To the Editor:

As we watch this administration order U.S. military into the streets of Democratically-led cities and states, we feel the need to comment. We don’t want or need armed military personnel on our streets in Green County, Wisconsin. The objective of these actions appears to be the creation of fear and intimidation and normalization of military rule in our democracy. Our U.S. military is trained to fight wars, not to police cities.

We are quite confident in the law enforcement abilities of Green County Sheriff Cody Kanable. In fact, this confidence is evidenced by the county-wide passing of a bond initiative for new safety programs including a new jail facility.

History tells us how urban militarization inevitably results in excessive governmental force and overreach, increased surveillance and intrusion into personal privacy. Boomers will remember the 1970 Kent State protests as vividly as Millennials remember abuses at George Floyd protests. History also tells us that the only effective defense against this action comes when the citizenry stand up, speak out and show firm open resistance.

We encourage you not to be silent, be loud, use your voice to oppose these actions.

Signed:

Judith Blank

Nan & Bob Rudd

Todd Larson

Holly & John Eglsaer

Maryann & Jason Neton

Keith A. Steffen

Chuck Bauer & Chuck Beckwith

Jane Mitton

Barb Woodriff & Pete Guenther

Garrett Wall

Joan Stackpole

Megan Barry-Luglio

Rev. Susan Andersen

Carol Rufenacht

Joyce Frohn

Elizabeth Frohn Hengst

Anthony Hengst

Rita Mahoney

Grace McLaughlin & Harry Pulliam

Anne Colville

Crystal Ruhde

Larry Kammerude

Nana Schowalter & Bob Bergman

Pat Skogen

Patricia Reedy

Kimberly Langley

Susan Nelson

Chris & Brandi Bonde

Kim Hunter