Social Strife and Political Associations: A Case of Party Alignment to Consider

Remember when #Dallas PD officers were at a Next Generation Action Network

protest without much of their gear, and [unexpectedly, as it stands] ambushed by a lone gunman? 

The public policing organization hadn't wanted to appear too "militaristic", in the interest of a peaceful event that would honor protester concerns as well as the freedom to peacefully assemble in public protest which is our right as United States citizens. Protesters in Dallas on July 7, 2016, sought to shed light on what they consider to have been the unnecessary killings of Alton Sterling (of Louisiana) and Philando Castile (of Minnesota). It's reasonable to presume that other similar outcomes had fueled tensions and subsequent actions. 

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It's July 7, 2017. The DPD family has mourned the tragic turnout of this event for a year, and have worked to create an official day of remembrance which would mark calendars every July 7. Unfortunately, the special day wasn't supported by all Dallas County Commissioners, with one commissioner "abstaining". 

While there are other annual events during which we remember fallen officers, it had been hoped that everyone would understand the need for local Dallas law enforcement to have an official day of remembrance. It would be a day to honor their losses as well as their collective and individual risks in serving their communities in the capacity that is often required, support them, maintain community awareness and prevent future instances of similar violent actions. 

Because one commissioner chose to abstain from a vote to approve the day for DPD officers, a measure of negativity has again risen. This is to be expected. What is less understood is how this kind of interaction among interest groups can affect our entire social paradigm in the U.S. where citizens largely identify as either Democrat or Republican (whether they vote or not).

Our outlook is that this is one good example of a scenario where operating as an independent representative could present less of a barrier to our bipartisan social interests. That the commissioner of note is an historically Democratic politician, the abstinence doesn't bode well for already strained bipartisan relations, or the trouble Democrats have today with identity. 

What do you think? 

CREDITS/REF:

Flickr image via DonkeyHotey

Martinez, MaryAnn. "John Wiley Price Says “No” To Fallen Officer’s Day". CBS 11 News. Dallas, TX. 7 July 2017. 7 July 2017. <http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/07/07/john-wiley-price-sparks-outrage-with-dallas-ambush-comments/>