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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Words of Peace

posted by on July 18 at 11:51 AM

Police accountability activist Anwar Peace has been a thorn in SPD’s side for the last few years. So much in fact, that SPD Chief Gil Kerlikowske took out a restraining order against Peace.

Three weeks ago, Peace allegedly broke his no-contact order and is now sitting in King County Jail.

After an NAACP police accountability rally at city hall on June 28th, Peace ran into the Chief downtown. According to a police report, Peace followed Kerlikowske through city hall and hopped on an elevator with him. Eventually, a security officer intervened and Peace left.

Two days later, Peace allegedly called Kerlikowske’s office phone and left 17 messages, which, according to court documents, stated “I’m not afraid of you, I’m not afraid of your officers. Cap me because I will only become stronger if you kill me, and that’s the only way that I will leave you and your mother alone. You are a scandalous motherfucker, I will take you out. I will be the most slanderous mother fucker you’ve ever met and I will go up to your motherfucking place every goddamn day [and] violate this shit. You’ve already fucked up my life so why won’t I fuck up yours?”

On June 30th, officers showed up to Peace’s home and arrested him on a domestic violence charge after he got into a fight with his girlfriend. While in jail, the DV case was dropped—his girlfriend says it was an argument that got out of hand and that she actually attacked Peace— but Peace has since been charged with harassment and “intimidating a public servant.”

Last Sunday, I went down to the King County Jail for a brief Q&A with Peace.

Do you have any intention of hurting the Chief?

Peace: I am a very peaceful individual. I’ve never had any violence in my life. I’m not about violence, I’m about peace. The restraining order has been a thorn in my side for the last few years. It has limited me from going into downtown. Every time a police officer sees me, they harass me; they play mind games with me.

Does this hurt your cause? Are people just going to think you’re crazy?

Even though some of my tactics and techniques are a little outlandish, nothing I do, or have done, is out of hate or vengeance. I would just like officers to step up and clean house. For the [police] department to not be able to clean itself up is really disheartening. I’m kind of being framed as the next Omari Tahir-Garret [but] I’m finally getting attention from the mainstream media.

Why were you arrested two days after your initial contact with the Chief? Why didn’t they arrest you at city hall?

This is the game we’ve been playing. It is interesting that they didn’t arrest me. I gave them lots of opportunities.

Did you think there would be consequences for showing up to city hall for the rally?

Did I think I’d catch a case? Yes. [A lot of] great men have spent time behind bars.

After all of this, what would you like to say to the Chief?

I’m sorry for the concern for his family. I understand, but there are families out there in Seattle that feel about the SPD the way [Kerlikowske] feels about me.

I wish him a relaxing retirement.

On Monday, Peace was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. I tried to contact Kerlikowske about the incident, but my calls weren’t returned.

RSS icon Comments

1

This embarrassing loon has just ensured another ten years of Kerlikowske as chief.

Posted by Fnarf | July 18, 2007 12:43 PM
2

I don't think he's crazy, Fnarf. I think he took the wrong approach and it's going to cost him some/most/all of his credibility. I know a lot of people already think he's crazy, but he's seems to actually be a pretty collected, good-humored, smart guy who fucked up and made a bad choice.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 12:48 PM
3

bad choice? 17 voice messages? "I will take you out"? violent altercation with girlfriend? C'mon Jonah, give us a break.

Posted by fixo | July 18, 2007 12:54 PM
4

For his next trick he'll hit the mayor with a megaphone.

If you want to be taken seriously by grownups you have to act like one.

Posted by Giffy | July 18, 2007 12:59 PM
5

Jonah: Have you (or has anyone) heard the actual audio from the messages to Kerlikowske?

Posted by DOUG. | July 18, 2007 1:00 PM
6

A "bad choice"? Harrassing the chief of police is, rightfully, going to get you into a world of trouble. He's an idiot. And domestic violence, too. He's a piece of crap. I don't care how "smart" he sounds from his jail cell.

Posted by Fnarf | July 18, 2007 1:02 PM
7

what a dumbass.

Posted by bing | July 18, 2007 1:05 PM
8

Was he the guy with the sign chasing the cop car at that rally last month? That was also pretty pathetic. What are two random police officers supposed to do about the OPA or Kerlikowske? Even if they could do something, I'm sure being chased down the block by some random activist is really going to leave a longlasting, positive impression.

Posted by keshmeshi | July 18, 2007 1:06 PM
9

First of all, the DV charges were dropped. I talked to his girlfriend about it, and as I mentioned, she said she hit him.

I haven't heard the audio from the Kerlikowske tapes, I'm sure I will at some point unless they're sealed during trial.

Like I said, he fucked up. I know he's pretty fringe, but I don't think he should be written off completely.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 1:09 PM
10

Jonah: I don't understand where you got that "I'm not afraid of you..." quote from. You don't cite any source. Please elaborate.

Posted by DOUG. | July 18, 2007 1:21 PM
11

You are so fixated with your crusade against the chief you'll latch onto any loony. SPD left him alone at the rally and basically ignored him so he upped the ante. He's deluded himself into thinking he's a great man, and so he has to suffer in jail like all great men.

