CDA: No haven for racists

Mr. Widmyer, I’m writing to urge you to use the power and influence of your office to restore the confidence to the citizens of Coeur d’Alene and beyond that our city is not, once again, a haven to racists and white supremacists. It is a grave error and frankly dishonest to simplistically characterize the current situation in Coeur d’Alene as a legal display of our Second Amendment rights.

Open carry is one thing. Large aggregations of machine-gun brandishing, camouflage-clad men prowling the streets of Coeur d’Alene while openly proclaiming they are there to protect the city, is entirely another. Quite clearly these individuals have stated they are present to enforce their own brand of vigilante law.

How, exactly, do these heavily armed individuals envision they are going to protect our city? What do they propose to do with those firearms if someone throws a rock or lifts a brick? Why aren’t we hearing and seeing the local law enforcement agencies send a strong message that they will not allow their duty as peace officers to be usurped by unorganized gangs or private citizens?

Do not delude yourself there isn’t a racist undertone to this relative inaction on the part of our public servants. Imagine if the majority of AK-15 toting individuals inhabiting Sherman Avenue were Muslim individuals instead of white men professing to be Christians. You have to know, in that scenario, we would hear much more from local authorities than a bland pronouncement about legal rights.

I urge you, as mayor, to be much more visibly active in restoring a perception that our city is committed to the safety of ALL our citizens.

DR. ERIC HEIDENREICH

Coeur d’Alene