After all the damning findings in Heaphy’s report, Charlottesville council members seem most interested in relitigating the question of whether Antifa is good or bad
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) December 5, 2017
First couple of questions from councilors focused on whether police viewed anti-racist protestors as a threat equivalent to the white nationalists
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) December 5, 2017
Not a lot of appreciation in citizen comments for Heaphy and his report, which, despite deconstructing city failures in extreme detail, is being disregarded as bogus and a whitewash.
“Mr. Heaphy, I don’t know you, but I don’t think I like you. ”
— Ned Oliver (@nedoliver) December 5, 2017
After Heaphy delivers surprisingly detailed report on violent rally, Charlottesville residents at public hearing blast it as “bullshit” from “suit-and-tie gangsters.” Saying it fails to deal w/ race
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) December 5, 2017
Pretty amazing that we’re almost 4 hours into the Charlottesville council meeting and there’s been no talk of police being told to stay behind the barricades or the allegation that the police chief tried to manipulate the review
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) December 5, 2017
Charlottesville council meeting wrapping up. Somebody blurts out from the back: “So no one’s going to be held accountable?”
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) December 5, 2017
Councilor-elect Nikuyah Walker now speaking in final matters by public tonight. She’s lamenting rumors that people want city manager and police chief — who are both black — fired in light of report. She said governor and VSP need to be accountable
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) December 5, 2017
multiple people tonight have complained about the use of this photo in the report. Here’s the @TIME story about the image that went viral after the rally: https://t.co/e1KnaZH6pn
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) December 5, 2017
Bellamy now questioning why Heaphy chose photo of black CPD officer in front of klan members during the July 8 rally. Heaphy says he picked it because he thought it reflected "competing values" of free speech and public protection. Heaphy admits it was inadvertently disrespectful
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) December 5, 2017
Bellamy asking Heaphy why his report didn't address role of race in these events. Heaphy says they were obviously part of it, but that they weren't asked to identify "roots of white supremacy."
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) December 5, 2017
A jewish woman says she’s embarrassed by the mayor citing his own jewish identity in response to criticism about city’s response to neo-Nazis, white supremacists rallying in the city
— Chris Suarez (@Suarez_CM) December 5, 2017
Coy Barefoot: “Charlottesville-Councilor-elect Nikuyah Walker went before Council tonight at about 11:15pm near the close of the meeting during the final public comment period. She passionately made clear her view that City Manager Maurice Jones and Police Chief Al Thomas should not be fired or asked to resign — because they are African-American. She said the real source of blame for what happened on August 12 was ‘centuries of systemic racism and oppression in this community” and that responsibility should not be laid “on the backs of two black men.'”
“In nearly 30 years of watching Charlottesville City Council, I have NEVER seen a Council this unable to maintain order in its own chamber at public meetings. Yelling out, disrupting and interrupting by members of the public has never before been this common at all their meetings.”
“it appears that an increasing faction of the Left want to live in a country without a First Amendment right to free speech. where speech that threatens, hates, or makes anyone uncomfortable in any way is simply NOT PERMITTED. they believe that hateful speech (and they will be the ones to decide what is hateful and what is not) is itself a direct species of violence, and should therefore be met with violence. Violence that opposes hateful speech is righteous and moral and necessary, in this view. History is not shy about what happens in societies that adopt this kind of authoritarianism. it ain’t pretty. it’s ugly. it’s scary. Progressives should be awake to the fact that the Left is being radicalized in its own powerful ways, as is the Right. Meanwhile, those of us who still believe in democratic ideals are wondering what the hell is going on. Welcome to the Upside Down.”
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