You can tell that it’s election season when politicians of both parties take sides in law enforcement. It’s a disgusting and deceptive fact of American politics, immune to shame and the passage of time.
On Saturday, New York Police Department officers, marching on foot and driving motorcycles, paid homage to Jonathan Diller, 31, who was shot dead Monday during a traffic stop.
The routine stop demonstrated how dangerous law enforcement in America has become. The suspect had parked his car illegally on a public street, which Americans do thousands of times daily. Diller and his officer partner walked up to the suspect’s car, unaware of the impending danger. The suspect, who had been arrested 21 times prior and let go, shot Diller, aiming his gun at a portion of Diller’s body that was unprotected behind the bullet-proof vest. Diller was taken to hospital but did not survive. 34-year-old Guy Rivera has been charged with first-degree murder of a police officer. New York does not have the death penalty, so Rivera, whom a jury will most likely convict, will spend the rest of his life in jail, probably without parole.
Diller, who has a 1-year-old son, reminded television viewers of former President JFK when his young boy, JFK Jr., watched as a driverless hearse carried JFK’s casket. The scene, which brought tears to millions of viewers worldwide, is etched in human memory.
Law enforcement tragedies such as Diller’s happen far too frequently for an advanced nation such as America. But the way politicians milk these made-for-TV moments for political gain is revolting.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who signed into law New York’s progressive criminal justice system that put Rivera back on the street even after 21 prior convictions, tried to attend Diller’s funeral. Social media reports showed how the family refused to invite the governor inside. Hochul left huffily. The NY governor pushed back on reports that she was asked to leave the funeral and later attended the slain NYPD officer’s wake.
Former President Trump, who has maintained an aggressive campaign schedule insisting that America under Biden is rudderless on crime and illegal immigration, made it a point to attend the Diller’s wake. The Diller family had invited Trump to the far more intimate ceremony, a dramatic departure from how the family treated Hochul. “We have to stop it. We have to get back to law and order,” Trump said after meeting the Diller family.
At President Biden’s State of the Union address earlier in March, Laken Riley, the young woman who was raped and killed by an illegal immigrant on the campus of the University of Georgia, was the center of attention. As Biden walked past representatives and senators to the podium, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, from Georgia, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the message “Say her name,” referring to Laken Riley. Greene also pressed a button into Biden’s hand, which had the same message. Midway through his speech, Biden veered off-script, tried to say the name, and botched it. Biden appeared to justify the Riley murder by saying that legal immigrants commit heinous crimes far more often than illegals, an outrageous defense. The next day, on MSNBC, Biden apologized for calling the suspect an illegal. Trump met Laken Riley’s family two days later, and they also attended his Georgia rally.
Four years ago, the Democrats politicized George Floyd’s death unlike anything in American history. Floyd, a Black American, had been convicted of eight crimes between 1997 and 2005, and in 2007, he pleaded guilty to an aggravated robbery. He was hardly a role model for America’s youth. On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police suspected Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 bill. A white police officer, Derek Chauvin, exercised a choke hold on Floyd for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, with Floyd’s head down and hands handcuffed. Floyd died with his death ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office.
For the next five months, the Democratic party exploited Floyd’s death politically – by encouraging race riots – and to enact new law enforcement policies. Vice President Kamala Harris, who was then a candidate for the post of VP and identifies as Black, visited Minneapolis to speak at Floyd’s shrine. In April 2021, after Chauvin was found guilty, VP Kamala Harris told CNN’s Dana Bash:
This verdict is but a piece of it. And it will not heal the pain that existed for generations, that has existed for generations among people who have experienced and first-hand witnessed what now a broader public is seeing because of smartphones and the ubiquity of our ability to videotape in real time what is happening in front of our faces. And that is the reality of it.
On the first anniversary of Floyd’s death, Harris issued this statement from the White House:
Today, the President and I met with the family of Mr. George Floyd. Mr. Floyd should be alive today. He should be with his family, who continue to show courage, grace, and resilience.
