Olympia, WA Mayor Learns the Hard Way That Kneeling With Protesters Is Not Enough as Attacks Turn Personal

AP Photo/Josie Lepe
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A few Santa Clara Sheriff’s officers take a knee during peaceful protest in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, May 31, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after he was pinned at the neck by a Minneapolis police officer. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
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There has been an ongoing debate over the last two weeks over whether or not public figures like politicians and law enforcement officers should “take a knee” in solidarity with protesters who have taken to the streets in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.

Floyd died in police custody on May 25th after now-former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes, according to the criminal complaint filed against Chauvin. For nearly three of those minutes, Floyd became unresponsive.

Some have said it’s worth it for officers to kneel in order to deescalate potentially serious clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Others have said it sets a bad precedent, and doesn’t solve anything.

Those in the latter camp have a point in their favor after an incident last Friday at the home of Olympia, Washington Mayor Cheryl Selby.

Selby, for those who have never heard of her, has been supportive of the protesters since the marches started. During one protest earlier this month, Selby offered to take a knee with the protesters. Watch the video below, where it appears she’s practically pleading with protest leaders to allow her to demonstrate her support:

As you can see and hear from the video, there was a lot of cheering and applauding as all of this happened. Everyone appeared to be on the same page. Solidarity and all that.

A week and half later, though, Mayor Selby learned the hard way that it wasn’t enough:

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The black-clad group eventually marched up Capitol Way and into the South Capitol neighborhood to Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby’s house. There, the group chanted “abolish the police,” and a person spray painted her front porch and door with “BLM.” A man with a flat, metal paddle-like object who was backed up by a line of cars told the group to leave, threatening them if they didn’t.

Selby and her family were not home last night, but her neighbors began texting her when the protesters arrived at her house.

“I’m really trying to process this,” she told The Olympian over the phone Saturday. “It’s like domestic terrorism. It’s unfair.”

“It hurts when you’re giving so much to your community,” she said.

[…]

She feels bad for her neighbors, many of whom are families with young children who she said are now afraid that protesters will continue to come.

“People have so little grace for each other right now. We need to have more grace,” Selby said.

Watch video of the vandal on her porch, spray painting protest messages on her home:

With “leaders” like Selby and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, it’s no wonder the lunatics are running the asylum in Washington state.

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