As for the DV complaint being dropped, ask ECB about how often DV victims turn around and take the blame so their battering boyfriend stays out of trouble.

Posted by elrider | July 18, 2007 1:22 PM
12

Jonah is right. In Seattle, we are unersstanding and Very Nice. This means when someone like this Anwar fellow violates a court order and gets into the chief's space, leaves 17 messages, and makes other bad choices, we Display Our Virtue, Tolerance and Understanding by saying things like he made "Bad Choices" but we should not "Completely Write Him Of." Obviously, Jonah and I will now go befriend him, nurture him, listen to him, advise him and help him know that acting like a Child may not always be a Good Choice. And then he wil be returned to The Struggle for Police Accountability. We will certainly not just blog about him and tsk-tsk what others say in blogs then go forget him!

Nor will we hold him responsible for his actions. That Would Be Too Harsh and Would Not Be Nice. So hopefully we will all understand: The Police Need to Be Accountable, But Anwa Peace Does Not. Maybe. We think. You don't have the facts. No prejudgments!
Your teacher in superior virtue, and warm, fuzzy, pablum thoughts,

Posted by Lars Nativson | July 18, 2007 1:32 PM
13

Just fell in with a bad crowd, that's all. Could happen to anybody's kid. Let's have a little empathy here, folks!

Posted by RonK, Seattle | July 18, 2007 1:33 PM
14

Jonah, you've done great legwork on police accountability issues, but you undermine it with this credulous, softball interivew. You ask him whether he's hurt his credibility--did you ever stop to think whether you might be hurting your own? What undecided reader is going to trust an apologist for a dude who admitted to making almost 20 threatening phone calls in one day--including threatening his adversary's mother?

You've written extensively on your dislike of protests and naive activism, and yet here you display shocking naivete and embrace the most thuggish protest methods. Grow up a little, and stop shooting yourself (and your well-behaved allies) in the foot.

Posted by 1977! | July 18, 2007 2:24 PM
15

First of all, I didn't "softball" anybody. I just didn't include the number of questions I asked that Peace declined to answer.

I'm certainly not being apologist about this whole thing. Like I said, he fucked up. He's probably going to do time. I don't think Mr. Peace is the victim in all of this, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Chief either.

I don't know if Mr. Peace has anything earth-shattering to say about police accountability, but he's certainly gained some small amount of activist-celebrity status —which is why I went and talked to him— and in speaking with him, I feel like he's a bit more genuine about what he's doing than some other activists around town. I've criticized people who aren't willing to get arrested for a cause they feel strongly about and obviously, Mr. Peace is. I think that lends him a bit more credibility in his one man war on the police department. That's all.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 2:43 PM
16

I'm no fan of the Police Guild's lock over what they call "personnel matters". Showing up for work on time, ensuring overtime work gets paid and making sure there is vacation coverage is one thing, that's a good union.

Interfering with matters of public safety, even if it means the officer will ultimately lose pay, rank, retirement benefits, etc. is another matter entirely.

That separation why we as citizens argued for civilian oversight of the force to begin with, which while we are on the subject, the Guild never wanted and fought hard to prevent and continues to stymie, as if giving the law abiding, clean government citizens an inch into the process will mean a mile tomorrow.


As for Peace here, me expressing myself on a website, or to friends over beers, or even on a public soapbox with a microphone to sway public opinion is one thing. Peace and I share a few things in common, such as the need to speak-up about this wrong. But Peace, he crossed the line by psycho dialing and stalking the police chief. It really is that simple, Peace crossed the line of common sense.


If Peace stopped this OCDing about speaking to the chief (he doesn’t want to talk, Peace), and learned about more about affective civil disobedience (which is not about GOING to jail as much as being prepared to face/suffer the consequences of CD) Peace might, just might, be able to accomplish something.


Commonsense is the realized sense of proportion. -Mohandas Gandhi

Posted by Phenics | July 18, 2007 2:47 PM
17

Jonah,

Peace was not arrested for a cause; he was arrested for threatening a person and violating a no contact order. Hardly Ghandi or MLK material.

Posted by elrider | July 18, 2007 2:57 PM
18

No Elrider, Peace was arrested at his home for the aforementioned D/V charge. He wasn't charged for the harassment/intimidation until a day or two later.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 3:24 PM
19

Oh, wait, I see. Sorry, I misread your post earlier.

Yes, Peace is being charged for violating his no-contact order. Nevertheless, he violated that order so that he could have words with the Chief. He wanted to express his frustration—and yes, I do agree that he went about it the wrong way— but that's what he was going for and that's what he did.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 3:30 PM
20

Is everybody saying that they would rather Jonah not gone down to the jail and talk to the guy?! That somehow going down and talking to him is tacit approval of his actions?

Because it seems like everybody got something out of the interview. Good guy / bad guy, who cares. It was just a short blerb and I found it interesting.

Posted by John At Work | July 18, 2007 3:55 PM
21

I'd like to know what the "court documents" are. Lord knows that the SPD never fudges their reports.

