Andrew Reiff

International

Summary- Group: Kenyan police have killed dozens

In Kenya, reports are starting to come in that the police are killing protesters. They seem to be under a "shoot to kill" policy that allows them to randomly spew bullets at a crowd to disperse them. Doezens of protesters have been killed, and many innocent bystanders as well. Bullets have gone through the sides of houses to kill a woman baking, killed a boy as he stood in his doorway watching the protests, and killed numerous people just on the fringes of the crowd. The police have denied the accusations of course but unidentified police have told reporters that they do not believe in the shootings.

Opinion-

What the police are doing in Kenya with the killings is terrible. These people have a right to protest even if it is against government. That is one of the reasons as Americans we should be thankful: We are never shot dead in the streets by police when we are peacefully protesting. Our right to assemble is constitutionally protected, and we sohuld help those who are less fortunate. I think that Kenya has the potential to be a key issue in the Presidential election if it is brought up. I am sure those Americans that know about what is happening in Kenya have pity on the people living there, and a candidate could garner a lot of votes by promising to aid them. Albeit some people would say we have to stay out of foreign affairs but we are the U.S. of A.... we can pressure the U.N. to do something about it and we do not have to be involved directly. The world is our backyard and we have to take care of it, whether the vocal minority of citizens like it or not. And by the way, I do believe that those people protesting the war in Iraq are NOT the majority, they are just a well-armed minority that knows how to be heard.