Beech Tree News Network

I think Geraldo Rivera used the word “punkness” to describe some of the Left’s lawless antics that were on display in Louisville and other American cities this week that followed the Grand Jury decision in the Breonna Taylor killing.  Good word.  He also suggested the continued actions of rioting, looting, etc. would help to reelect the president.  Even better.  Not the rioting and looting, of course, but their possible electoral impact.  

I won’t rehash the specifics of the case here other than to say that what most people thought were the facts proved to be somewhat different, including race as a motivating factor, which it clearly wasn’t.  And, it is also important to acknowledge that the killing of Breonna Tayor, though not intentional, was still a tragedy, a terrible accident that we can only hope is never repeated.  No innocent person should die in a hail of bullets regardless of who is doing the shooting.    

Amid the “punkness” on display, one calming voice of truth and reason stood out this week - Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Imagine for a moment if Greg Stumbo had been elected last fall? Elections have consequences.  Faced with the difficult task of reporting the findings of the Grand Jury in the Breonna Taylor case (two officers not charged criminally; one charged with felony wanton endangerment), Cameron delivered a strongly-worded and much-needed defense of the integrity our criminal justice system by stressing  the importance of the rule of law in a civilized society, adding a teaching moment on the meaning of true justice from a legal perspective, and sharply rebuking the would-be agitators and race-baiters (often out-of-state athletes and celebrities) for their propensity to stir up their minions with oft-repeated lies.  Exhibit A - do a quick search on CNN and MSNBC and peruse some of the commentary about Cameron and the Tayor case.  It’s sickening, inaccurate, and is meant to sow hate, division and ultimately violence.  

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron

Let’s hear from the Kentucky Attorney General.  Here are some excerpts:  

“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrave was justified to protect themselves. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Ms. Breonna Taylor’s death. The truth is now before us. The facts have been examined and a grand jury comprised of our peers and fellow citizens has made a decision. Justice is not often easy, does not fit the mold of public opinion, and it does not conform to shifting standards. It answers only to the facts and to the law. With this in mind, we must now ask ourselves, where do we go from here? Will we continue to prosecute the charges brought in this case, as it now proceeds through the justice system and moves to trial. That is our responsibility, and this will be done while the FBI continues its investigation into potential violations of federal law. I know that not everyone will be satisfied with the charges we’ve reported today. My team set out to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms. Taylor’s death. We did it with a singular goal in mind, pursuing the truth.”

Here is another portion that is especially important in that it distinguish between justice and revenge:

“My role as special prosecutor in this case is to set aside everything in pursuit of the truth. My job is to present the facts to the grand jury and the grand jury then applies those facts to the law. If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice. Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge. And in our system, criminal justice isn’t the quest for revenge. It’s the quest for truth, evidence and facts, and the use of that truth as we fairly apply our laws. Our reaction to the truth today says what kind of society we want to be. Do we really want the truth or do want a truth that fits our narrative?”

AG Cameron continues:

“Do we want the facts or are we content to blindly accept our own version of events? We as a community must make this decision. I understand that Ms. Breonna Taylor’s death has become a part of a national story and conversation, but we must also remember the facts and the collection of evidence in this case are different than cases elsewhere in the country. Each is unique and cannot be compared. There will be celebrities, influencers, and activists who, having never lived in Kentucky, would try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do. But they don’t. Let’s not give into their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions. At the end of the day, it is up to us. We live here together. We work here and raise our families here together.”

And here he brings it home:

“I urge those protesting on the streets to remember this. Peaceful protests are your right as an American citizen, instigating violence and destruction are not. I (have) spoken with both Mayor Fischer and Governor Beshear in the days leading up to this announcement and I urge them to do what is necessary to maintain law and order and to protect our cities and our people. We have a long road ahead, both as we pursue this case through the criminal system and as we address the pain in the Louisville community. I’m committed to being part of the healing process. When tragedy occurs, we must mourn. We must also do everything we can to prevent it from happening again. Today, consistent (with) that view, I’m announcing that I will create a task force to review the process for securing, reviewing and executing search warrants in Kentucky. The task force will consist of a variety of stakeholders, including citizens, members from the law enforcement community, representatives from the judiciary, defense attorneys and elected leaders.”

Here is a complete transcript:  https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/ag-daniel-cameron-press-conference-transcript-september-23-breonna-taylor-decision

I think what has made Daniel Cameron’s comments so compelling is that he conducted this investigation and stood behind its findings in the face of what he knew would be a torrent of backlash from the progressive Left, radical anarchists like BLM, and a complicit and coordinated media attack.  But, Cameron did not cower in the corner like too many people feel compelled to do in the face of political bullying.  He stood up.  Cameron did not follow the easy path, the one of least resistance.  He followed the facts.  Cameron did not concede the power of the office in which he was entrusted by Kentucky voters in 2019 to those who seek to intimidate through mob rule (i.e. going to the homes of political leaders or verbally attacking them at the supermarket or when they are eating out.)  He defended truth and schooled his detractors in what justice actually looks like in a civilized society. 

I have asked this question before but it's worth repeating. When will the madness that is occurring in too many American cities come to end?  The short answer is when more good, decent folks decide to stand up against it - like Daniel Cameron did.  Push back when radicals try to label you with their favorite politically-correct pejorative.  Resist when the Facebook mob targets you with false and malicious accusations.  Defend yourself and your family when agenda-driven agitators try to harm you through your employer - this has become a favorite tactic of some.  Stand up for yourself.  Stand up for your family.  Stand up for your country.  If not, the day may come sooner than you think when we will no longer have anything to stand up for.  

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