Ed Markey’s Dangerous Anti-Police Rhetoric [OPINION]

The Bay State's junior United States Senator, Democrat Ed Markey, is playing a dangerous game with his anti-police rhetoric. It's the kind of thing that could get more cops shot.

On Monday, Markey posted to Twitter an incendiary claim that police officers in Portland, Oregon "routinely attack peaceful protesters with brute force." Markey went on to insist, "We must disarm these officers."

What has occurred in Portland the last three and a half months is anything but a peaceful protest.

The authorities in Oregon have been roundly criticized for not being tough enough in dealing with the violence that has occurred night after night in Portland for months.

What is striking is that Markey's politically motivated tweet followed by less than 48 hours the brutal ambush shooting of two sheriff's deputies near Compton, California. Is Markey that tone-deaf? Does he not realize that such irresponsible rhetoric can instigate violence, including additional attacks on police officers?

Markey's comments are similar to those uttered by the Bay State's senior senator, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, at a time when police officers were under attack in this country. Who can forget Warren's utterance that America's criminal justice system is "racist, front to back?" Warren also claimed a police union-sponsored "Back the Blue" rally in Bourne in October of 2018 was “organized by the largest anti-Muslim hate group in America.”

Politicians such as Markey and Warren use divisiveness to gain and hold on to power. It doesn't matter who gets hurt in the process. Shame on Markey. His rhetoric is dangerous and puts a target on the backs of our policemen and women everywhere.

Sen. Markey relies on local police protection while on the campaign trail. He owes the police officers of Massachusetts and their families a great debt of gratitude and should apologize immediately for his insensitive and irresponsible comments about police officers.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.