EQUATING COPS WITH ISIS: Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers says American police are the equivalent of ISIS, Islamic State terrorists who have beheaded journalists and executed Westerners in Iraq and Syria.
By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
LINCOLN, Neb. – A black Nebraska state senator compared American police to Islamic terrorists and suggested he’d shoot a cop if only he had a weapon.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers said during a legislative hearing on gun bills Friday that you don’t have to go halfway around the world to find an ISIS mentality. It can be found in America because police terrorize blacks every day.
He was referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which has beheaded journalists and brutally executed Westerners and others.
“My ISIS is the police,” Chambers said, adding police can get away with shooting people if they “think” they’re going to do something — like pull a weapon.
“The police are licensed to kill us — children, old people,” he said.
After his comments were reported by Nebraska Watchdog and picked up by national media outlets, several Nebraska officials called on him to apologize and a senator said lawmakers are considering censuring him.
Nebraska’s longest serving senator, Chambers represents north Omaha, a high-crime area where racial tension simmers and sometimes erupts after encounters with police. In March 2013, for example, police threw a man to the ground and pummeled him while 32 police officers stormed a home across the street, in response to a parking complaint. Four police officers were fired amid allegations of excessive force, evidence tampering and a police cover-up.
“I wouldn’t go to Syria, I wouldn’t go to Iraq, I wouldn’t go to Afghanistan, I wouldn’t go to Yemen, I wouldn’t go to Tunisia, I wouldn’t go to Lebanon, I wouldn’t go to Jordan, I would do it right here,” Chambers said. “Nobody from ISIS ever terrorized us as a people as the police do daily.”
Chambers then added fuel to the fire, saying if he had a gun, he would use it on police, not his political opponents.
“If I was going to carry a weapon, it wouldn’t be against you, it wouldn’t be against these people who come here that I might have a dispute with. Mine would be for the police,” he said. “And if I carried a gun I’d want to shoot him first and then ask questions later, like they say the cop ought to do.”
During an interview Tuesday, Chambers, who is no stranger to fiery rhetoric and controversy, back-pedaled a bit. He said people in his community feel terrorized by police who can shoot them and are often cleared. He pointed to a recent case of an unarmed Omaha man shot twice in the back by a cop.
“I don’t carry a weapon. I’ve never carried a weapon,” he said. “But if I were in the situation that some people are in … if you’re going to follow the rule available to cops, just shoot somebody and come up with an alibi.”
However, he said he knows young people in his community look up to him and might take his comments literally.
“I’m not advocating that anybody, especially anybody in my community, go out and shoot people,” Chambers said.
Chambers said he was drawing a parallel between people being murdered by ISIS and American citizens killed by police who subsequently are cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
“They’re encouraged and they’re given a free pass,” he said. “All you (police) have to say is you felt like you were in danger, then a citizen could say, ‘I will shoot first and ask questions later.’ ”
He’s pushed local, state and federal officials to stop the flow of guns into his north Omaha community. If weapons were coming into “the white community,” he said, officials would jump on it.
“As long as that happens, the violence will continue,” Chambers said of guns flooding north Omaha.
Although Chambers regularly makes inflammatory statements, his most outrageous comments are rarely covered by Nebraska media — in part because he’s been making them for years.
He’s seen by many as a lovable curmudgeon, iconic liberal and defender of the downtrodden. He is a 77-year-old independent who has served 40 years in the Legislature and often talks about slavery, racial tension and Christian hypocrisy.
HE ASKED: KFOR talk radio host Coby Mach, speaking of Sen. Ernie Chambers latest diatribe, asked: “How does anybody get away with something like this?” Mach said Monday. “I’m appalled by that kind of statement. Senator Chambers seems to be wanting to incite violence.”
His comments Friday were ignored by reporters covering the hearing, although the Capitol reporter working for the Associated Press produced a flattering weekend profile on sketches Chambers draws during hearings.
Chambers’ diatribe was, however, drew the attention of KFOR talk radio host Coby Mach.
“How does anybody get away with something like this?” Mach said Monday. “I’m appalled by that kind of statement. Senator Chambers seems to be wanting to incite violence.”
Mach noted Chambers also has challenged his opponents to hit him in the mouth, has said we shouldn’t take care of military veterans and espoused that all whites are racist.
His listeners also were shocked, calling in to debate whether journalists should report on his rants or ignore them. Others wondered whether Chambers should be investigated by the ATF or FBI and whether he’s a danger to others.
Mach said he thinks other senators are afraid to challenge Chambers because they become his target.
He suggested Chambers incites violence, noting that he recently said, “I’m not hard to find. I don’t have bodyguards. I park in the senator’s parking lot. So confront me and hit me in my mouth, or whatever you think you big enough to do.”
Deb Collins, spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol, offered a limited response to questions.
