The Police State and the Writer

Dr. Peter Watts, a Canadian native and excellent SF writer, was returning to Canada after helping a friend in the U.S. move. He was driving a rental car and got stopped by U.S. Border Guards who, after being asked why his car was being searched, beat him, pepper-sprayed him, and arrested him. He's now facing felony charges for 'assaulting a federal officer'. Peter's take is here.

There is no 'maybe he did something to deserve it' bullshit. In the society that America is supposed to be there is no reason, no excuse, no justification for a government official assaulting someone for asking a legitimate and reasonable question of authority.

Why do I firmly believe Peter was innocent in this matter? Lemme tell you a little story.

When I was 22 my brother and I were going to an Oingo Boingo concert in Oakland. I was a pretty straight-laced kid back then. I didn't do anything I'd be afraid to tell my parents simply because I wasn't interested in doing stuff I'd be afraid to tell my parents.

The streets around the venue were filled with angsty young punks and swarming with cops. Parking was almost non-existent and I'd been circling for several moments. As I started to turn a corner three cops converged on my car.

They proceeded to do everything within their power to provoke me so they could arrest me; a preventative arrest, if you will. They stuck their heads in the open windows, shined flashlights in our faces, demanded to know if I had had any alcohol and asked me about the ownership of my car.

My dad was a cop. I grew up around cops. I like cops. I'd never been subjected to this kind of behavior from cops, before. I was furious at this inquisition. I wasn't breaking any laws, all I wanted was a parking spot. My brother was nervous but quiet and I didn't want him getting hurt, either. I was polite, answered exactly two questions then said 'Hey, you know So-and-So?"

"Um... sounds familiar," the cop at my driver's side window said, puzzled.

"He's working Vice right now. He's a friend of mine." He was the brother of a friend but the comment did what I wanted it to do.

I was one of Them. Part of the family. The situation instantly calmed. He waved the other cops off and we shot the breeze for a few moments, comparing possible mutual cop acquaintances. Then he waved me on and went back to the jack-boot traffic stop.

I resented that I had to use the tactic. They shouldn't have stopped me and harrassed me. There were far more professional and non-confrontational things they could have done if they thought I was suspicious.

Instead, a situation of punks, concert and cops had them jumpy, scared and looking for reasons to make arrests.

I'd bet money that was the situation at the Port Huron crossing last Tuesday. Scared men having their authority questioned in a perfectly legal and appropriate manner. Instead of making a reasonable reply to prevent escalating the situation, they behaved in a shameful and sickening manner.

No person should have to kneel to authority to avoid violence.

A lot of folks are banding together to donate to a legal defense fund for Peter. If you're so inclined and can afford it, make a small donation and boost the signal. List the donation as a gift and make note it's for his legal defense fund. The link is for his cat rescue efforts but there's no other PayPal set up, yet, that I know of.

Even if I hadn't liked Blindsight, I'd donate. This kind of thing can't be allowed to pass unchallenged.