By David Wilfong, NDG Special Contributor
The City of Dallas is no stranger to protests. What was expected to be yet another peaceful gathering to speak out against the latest controversial shooting of black men by police officers in other parts of the country ended with July 7 going down as the darkest night in the history of the Dallas Police Department (DPD) as the downtown streets turned into a battlefield.
In the early hours of the morning the city took in the horrible news that 11 officers and a civilian were shot, and five officers were dead; four of them from DPD and one member of the DART Police. One alleged gunman was killed by a police explosive and three suspects were in custody.
When the noon bells tolled on Thanksgiving Square only a few blocks away on Friday, more than a thousand people had gathered for a special prayer service for the officers and the city.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown told the crowd he was appreciative of the support from the community, after having admitted the night before that police don’t always feel supported.
“So today feels like a different day than the days before this tragedy because you’re here,” Brown said.
The chief let the attendees know that his stay at the service had to be brief due to the ongoing investigation, but related what the DPD has learned so far in the investigation.
“Through our investigation of some of the suspects, it revealed to us that this was a well-planned, well thought-out, evil tragedy by these suspects,” Brown said. “And we won’t rest until we bring everyone involved to justice.”
In closing, he asked the public to continue the show of support to officers out on the streets.
“Our officers are going to need counseling for a very long time,” Brown said. “Our officers are going to need to hear from you — more than just today – that you appreciate their sacrifice.”
Mayor and other officials offer encouragement
Mayor Mike Rawlings recalled the last time the world saw Dallas in the midst of a violent attack with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and how Thanksgiving Square was built the following year. Rawlings recalled being in the same spot a few weeks ago mourning the shooting in Charleston, and then for the victims of Orlando.
“And this time the terror has hit us right here in downtown Dallas, just a few blocks away,” Rawlings said.
Rawlings pledged to tackle the issues of racial division and called on our society to take on and seek justice in cases where police officers behave in unlawful ways against citizens. At the same time, he asked to support “the 99 percent of good officers” who do their jobs well.
“I believe in dealing with this issue we must step up our game and approach complicated issues in a different way. And race is complicated,” Rawlings said. “As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, ‘the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and retain the ability to function.’ I think we can do that.”
Texas Senator Royce West also challenged the city to work through differences in a more constructive manner.
“We can address this issue,” West said. “We don’t need to continue to be divided. Past generations have addressed issues of divisiveness in this country and in this world and were successful. Our generation must now step up, stop talking the talk, and walk the walk.”
Throughout the service, prayers were offered by various Dallas clergy, from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths (while representatives of even more religions such as Sikhs stood on stage in solidarity). Prayers were offered for first responders, victims, peace and the city.
Perhaps the strongest voices were the silent ones; the Dallas police officers that encircled the event. Relegated by default to serve as security for their own prayer service, officers kept watch over a large crowd once again. Many were greeted with handshakes, posed for photos with children and engaged in small talk where they could, but bleary eyes were hard to hide.
Luckily, there were no major incidents this time, but there was one small flurry of action. One gentleman who decided to leave the premises by hopping down a retaining wall got his feet caught on the way down and took a dive into the concrete three feet below. He caught his fall with his arms, and the event resulted in not much more than an embarrassed smile. But by the time he looked up from the pavement two officers had bolted to his side … just in case… as usual.
Great closing to the story, David! Proud of NDG’s coverage of the shooting.
This whole thing is amazing while at the same time tragic and predictable. Militaristic policing and the racism of this country with the resulting police misconduct is certainly guaranteed to produce a social reaction like this. It was different when the information did not get out to many people due to limited communication or rather – no cell phone cameras and social media. The question must now be asked and answered. Do the people of this country want a militaristic police force that kills innocent people with little consequence? This is bigger than the Dallas situation.
The major media is trying to paint this picture as being one where the angelic police were massacred by the heartless evil maniac. Most politicians and clergy are joining the crowd and acting as if there was no cause for the attack – only an effect. There is ALWAYS a CAUSE AND EFFECT. Micah Johnson was a product of one of the countries’ most sacred institutions – the military. His parents have said that after his military experience, he changed. It could be argued that his actions were heroic even as they were tragic. A number of activist have said in the past that if black people can fight abroad (as in Afghanistan) for the U.S., black people can fight domestically for freedom. The point is that the problems brought up by this incident need to fixed! Politicians and preachers who ask for calm and peace so that business as usual can continue need to sit down and shut up! “Business as usual” will not work this time.