“It would not be our place to provide comment, other than to say we do not consider there to be a security concern,” Collins said.
EQUATING COPS WITH ISIS: Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers
I "equate" Chambers to Deckard and his ilk.
Not much difference in credibility or intelligence.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
By coincidence, we just had a thread on this a few days ago and your posting of this thread apparently knocked the older one off the bottom of the Sidebar.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Chambers says the same garbage. You hate cops like he hates whitey. You're just as ignorant.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Just the bad ones - which seems to be most of them.
You're just as ignorant.
Coming from a former cop, that comment means nothing.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Just the bad ones - which seems to be most of them.
Isn't that the anarchic code response for justifying your criminal ideology? Hell, that regurgitated slogan is in the Cop Block handbook.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Cops don't much like it when someone records their criminal activities.
I've never had a problem being recorded. Can you say the same if I followed you around for hours in a public place? lol
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Can you say the same if I followed you around for hours in a public place?
I am a private person.
That would be stalking. There are laws against that.
Cops are public servants and as such have no expectation of privacy when performing their duties in the public arena.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Why shouldn't I be able to stick my phone within a foot of your broadcast news mug, in public? It's not stalking. I'm part of the press... just like cop block claims. I'm a paparazzi... and Deckard is a LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
You must be a big fan of surveillance cameras and NSA spying on citizens.
Figures.
Why shouldn't I be able to stick my phone within a foot of your broadcast news mug, in public?
If that happened it would be my pleasure to air any footage I recorded to demonstrate that even former cops can be psychopaths.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
I'm part of the press... just like cop block claims. I'm a paparazzi...
You really are an idiot if you think that cops are the same as news gathering organizations.
I don't seem to recall any news reporters killing chihuahuas or 10 year old kids.
And I have yet to see any cop-blockers tase a grandpa in a wheelchair in his own home looking for non-existent drugs.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
You really are an idiot if you think that cops are the same as new gathering organizations.
Only you scream differences between cops and non cops for your benefit .... and then complain about the "us and them" idiolgy.
You peddle garbage... I'll show you wrong and deceptive at every post you post while having a tantrum
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
If that happened it would be my pleasure to air any footage I recorded to demonstrate that even former cops can be psychopaths.
Haaaaa... you wouldn't last through probation as an officer.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Only you scream differences between cops and non cops for your benefit .... and then complain about the "us and them" idiolgy
You just can't grasp the fact that cops are PUBLIC SERVANTS, and as such have no expectation of privacy when performing their duties IN PUBLIC.
You seem to be under the assumption that cops should not be recorded as they perform those duties, and that anyone who does record them is a "cop hater".
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
you wouldn't last through probation as an officer.
Good grief!
Why would anyone other than a control freak, sadist or psychopath even WANT to be a cop?
I think that fact alone speaks volumes about the sanity of anyone who doesn't want to be one.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
You just can't grasp the fact that cops are PUBLIC SERVANTS
So are highway department personnel, fire department officers, your meter reader and your code officers... and you can't grasp that they have every constitutional right you have and they don't answer to you either.
Your ego gets bruised easily, doesn't it.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Why would anyone other than a control freak, sadist or psychopath even WANT to be a cop?
Just remember, Deckard, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask doesn't grant extra privledges.
lol
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
When this pompous cop sees that this man is documenting her illegal activities by practicing his first amendment right, she snaps, and the man is placed under arrest.
Officer Cranford would do well to read the constitution as well as California law regarding filming in public.
In California, it is well-settled law that yes, you can record cops. The First Court of Appeals stated that is ok for the general public to record public servants, e.g. police officers while they are working. This decision took place because cops were piecemeal arresting citizens who were recording them, and the stories gained the attention of local news stations.
Not only does the video below illustrate the criminal ignorance of these officers, but it also shows their ignorance to the Free Thought Project’s dedication to exposing corrupt cops. Well, they will now know that violating a citizen’s rights will make them famous, but not in a good way.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
GrandIsland ~ and you can't grasp that they (cops) have every constitutional right you have
Anarchist ~ Hmmm....what part of the Constitution is that in
"We the people" covers Law Enforcement too, Huey.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
I'll say this one more time. Hopefully it will sink in.
Cops have no expectation of privacy when performing their duties in public.
We're done here.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Cops have no expectation of privacy when performing their duties in public.
We're done here.
When did I suggest LE can't be recorded in public? That's right, I never did. I've always fully supported it.
So... what does that have to do with your inability to agree that LEO's have the same constitutional protections as YOU DO.... and being recorded in public ISNT a constitutional protection.
So stop defecting to avoid your hypocritical world you live in, that's caused by your hatred filled AGENDA.
I'd be done if I were you, too. You'll never be able to defend your yellow journalistic, bias, slanted propaganda you post here. All you can do is indoctrinate the people that swallow your garbage.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
