Disrespecting the Flag While Standing Up
By: (SMSgt USAF Retired) Elmore Richmond Jr. October 22, 2017
Yes we must stand up for America
We must stand up for a nation under God, with liberty and justice for all
However some stand up while they are disrespecting the flag
Disrespecting the flag while standing up
Even after the Supreme Court rules to protect the people
Against Police Abuse, Corruption, and Brutality
Some DA’s and Prosecutors will fail to indict police officers
After these officers have clearly violated the law
However, these DA’s and Prosecutors will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Some Lawmakers will vote against a Bill to protect the People
From Police Abuse and Corruption
However, they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Some Americans will vote for racist politicians
Even after the nature of the politicians’ hearts are clearly expressed
However, they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Some public school teachers will fail to truly help
Some of the children learn
Because of the color of their skin
However, they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
After Kaepernick took a knee in 2016
The press and media did not focus on his motive
But the media’s message was that Kaepernick did not stand
A year later when President Trump made his distasteful comment
The distasteful comment of the President was the focus of the media
The media and press still failed to cover the true scope of police brutality
However they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
In 2016, I wrote President Obama and explained that it was unfair to the People
If he failed to expose the true nature of this problem
Of police brutality and Corruption before he left office
I explained it was a dereliction of duty
And it was unfair to the next administration
To inherit this dire and deadly state of corruption
Here is a credit to President Obama, before he left office
The investigations into the Baltimore and Chicago Police Departments were completed
Baltimore: On August 10, 2016 the findings were reported:
(1) Baltimore is a city where the bonds of trust have been broken,
(2) The Baltimore Police Department engaged in
A pattern or practice of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct,
Ranging from the use of excessive force to unjustified stops, seizures and arrests.
Chicago: on January 13, 2017 a 164 page report was released. (Click here to Read Report)
The Department of Justice concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe:
The Chicago Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force
In violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
Pattern or practice is in no small part the result of:
Severely deficient training procedures and accountability systems
CPD does not give its officers the training they need to do their jobs:
(1) safely (2) effectively (3) lawfully.
It fails to properly collect and analyze data:
Including data on misconduct complaints and training deficiencies.
Does not adequately review use of force incidents to determine:
(1) Whether force was appropriate or lawful,
(2) Whether the use of force could have been avoided altogether.
All of these issues are compounded by poor supervision and oversight,
Leading to low officer morale and erosion in officer accountability
President Trump inherited this crisis
Surely he was aware of the police shootings that was in the news
Of course since he has been President the Attorney General has briefed him
What type of briefing did he really receive?
Does President Trump really understand the nature of this problem?
Does Attorney General Sessions know?
On March 1, 2017, the Attorney General said he had not read the Chicago Report
The true scope of this deadly crisis has not been covered on
Nightline – Dateline - 60 minutes
Vice News took a shot at it
CNN’s Recent Town Hall Meeting failed
FOX has not showed up
However, all media except for FOX
Point their finger at President Trump for being insensitive
However, they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Before reading the AG Report on Chicago
Attorney General Sessions expressed his resolve to
Change direction as he addressed the
National Association of Attorneys General on February 28, 2017
President Trump has demanded that he take action
To reduce crime and ensure the safety of the public
He is a knowledgeable man and has experience in this field
He knows the importance of community-based policing
And holding the police accountable
Nevertheless, he has been absent about 20 years
Working in the Senate
Surely, he needs to read the report to discover what in it.
(Smile – “In it” “Senate”)
Now the Attorney General is changing the policy
On releasing video footage of local police departments
Surely the Attorney General realizes
That some of the local police departments will alter the video
And release to the public something other than the facts
However, if the Attorney General fails to read the report
He too will proudly stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Now within the Attorney General’s Office there is fighting
Some want to truly fight for justice and some do not
How do I know? God showed me in June 2017 the nature of this problem
Consequently some groups that are fighting for justice are labeled as hate groups
Surely there are some that work for the Attorney General
Standing proudly for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
On October 21, 2017, AG Sessions shared with the Major Cities Chiefs Association
He explained as soon as he was sworn in as Attorney General,
President Trump sent him an executive order to “reduce crime” in America.
