Christopher Hignite Before the Occupy Wall Street movement spurred Lexingtonians to start Occupy Lexington I had already been covering MoveOn.Org, U.S. Uncut and other groups protesting downtown and at Mitch McConnell’s office. Then and now the Lexington Police have done an exemplary job of keeping the peace while respecting everyone’s rights.
MoveOn.Org sponsored a rally downtown at Phoenix Park last Spring. Many people attended this rally. There were signs, chants and songs. The Lexington Police maintained a presence at a distance and never once interfered with the event. Compare that to videos circulating showing unnecessary violence against protesters in NYC.
Senator McConnell’s office was the next time that the police attended a protest. This time it was not to watch but to order the protesters off of the property that McConnell’s office occupies. However, unlike other cities, these officers never pushed, shoved, yelled, maced or arrested anyone. The building management’s position was explained and options were offered to the protesters.
Most recently, officers were there to greet the protesters by orders of the building management who now will not let any of them in the building.
To be clear, the protesters have always been non-violent but have been met with resistance and lies from McConnell’s office. From cancelled appointments to just plain closing early to avoid them, McConnell has not once addressed the group or their issues.
Again, these two officers in particular, did an excellent job of diffusing the situation and explaining to the protesters their rights.
I have been to the sight of Occupy Lexington several times and have done several interviews with the protesters there. Each one has had nothing but praise for the treatment by not only the Lexington Police but the city government and citizens as well.
I’ve written in the past about Lexington’s corruption and a few bad seeds in the police department and legal system. However, when it comes to the officers handling the protests, Lexington sets the example for other cities to follow.
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