Areas of a town in Arkansas have been placed under a 24-hour,
non-stop curfew described by the mayor as "almost akin to
martial law".
The lockdown, issued after a spate of robberies,
home invasions and shootings, applies to everyone in Helena-West
Helena, no matter what age or what time of day it is.
Mayor James Valley has indicated that the curfew
could be extended indefinitely.
Residents have described the lockdown as "like
being in jail" and critics have slammed it as unconstitutional
given that it effectively suspends the fourth amendment.
"Imposing house arrest and suspending the Fourth Amendment
for law-abiding people is only going to cause more problems for
this city," said ACLU of Arkansas staff attorney Holly Dickson.
"They need to work with the community to get this resolved
instead of treating all of their citizens like criminals."
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Such "domestic surges" with police imposing a martial
law-style clampdown are now seemingly becoming standard procedure.
There are countless examples in recent months and years of curfews
and lockdowns going into place in areas all across the country.
Only two months ago Trinidad, a "troubled" community
in northeast D.C., was subject
to police checkpoints after a series of shootings.
Earlier this year curfews for minors were
introduced in Chicago.
Back in April we reported on the fact that federal law enforcement
agencies co-opted sheriffs offices as well state and local police
forces in three states for a vast round up operation that one
sheriff's deputy described as "martial
law training".
The "anti-crime and anti-terrorism initiatives" involving
officers from more than 50 federal, state and local agencies was
dubbed "Operation Sudden Impact".
Earlier this month presumptive Republican nominee John McCain
told the National Urban League that military-style invasions modeled
on the surge in Iraq should be adopted to control inner city crime
in the U.S.:
McCain: And some of those tactics — you mention the war
in Iraq — are like that we use in the military. You go
into neighborhoods, you clamp down, you provide a secure environment
for the people that live there, and you make sure that the known
criminals are kept under control. And you provide them with
a stable environment and then they cooperate with law enforcement,
etc, etc.
Areas of a town in Arkansas have been placed under a 24-hour,
non-stop curfew described by the mayor as "almost akin to
martial law".
