIMINAL ACTS OF DEMOCRATS………………………..TO SOLVE AMERICAS PROBLEMS MAKE THIS CHOICE WE THE PEOPLE’ HAVE THE POWER OF OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES, TO VOTE OUT THE ENTIRE LYING,CORRUPT, TREASONOUS DEMOCRAT PARTY COME NOV 2020, VOTE TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AND TO END ALL CORRUPTIONS IN WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
It doesn’t matter what you call it: “woke” is a counter-culture term for what used to be known as “brainwashed.” This isn’t about a kinder, more gentle world, it isn’t about racism, and it’s not about productive or sensible change. It’s about fracturing all hope of unification in America brought upon by the enemies of America. As both sides become more polarized and invigorated, the dark forces that sparked this fire are gleefully watching us burn.
Abolishing all vestments of a sane and orderly society in hopes of establishing a sane and orderly society is truly insanity. If you have bought into this, it’s time to seek a mental health professional, because you lost it.
Just more gobbledygook nonsense. There were plenty of jobs before this manufactured C19 pandemic. As usual liberals want to hand everything out without fiscal responsibility as has been shown in those States time and time again. Nothing left in the coffers because of payouts and mismanagement. Now they want more management control. They’re like petulant children who can never get enough, nor is enough good enough.
THE AWESOME POSSUM,
OKAY, DISBAND THE POLICE AND DEFUND THEM. WE ARE JUST A VOICE AWAY FROM VIGILANTE LAW, THE LAW OF 1875. THEN LAW AND ORDER WILL BE ENFORCED WITH WHATEVER FORCE IS NEEDED.
Miriame Kababu ? Is she experienced in the outcomes of such massive income redistribution? Does she have a qualifications to make such predictions. In fact she is completely unqualified to speak on the matter of law and order. Never in the history of mankind or any other living organism has peace come from stealing from one group to pay for another every been posdible without someone to enforce the rule of law.
If no police exist then why would i even pay my taxes for exsmple, why would i be satisfied driving a compact car if the warnings from my work are to pay for noneorkers, I would feel justified in taking anything i wanted since there was no agreement to which people could agree and enforce
You listen to this non-sense and you wonder how such a person can’t even get published? Only the garbage NYT could be so mindlessly incompiteny
Without a police force, at least maybe we could put an end to the out of control spending. Let’s abolish Taxation! Now i’m listening. These fools don’t understand without law and order, their welfare benefits stop, no free school,, no free healthcare, no free cellphones, Every man for himself is what this brain challenged toilet paper tabloid is promoting. Do they not see how abousoluty mentally deranged they sound? First graders making national economic policy. nuts
Facts more whites are killed then blacks but blacks commit more crimes. They resit arrest fight police. They point a weapon and refuse to drop it that’s why they are shot. Hands up don’t shoot is a lie. Michael Brown did not have his hands up he was trying to get cops gun. They still spread that lie. Black on black killings are put of control.
Hey times get rid of your security detail first, see how long your paper survives or even you. If at home also get rid of your protection service. I am sure you will be ok…..lol
Carry ARMAMENT with you! . . . Put these LOOTERS’ lives in danger instead. In other words, LOCK and LOAD, and enjoy the TARGET PRACTICE.
Rather than more police training, we need TV ads to train people about the hazards of resisting arrest or maybe even committing the crimes that get one arrested! Kind of like in the spirit of “call before you dig” and “buckle up.” Run as “public service announcements” by the media would be a 180 from their current unrest stirring!
Acticist Mariame Kaba is a stupid idiot and is supporting radicle Criminals running amock
RIght on, Wayne. I could not agree more.
Right on, Wayne. I could not agree more.
Mariame Caba is playing pretend. “Let’s pretend there are no bad people that will break into our houses, that will mug us, that will rape us.”
Surely, Maria has the mind of an sweet, idealistic 5 year old. “Just be nice and people will be nice back.” Wow, is she just naive or just a brainless moron?
Abolishing the police guarantees anarchy. We will all be on our own. Ultimately it will mean the death of our country and george soros will have achieved his greatest goal in life. Used to be that laws meant something but those days are over. Even the 10 Commandments are being violated. The criminals may not have to worry about the police but God is watching the violent criminals and they should be more concerned about what God thinks than their opportunity to steal, burn and inflict pain upon innocent people.