March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Having just read “Jailed in Philadelphia” (BDN, Aug. 8), and being a resident of the Philadelphia area, I find it my obligation to defend the Philadelphia Police Department and rebuke the false information given by Judy Robbins.

She claims the protesters were in Philadelphia and acted peacefully. Is her idea of peaceful walking into rush-hour traffic in an attempt to lock down the city and prevent the residents from returning to their homes after work? Or t releasing a busload of exotic animals into the streets, as was attempted, and would have happened had the police not intercepted the vehicle? Robbins also failed to mention that it was the protesters who attempted to antagonize and even attack the officers, who did a commendable job of showing restraint and not responding. The prisons she complains about were looked at bythe ACLU, which said the standards were acceptable.

Every protester who was jailed had the choice of either giving his or her name or not. More than half gave their names as either Jane Doe or John Doe. Had they given their true identities they would have been processed and released. The protesters in Philadelphia for the Republican National Convention came there for one reason: to make trouble and get themselves on the news. Philadelphia police should be lauded for not letting anything get out of control, and all of the protesters should feel embarressed and ashamed.

M.C. Rivello

Philadelphia, Pa.


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