Floyd’s death became a rallying cry for “defunding the police” and highly progressive criminal justice policies in the big sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago. Crime shot up in these cities as a result. An NSA/TIPP Poll taken in November 2023 showed that a majority of Americans oppose the “Defund the Police” movement, and another 42% say the movement reduced their community safety.
Police officers know that arresting a suspect, after taking considerable risk to their lives, is meaningless if the suspect is back on the streets the next day. Our October 2023 NSA/TIPP poll showed that most Americans, across ideological lines, are dissatisfied with the crime situation.
No, Vice President Harris. Officer Diller should have been alive today. He isn’t because of the way your party has politicized law enforcement to appeal to minorities, who are more harmed by your policies in the inner cities.
Local law enforcement is the most dangerous profession in America today. A police officer who shows up for work at their local precinct is never assured of returning home safe. Each traffic stop or citizen interaction could be their very last.
Politicians of both parties should stay out of the TV limelight and drive policies to protect our men and women in blue. President Biden, you could look at the 1991 crime bill that you championed. That would be an excellent start to honor Officer Diller.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. U.S., Israel To Hold Meeting On Rafah Invasion Alternative On Monday: Axios – Al Arabiya
The U.S. and Israel are planning to hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the Biden administration’s alternative proposals to an Israeli military Rafah invasion, Axios reported.
This meeting, originally slated for last week, has become a contention between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden.
2. Hamas Undecided On Sending Delegation To New Truce Talks In Cairo: Hamas Official – AFP
Egyptian TV station Al-Qahera reported that talks were to resume in Cairo on Sunday, two days after PM Benjamin Netanyahu approved fresh negotiations.
“There is no indication or decision yet within Hamas regarding sending a Hamas delegation to a new round of negotiations in Cairo or Doha.”
The official added the gap between the two sides’ negotiating positions was too wide.
3. Hamas Condemns Biden’s Reported New Arms Transfer To Israel – UPI
Hamas has condemned President Joe Biden after his administration reportedly approved the transfer of more bombs and fighter jets to Israel amid its war in Gaza.
The Washington Post reported that the White House has approved sending 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs to Israel in a new arms transfer that it was not required to report to Congress.
4. Israel: Tens Of Thousands Start 4-Day Anti-Gov’t Protest Outside Knesset – The Times of Israel
The organizers – a coalition of anti-government protest movements – called for PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to step down, for Israel to hold early elections, and for the country’s leaders to agree to a hostage deal that will bring about the release of the 130 captives.
The rally was the largest protest held since October 7, when the war put a stop to months-long demonstrations against the government and its efforts to overhaul the judiciary.
5. Israeli PM Netanyahu Undergoes ‘Successful’ Hernia Surgery – D.W.
Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone “successful” hernia surgery, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced.
The 74-year-old PM was “in good shape and beginning to recover,” his office said. The operation took place on Sunday evening.
6. France To Send Ageing Armored Vehicles, Advanced Missiles To Ukraine – RFI
Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has confirmed France will deliver hundreds of old armored vehicles and new surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine for its war against Russia.
In an interview, Lecornu said President Emmanuel Macron had asked him to prepare a new aid package, including old but functional French equipment, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
7. Zelenskiy Vows Ukraine Will ‘Endure’ Amid Relentless Russian Missiles, Drones – RFE/RL
Ukraine suffered another night of Russian bombardment, with drones and missiles targeting civilian sites, including energy infrastructure, at several sites across the country, Kyiv’s military.
A defiant Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, vowed his country will “endure” despite the ongoing Russian onslaught.
Russia has recently increased its attacks on Ukrainian energy installations, with significant damage reported, sparking fears of a repeat of the frequent blackouts Ukraine experienced in the winter of 2022-23 when Russia targeted its energy infrastructure.
8. Russia Demands Extradition Of Ukraine Security Chief; Ukraine Rejects Demand – Reuters
Russia has demanded that Ukraine extradite several people, including the head of the country’s SBU security service, over claims they are connected with “terrorist” acts.
