By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When the predominantly white rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, the disparate response was as troubling as the violence itself to some members of the Not In Our Town Bowling Green organization.
“It was a sad, dark day. There was an attempted coup on our government,” said Emily Dunipace, a co-chair of the organization. “White supremacy was on full display.”
The coup was met with little resistance by law enforcement – leaving many in America with the realization that a Black Lives Matter protest at the Capitol would have generated a much different response.
“What we have is an unmistakable example of different treatment by law enforcement of people of color,” said Rev. Gary Saunders.
Few of the pro-Trump mob were arrested on the day of the Capitol invasion – and most of those who were arrested were charged with violating curfew.
That stands in stark contrast to the strong law enforcement presence during the social justice marches for Black Lives Matter last year. In those incidents, supporters or racial equity were met with vast numbers of well-armed law enforcement.
But on Wednesday, the Trump supporters broke down doors and windows of the Capitol, injured police officers – killing one, vandalized the building and stole items from congressional offices.
“They had no fear of law enforcement,” Dunipace said. “White nationalists want to normalize that behavior.”
During their monthly meeting, the Not In Our Town members discussed how to keep that extremist behavior from becoming the norm – at least here in Bowling Green.
“It’s on the rise, we see it here in Bowling Green,” Dunipace said. “The rise of extremism is happening here in Bowling Green.
Bowling Green City Council member Bill Herald recommended a calming response rather than fanning the flames.
“We recognize there are forces at work that have a goal of increasing the divide,” Herald said. He suggested that Not In Our Town be the peacemakers, and “try to mend fences instead of throwing stones.”
While that calm reaction is often a good approach, it’s getting increasingly more difficult to take that stance, according to NIOT member Ana Brown.
“What’s really troubling for people of color is seeing the disparate response,” she said, noting the strong police response to Black Lives Matter marches which were 93% peaceful.
“When calls come up for the meeting in the middle ground – it’s hard,” Brown said. “We’re not hopeful that things will change.”
Saunders suggested that the video of the rioters being unimpeded as they committed felonies in the Capitol building is a very public case study for the nation.
“Let’s make sure we all pay attention and learn,” he said.
Though reports of discrimination continue in Bowling Green, so do the efforts to stop it.
“I think Bowling Green has really made some intentional efforts,” Saunders said.
Bowling Green Police Sgt. Adam Skaff, who serves as the police division’s liaison to people of color, noted the large peaceful protest held this past summer in the city.
“We hope to be different here in Bowling Green,” he said.
With good planning between the organizers and law enforcement, the rally of about 500 people was peaceful and allowed protesters to speak unimpeded.
“I hope people judge us based on what we do,” and the relationships being built in the community, Skaff said. “We are making an effort and we are trying to do the right thing.”
Both Skaff and BGSU Police Chief Mike Campbell said their departments study videos such as those shot Wednesday in the Capitol building.
“They are a great opportunity for all of us to learn,” Campbell said.
The videos from the Capitol invasion have lessons for all Americans, Dunipace said.
The term white supremacy used to be associated with groups like the Ku Klux Klan, she said.
“It’s now an ideology that encourages us as a society to value whiteness more than other people,” Dunipace said.
Beatrice Guenther said that strong policy is needed – since ignored bullying behavior only gets worse.
“I’m still in shock about what I saw,” she said. “We weren’t prepared for such undemocratic behavior.”
The group also talked about the “bravado” of the rioters on social media – boasting about their criminal acts in the Capitol.
“It’s not OK to behave this way,” Dunipace said.
Also at the Not In Our Town meeting, members discussed their sadness at the loss of Dr. Neocles Leontis, who died in December.
“He was there to make life better, to speak for those who didn’t have advocates,” fellow City Council member Bill Herald said. “He was a crusader for them.”
