Yesterday – July 18th – was Chalk the Police State in solidarity with the “Sunset 3” who, in June, were arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department employees for using children’s chalk to write pro-police accountability statements on the public sidewalk.
As Kelly Patterson wrote:
on June 8th, I along with two other members of the Sunset Activist Collective were cited during a Nevada Cop Block monthly protest for “graffiti” while listing the crimes and paying tribute to the many victims of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. After nine months of “Second Saturdays” and other events calling for the accountability that is sorely missing within Las Vegas area police departments, we were told by a “graffiti expert” that drawing with chalk on a sidewalk is now illegal, in spite of us having been explicitly told by some of his own co-workers that sidewalk chalk is in fact legal previously.
Among other things – Patterson and his colleagues hope to draw attention to the fact that no LVMPD employee involved in a shooting has ever been found to be in the wrong. Zero. That, of course, is the accountability had when its said to be provided via internal investigations.
So, as Darryl Perry posted at FreeKeene.com,
Several Keene activists went to Central Square, and then to the sidewalk in front of the KPD “Satellite Office” across the street from the Square. Those who attended chalked pro-liberty messages, and had some pleasant conversations with people walking through the area.
I personally chalked “Who owns you?” (to try to get passer-bys thinking), “Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights” (to make-clear that no human has more or less rights than another), and, after seeing one friend chalk “End the Police State” I added “one mind at a time” (to underscore the point that it’s not through an election or looking to someone else, but through each of us acting according to our ideals, that this will be achieved).
Also, upon spying a familiar face, and knowing just how instrumental is ones reputation, I wrote “Who Is Thomas Mullins?” on the public sidewalk just a few feet from him as he sat at an eatery.
My friends added “CopBlock.org/RobinHood” underneath. Mullins promptly got up and walked away.
So who is Thomas Mullins? He’s the guy who signed-off on the paperwork on behalf of the “Town of Keene” that collectivized the alleged actions of some to myself and five others dubbed “Robin Hood.”
While I acknowledge that some may think chalking juvenile, it’s clear to all that it’s a peaceful means of expressing ideas, and thus I felt it entirely appropriate to utilize in this instance.
From my interactions with Mullins he does not strike me as a stand-up dude. Instead, he hides behind his office and looks to his comrades – those wearing badges or a black dress – to allow him to perpetuate his witch hunt. That’s why I have no qualm with making others aware of his actions. After all, he alone is responsible for his actions. He has made his reputation what it is.
“But he’s just doing his job” some may claim. My response would be much along the line of this quote by Stansislaw J. Lec, “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
Thomas Mullins
Mullins has refused to speak with me on-record about his frivolous Robin Hood-related actions. And after Garret Ean, also named in this journey through legaland, did a write-up about his conversation with Mullins, his camera was stolen by hired-guns Joe DiRusso and Aaron Gillis.
I’d hope, if Mullins does want to live in a good community, he’ll take a look in the mirror, do some introspection, and start taking actions to make-better his reputation. Ceasing to levy threats at peaceful people is a good start.
RELATED
Thomas Mullins: 603-357-9806
Robin Hood overview post: http://copblock.org/robinhood
Robin Hood Update post: http://keenecopblock.org/robin-hood-update
Manchester’s Chalking 8 http://copblock.org/chalk
note that this post was first published to KeeneCopBlock.org on July 19, 2013