Posted by DOUG. | July 18, 2007 4:14 PM
22

They're the "Certification for determination of probable cause."
If you go on the King Co. clerk's site, you can probably find them.

Posted by Jonah S | July 18, 2007 4:30 PM
23

Public officials are under no obligation to speak with every member of the public who wants to talk to them. If they were thats all they would do, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This goes doubly for the crazies like our good friend Peace.

Posted by Giffy | July 18, 2007 6:08 PM
24

What a crackpot. He ain't gonna win any fights with his strategies.

Posted by Gitai | July 18, 2007 6:31 PM
25

"Even though some of my tactics and techniques are a little outlandish, nothing I do, or have done, is out of hate or vengeance."

if the telephone quotes are accurate, hate and vengeance were very obvious sentiments expressed. sounds like someone isn't taking responsibility for what he did. i could have more respect for him if he just said "i lost it."

Posted by ellarosa | July 18, 2007 10:44 PM
26

I am an ex-girlfriend of Anwar Peace. I am tired of people making him out as a hero. He is a crazy man and very racist. So many times I have wanted to yell at him and tell him the police are not bothering you because you are black but because you are a dumb ass. I am sick of this man and seeing him on the news angers me. He wants media attention. it incourages his crazy mind. I was with him when he started to act like this. He ended up in harberview phyc ward. This no one but me knows. He was diagnosed with something but he refused to tell me and he refused to take his meds. I think that he is bipolor. And yes he is abusive. He may never have hit me, but he is definantly abusive emotionaly. He used to treaten my family if I left him. I tired for over a year to get away from him but he wouldn't let me go. He beat my self esteem down and manipulated me. His is also very racist. I couldn't tell you how many times I have heard him say "all I want is my 40 acers and a mule" he makes me sick. I asked him once "if your so racist why are you dating a girl with red hair and white skin" he actually responed with "because I beleave the only way to stop racism is to mix the races". not stop the hate or show with love. he as actually told me that he denise the white part of him. Anwar is half white and half black. The real victim his his girlfreind. I wish I could warn her about him. but she will do what ever it takes get through this with him. Just like I did. he has a hold on her. I don't dought that she hit Anwar. he can push your buttons to the point that you think that you are going crazy. It is his game. All I want to tell her is to watch out and look in your heart. I know you love him, just as I did. He can make you feel special at times, but is it really worth it. are you taking care of him and letting him do this to you. He is not a good man and watch out. Look at his actions. Half of it is bull shit. Do you really think that he is sane. I am sure that you walk on egg shells around him so you don't piss him off. Leave while you can. it may hurt like hell and you may be scared of him but it is so much better when you get to the other side.

As for anwar and the chief. He is crazy and the chief should be worried. the only thing peaceful about Anwar is his last name. Peace Inc. was started out of being locked in a room and going crazy. I know I was there.

Posted by Kristie | July 22, 2007 10:30 PM
27

I am an ex-girlfriend of Anwar Peace. I am tired of people making him out as a hero. He is a crazy man and very racist. So many times I have wanted to yell at him and tell him the police are not bothering you because you are black but because you are a dumb ass. I am sick of this man and seeing him on the news angers me. He wants media attention. It encourages his crazy mind. I was with him when he started to act like this. He ended up in harberview phyc ward. This no one but me knows. He was diagnosed with something but he refused to tell me and he refused to take his meds. I think that he is bipolar. And yes he is abusive. He may never have hit me, but he is abusive emotionally. He used to threaten my family if I left him. I tired for over a year to get away from him but he wouldn't let me go. He beat my self esteem down and manipulated me. His is also very racist. I couldn't tell you how many times I have heard him say "all I want is my 40 acres and a mule" he makes me sick. I asked him once "if you’re so racist why you are dating a girl with red hair and white skin" he actually responded with "because I believe the only way to stop racism is to mix the races". Not stop the hate or show with love. He as actually told me that he denies the white part of him. Anwar is half white and half black. The real victim is his girlfriend. I wish I could warn her about him. But she will do what ever it takes get through this with him. Just like I did. He has a hold on her. I can believe that she hit Anwar. He can push your buttons to the point that you think that you are going crazy. It is his game. All I want to tell her is to watch out and look in your heart. I know you love him, just as I did. He can make you feel special at times, but is it really worth it. Are you taking care of him and letting him do this to you. He is not a good man and watch out. Look at his actions. Half of it is bull shit. Do you really think that he is sane? I am sure that you walk on egg shells around him so you don't piss him off. Leave while you can. It may hurt like hell and you may be scared of him but it is so much better when you get to the other side.

As for anwar and the chief. He is crazy and the chief should be worried. The only thing peaceful about Anwar is his last name. Peace Inc. was started out of being locked in a room and going crazy. I know I was there.

Posted by Kristie | July 22, 2007 10:40 PM
28

Sorry if I have so many miss spellings but just hearing his name again brings me back so much pain. I feel like no one in the world knows that he is crazy but me>

Posted by Kristie | July 22, 2007 10:44 PM

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