Ella French
Have you heard her name? Have you heard of a guy named George Floyd? No doubt you’ve heard him but maybe not Ella. That’s because the death of a career criminal during an arrest gone wrong was the genesis for the 2020 summer of rioting, looting and mayhem accompanied by the repeated cries that “Black Lives Matter”. George achieved martyr-like status even though he had a rap sheet as long as the Mississippi River.
Ella French, a 29-year-old Chicago police officer, was gunned down August 7th. She was shot by a felon during a routine traffic stop and died at the scene. Her partner was also ambushed and is on life support in critical condition, with three gunshot wounds. Will the death of this vibrant young policewoman drive folks into the streets shouting, “Blue Lives Matter”, demanding more police resources and stricter enforcement of the law? Doubtful…but one can only hope.
The problem is further acerbated by one of America’s most incompetent mayors, Lorie Lightfoot of Chicago. This progressive Democrat has been in the forefront of the “Defund the Police” movement. A rich record of her looney statements is ample testimony to her out of touch stupidity. As the leader of a city in a state with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Lorie missed the point totally. Rather than blame the felons who killed Ella, Lightfoot said that guns and gangs were to blame. Never mind that Chicago has layered their own firearm limitations on top of the state laws. Someone tell Lorie that the gun needed an operator, and her own city prosecutors release gang members seconds after their arrests. 13 murders occurred over the weekend in Chicago, including Ella’s.
As nervous as a cat covering poop, the Mayor spoke about the need to support the police and end the violence in the city. Her high-minded rhetoric sadly doesn’t meet her current and past actions. She is so popular with the Chicago Police Department that they turned their backs to her when she visited the hospital where the surviving officer was in ICU. The father of the wounded policeman, a retired cop, gave her an earful about her failed leadership and incompetence. Good for him.
But it’s not just Chicago that has an increased crime problem. Every major city in America is experiencing difficulty maintaining law and order. Why? Let’s start with the Marxist, Communist, Black Lives Mater bunch. This crew of radicals started the drumbeat of “Defund the Police” after the George Floyd incident. Progressive democratic city leaders jumped on the bandwagon aided by a compliant, ignorant media. These oblivious mayors started to dismantle and re-allocate police funds, thinking that social workers and programs were going to solve a crime problem. Their noble actions would then prevent further incidents like the arrest gone wrong murder of George Floyd. Nothing could be further from the truth. Career criminals don’t give a damn about George Floyd.
Look no further than the once great and beautiful city of San Francisco. Run by liberal useless Mayor London Breed and assisted by her equally flawed District Attorney Chesa Boudin, the city is a cesspool of wanton crime. Blatant daylight robbery and shoplifting are the norm. Tourism is non-existent. Boudin is the son of sixties radicals, members of the Weather Underground, who served time in prison for murder. His DNA is not that of a serious law and order advocate. Breed has a long history as a “social justice” warrior.
The same holds true for New York, Seattle, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, the list goes on. Portland is a war zone having difficulty hiring new officers. All these high crime cities have one thing in common; progressive democratic mayors and radical district attorneys who are not prosecuting criminals to the full extent of the law. Most criminals in these cities are released from custody, back on the streets, in the time it takes to read this blog. Incidentally, these civic leaders have plenty of personal security paid for by the taxpayer. And some wonder why individual guns sales are at an all-time high!
The tragic death of Ella French should be a clarion call that the nonsense and absurdity associated with the “Defund the Police” movement must end now. Enough of the Black Lives Matter crowd and their mantra, because all lives matter in a civil society. Lawlessness tolerated by leaders leads to anarchy. School teachers, doctors, lawyers, all professions contain bad actors, and they should be fired, shunned, or banned, not just police officers. Folks need to wake up and realize that.
Ella French mattered. But there won’t be an Ella French Memorial Square where she met her untimely death like George Floyd had in Minneapolis for over a year.
Let’s not forget her name, her service, her commitment to public safety and support those who wear the blue.
Ella French, rest in peace.