Among those listed in the statement to be handed over was the SBU head, Vasyl Maliuk, who has acknowledged that his service was behind attacks on the bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland.
The SBU immediately dismissed the Russian demand as “pointless” and said the Russian foreign ministry had “forgotten” that Vladimir Putin was the subject of an international arrest warrant. The SBU said the Russian demands “sound particularly cynical coming from the terrorist state itself … Any words from the Russian foreign ministry are pointless.”
9. China’s State-Owned Developer Vows To Cut Debt As Financial Woes Rise – RFA
China’s troubled state-owned property giant Vanke Group says it will cut debt by 100 billion yuan (US$13.8 billion) in the next two years. Sales plunged and profit nearly halved in 2023 amid a deepening crisis in the sector.
The recent downgrade of its credit rating by global rating agency Moody’s to “junk,” in fact, dealt with “relatively limited impact,” Zhu Jiusheng, Vanke’s chief executive officer, said, according to Chinese state-owned media reports.
10. Chinese Warships Spotted Again At Cambodia Naval Base – Nikkei Asia
The Chinese navy continues to access Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, with at least two vessels recently confirmed at the facility.
Upgrades at the Cambodian base are underway with Beijing’s financial assistance. Chinese warships first visited Ream in early December. The latest sighting from March 20 comes amid U.S. concerns that China is building a facility at the base for its exclusive use.
11. RFA Closes Hong Kong Bureau After Passage Of New Security Law – RFA
Radio Free Asia announced it has closed its Hong Kong bureau. It said the city’s recently enacted national security law, also known as “Article 23,” has raised safety concerns for its reporters and staff members.
RFA’s president and chief executive, Bay Fang, said in a statement that the organization will no longer have full-time personnel in Hong Kong but will retain its official media registration there.
12. First U.S.-Japan-Philippines Trilateral To Address China’s ‘Gray Zone’ Tactics – Nikkei Asia
President Joe Biden will add to his collection of “minilateral” gatherings of allies and partners when he hosts Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Washington for their first trilateral summit.
Unlike the Quad grouping of the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia- and unlike the AUKUS security partnership of Australia, the U.K., and the U.S.- the new trilateral does not have an announced name or acronym.
13. French Security Cut 800 ‘Without Good Intentions’ From Olympics – AFP
Around 800 people who “did not have good intentions” have been excluded from the Paris Olympics over security fears, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin.
The list includes 15 considered the most serious threat to national security.
According to the Interior Ministry, French security forces are screening up to a million people before the Olympics, including athletes and people living close to key infrastructure.
14. Iran: The Christians Celebrating Easter In Secret – BBC
The Iranian constitution recognizes a few religious minorities. Armenian and Assyrian Christians can practice their religion but are banned from preaching to other Iranians or letting them into their churches.
Those who converted to Christianity from Islam can only practice their faith in secret in so-called house churches. Authorities have been intensifying raids against these groups, arresting more people and handing over longer prison sentences, so church members are having to take extra precautions.
15. World Bank Sees 4.6% Growth In Developing Asia In 2024 – Nikkei Asia
The World Bank said in an economic report that trade recovery will allow developing Asia-Pacific countries, excluding China, to grow by 4.6% this year—faster than the 4.4% they managed in 2023—despite China’s economy moderating to 4.5% from last year’s 5.2%.
Developing Asia includes China, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
16. “Grave Step Backwards”: Meta Shuts Down Misinformation Monitoring Tool In Poll Year – AFP
Facebook owner Meta says CrowdTangle will be unavailable after August 14, less than three months before the U.S. election.
Meta plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality and that news organizations will largely not have access to.
For years, CrowdTangle has been a game-changer, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
17. Cannabis Decriminalized In Germany From 1 April – BBC
From April 1st, Over 18 can possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public, and adults can grow up to three plants per household.
But people won’t be allowed to smoke joints within sight of schools, sports centers, or in “pedestrian zones” between 7 am and 8 pm.
Concerns that cannabis can be addictive and adversely affect mental health have been voiced by groups such as the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME).
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
