Is acting Port Townsend Police Chief Troy Surber unaware of Port Townsend’s laws? 

Faced with a Back the Blue vehicle armada that terrified people, forced businesses to close and others to hide in their homes, Surber said, “I believe that the notice was on Facebook that everybody in Jefferson County was somewhat aware of.” 

Isn’t his duty to follow Port Townsend Municipal Code 10.36, which defines “parade” and “demonstration” as “to be upon or to travel through the public right-of-way for the purpose of making a public display… It is unlawful to conduct any parade or demonstration of any sort on any public right-of-way in the city except upon a permit for such parade or demonstration having been issued by the chief of police as hereinafter provided.”

This parade/demonstration was unlawful, and our law enforcers did nothing to stop it. To their credit, the Port Townsend Police Department did turn cars around when between 50 to 60 people stood and sat in the street. But if those brave citizens had not come forward, would our police have continued to stand by? To quote Thurber, “At no time did anybody try to stop a message.”

Our city government is facing a virtual onslaught — a mini warm-up for a potential Anschluss — led by James Scarantino and his allies. Demands for “Blue Lives Matter” murals on Madison Street have been sent to the city council, City Manager John Mauro, and the Arts Commission. Calling for fairness and equal application of the very laws his flag-draped troops have flouted, Scarantino proposes dueling “Black Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” murals surrounding City Hall.

There is no inherent contradiction between those who demand an end to systemic racism and those who are paid to enforce laws that prohibit racism, abuse, and unequal treatment. BLM vs. “the Blue” is a false dichotomy designed to split people apart and enforce the reactionary racism at the core of the Trump push to ride roughshod over the Constitution.

We must not allow people to refashion our beloved community into a divided empire, and using the honorable women and men of our police department as pawns. As someone whose relatives perished in the Holocaust, and whose LGBTQ movement began with a spontaneous uprising against corrupt police, I urge you to counter this putsch. Policies must be established and laws enforced. Write citycouncil@cityofpt.us and publiccomment@cityofpt.us. We cannot allow this to continue.

Jason Victor Serinus
PORT TOWNSEND