Archives: The Sense of Safety Americans Once Took for Granted Has Been Shattered

(BCN editor’s note: This post was first published in 2016.)

Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — an outspoken lawman, a passionate defender of fellow law enforcement officers, a critic of “Black Lives Matter,” and a fervent non-fan of President Barack Obama — spoke at the GOP convention Tuesday night to rousing cheers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to make something very clear. Blue lives matter in America.”

The sheriff noted some positive news in light of the recent murders of police officers. Lt. Brian Rice, one of the six Baltimore police officers indicted in the death of Freddie Gray, was acquitted of all charges.

The shootings of police officers are why we need to make America safe again, Sheriff Clarke said. This noble mission is a prerequisite to making America great again. We can’t be great again if we don’t feel safe in our homes.

“I see this every day at street level, where many Americans increasingly have an uneasiness about the ability of their families to live safely in these troubling times. This transcends race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, and lifestyle.”

The sense of safety Americans once took for granted has been shattered.

“What we witnessed in Ferguson and Baltimore and Baton Rouge was a collapse of the social order,” Sheriff Clarke said. “So many actions of the Occupy movement and Black Lives Matter transcend peaceful protests and violate the code of conduct we rely on. I call it anarchy.”

Sheriff Clarke said Donald Trump is the steadfast leader the country needs. But how do we make America safe again? Play the brief clip to hear the answer.