Following the audio sound track of "Urban Warrior", three panelists will address the increasing militarization of domestic law enforcement, the growth of electronic surveillance, and the challenges facing civil liberties in the post 9-11 securit
Producer: Paul Richmond Uploaded by: Andy Musilli
NOW SHOWING IN THE NORTH WEST. GO TO: http://www.geocities.com/urbanwarrior_northwest/film.html FOR VIEWINGS IN SEATTLE AND OLYMPIA
PROGRAM SYNOPSIS:
Within recent years, the formerly bright line separating U.S. military operations from domestic police work has become increasingly blurred. From Waco, to the WTO protests, tactics once reserved for wartime combat are being used in domestic law enforcement operations with increasing frequency.
The United States has traditionally recognized a separation of the roles and jurisdictions of its police and military forces. The Posse Commitatus Act, which provides much of the legal foundation for military-police separation in America, has been severely eroded by numerous executive orders and congressional actions, opening the way for military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
During the 1980s and 90s, the Pentagon began supplying both military training and surplus military hardware to domestic law enforcement agencies. Paramilitary SWAT teams, utilizing urban combat tactics, sub-machine guns, and armored personnel carriers, now exist in 90% of American cities with a population of 50,000 or more.
In addition to providing weaponry and support, the military has also become involved in domestic law enforcement in an operational capacity. National Guard troops have accompanied state and local police on drug raids in many areas of the country. Delta Force soldiers provided assistance to law enforcement agencies at both Waco and the Seattle WTO protests, and select army units were put on stand-by for use in domestic counter-terrorism operations during the 2000 political conventions. Even prior to the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, high level discussions were underway to redirect national security policy to focus on ÒHomeland SecurityÓ, with think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations issuing policy papers urging that more resources be devoted to the Ògray domainÓ between traditional law enforcement and military jurisdictions. Since then, new calls have been made to involve the military in domestic affairs, and to further eliminate the traditional fire walls that have long separated these two entities.
ÒUrban WarriorÓ investigates the history of this trend as it has evolved over the last three decades, and examines case studies of militarized policing ranging from the Seattle WTO protests, to the Elian Gonzalez raid, to the SWAT team shooting of Miami resident Richard Brown.
ORDER FORM:
URBAN WARRIOR THE MILITARIZING OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT
URBAN WARRIOR IS A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT INVESTIGATING THE GROWING COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE U.S. MILITARY AND DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE FILM CHARTS THIS TREND OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES, AND SHOWCASES IN-DEPTH CASE STUDIES OF MILITARIZED POLICING, FROM THE SEATTLE WTO PROTESTS, TO THE ELIAN GONZALEZ RAID.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SCHEDULING A SCREENING OF THE FILM CONTACT paulr_urbanwarrior@yahoo.com, or 206 297 6810
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING A COPY, OR SCHEDULING A SCREENING OF THE FILM OUTSIDE THE NW, CONTACT MATT EHLING 651-645-0005; mattehling@yahoo.com.
OR, MAIL YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO PO BOX 4233 St Paul MN 55104
COURTESY COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY AND ACTIVIST GROUPS UPON REQUEST. $10 DONATION REQUESTED FOR INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE. INCLUDE $3.00 FOR ORDERS BY MAIL.
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