Letter to the Editor: Equal Protection under the Law

This is a notice to all police officers and law-enforcement personnel and to all of us who support them. The Republican Party has a double standard on compliance with the law. 

They do not “Support the Blue,” as their signs brag. They are willing to watch and ignore more than 150 Capitol and Washington, D.C., police injured on Jan. 6, 2021. Some are advocating to “defund” the FBI, which protects all Americans from lawlessness and harm.

So what are Republicans thinking? Police should be partisan? They deserve funding only if they defend right-wing extremists who are trying to overthrow our democracy? Or deserve funding only if they ignore a judicial order to recover national security material illegally held by a past president?

We must, as a country, apply the law to everyone, regardless of their current or previous position – all of us are equal under the law. We do not have a king.

Funding, training and support for our law enforcement is essential to our democracy and safety. Funding is not a partisan issue. It should not waver depending on who is breaking the law. If we can’t agree to this basic tenant of our democracy, we are doomed. Do we really want to become an autocratic country where there is no rule of law protecting everyone? I certainly hope not.

Judy Brodd

Sister Bay, Wisconsin