MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Where does the constitutional right to protest end and a police investigation of possible government insurrection begin? That’s the question some are asking after the Memphis city council took action Tuesday – aimed at identifying any city employees involved in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The council should be commended for taking an appropriate stance against the deadly violence – and those who incited it. But I worry that the council’s resolution may have gone too far. The resolution asks the Police Department to investigate whether city employees took part in the riot based on evidence collected by federal authorities or other reputable sources.
Obviously, any city workers who are arrested and charged with storming the Capitol should be exposed and disciplined. Domestic terrorists should not be public servants. But short of a federal arrest, police cannot conduct a sweeping general investigation of employees to determine if they were in the crowd.
People have a right to peacefully protest - that includes people who believe the Big Lie that the presidential election was stolen. And a consent decree prevents the city from conducting political probes on citizens. So police officials will have to walk a fine line with the council’s resolution.
I say again, everyone who flooded the Capitol was part of an insurrection. The feds are rounding them up. And if they include city workers, they should be fired – period. And that’s my point of view.