The Attorney General announced that the Department of Justice is re-establishing
A new and modernized Project Safe Neighborhoods or PSN program as DOJ priority.
He explained:
- (1) PSN is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
- (2) PSN encouraged U.S. Attorneys’ offices to work with the communities they serve to develop customized crime reduction strategies.
- (3) And it is a proven model. One study showed that, in its first seven years, PSN reduced violent crime overall by 4.1 percent, with case studies showing reductions in certain areas of up to 42 percent. That’s a remarkable achievement. There are Americans who are alive and well today because this program made a difference.
Surely, this is one of President Trump’s approaches to help make America great again.
Who is listening? Where is the press?
Are Police Departments ready to implement this new and modernized Project Safe Neighborhoods?
Can this be done successfully without addressing the findings identified in the AG Investigation on Chicago?
The Attorney General said: "We know the first step in fixing something is recognizing you have a problem."
He made this comment about addressing crime and empowering the police.
He also said: "Once you recognize the problem, we need to examine the causes and take action."
Before the problem of Police abuse is addressed the Attorney General and President must understand the gravity of the problem.
Can police departments that are troubled as the Chicago Police successfully implement PSN without the much needed training?
Are the communities across the nation ready to receive PSN before the AG addresses the real problem of police brutality and corruption?
Now the stage must be set!
While reviewing my files I discovered a speech made by Attorney General Reno
She served as Attorney General from 1993 - 2001
On April 15, 1999 she addressed the National Press Club
The late Attorney Reno’s message is for today
She laid a framework for the leadership to follow.
Here is a quote from Attorney Reno: “Every American must respect the law,
but the law must respect every American.”
It is imperative that President Trump and Attorney General Sessions understand:
(1) The gravity of the abuse of the police and (2) the lack of trust of the community!
Attorney General Sessions has demonstrated that he understands PSN and
It is important for him to put his trust in a proven program.
The current administration should capitalize from the words Attorney Reno.
Surely, this will help Attorney General Sessions and the President
Clean up this mess that they inherited and help facilitate the implementation on PSN.
Laying the Foundation of Of Intolerance of Police Brutality and Corruption
Some of the mayors, governors, and even the President of the United States
Though they are in a position of power
To lay the foundation of intolerance of Police Brutality and corruption
Will not because they elect not to risk
Losing the support of their political base
However, they will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
Now their Political Base does not really understand
The scope and the severity of the problem - Due to a complete system failure
A system that does not see police brutality as a pressing agenda item
Private Citizens have took the lead to expose this injustice on the web
Therefore, their uninformed political base will stand for the National Anthem
Not knowing that they are disrespecting the Flag while standing
The Church leaders and some community leaders
Some will not engage and have declared this is not their problem
Some will even say mean things about the President
However, they too will stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
There are three Branches of Government in the Land
The Executive Branch is in President Trump’s hands
Many do not respect him, however, he is the Man in Charge
Some are working overtly and covertly to bring him down
Next - the Legislative Branch – House and Senate
Nearly half of both bodies refuse to engage:
To work on bills, establish budgets,
To work to improve health care and
Other measures in the best interest of the People
However, they all will collect their pay and stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the Flag while standing
The Supreme Court
Chief Justice Roberts expressed that the legitimacy of The Courts power
Depends on confining it to the exercise of legal judgment.
He concludes on the same-sex marriage case:
- (1) The ruling of the Court had nothing to do with the Constitution.
- (2) The ruling was an act of will and not the rule of law.
However, every member of the Court will stand for the National Anthem
Some disrespecting the Flag while standing
Nevertheless, our brave men and women in the military
They obey the orders of the Commander-In-Chief and their chain of command
They go forth and fight at the direction of their superiors
They depend on their superiors to make the correct decision before giving commands
Therefore, they stand proudly and salute the flag
They are the one percent of the population that stand for the National Anthem
While fighting for truth to go forth
Fighting for our nation to become a Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all
Standing, yet fighting for justice for all.
Surely, President Trump or the NFL cannot make the players stand
Surely, Kaepernick and all other players would stand
If there were not so many people who stand for the National Anthem
Disrespecting the flag while standing!