A reader reports around 6:45pm last night (Tuesday) in Logan Circle:
“The facts:
Tonight, while walking my dog through Logan circle, three US Parks Police officers in bulletproof vests each armed with two guns visible on each hip, walked up to this multigenerational family.
I’d been sitting on a bench enjoying the low humidity and smiling watching the little girls in this family dance to a very tasteful volume music, a mother showing her family a painting she’d done, and many generations doing what we all love to do in Logan circle- relax and enjoy the world walking by.
Update: the music the girl was dancing to was 60 decibels and it was 6:30 pm, which, per google, “Normal Conversation: 60 dB is the approximate sound level of two people talking to each other at a normal speaking volume, about one meter apart.“ (I was there, and measured the decibels using an app on my phone, called “decibel x”. I was about 30’ away. in the moment because I knew someone would make this argument. I also live in the neighborhood.)
This group, like many others in Logan circle at happy hour on a nice night, was calmly enjoying a low key beer.
In fact, there were several other picnics sitting around the circle that were doing exactly the same thing.
The only difference is this family was black, and the other groups were white.
A passing (white, female) cyclist pointed this out to the police and asked why they weren’t investigating the other groups’ beverages as they were pouring out the black family’s drinks, and she was rejected and told to go mind her business.
The officers walked around the rest of the circle, looking directly at these other groups of (white) picnics and did not stop, did not ask them any questions. They continued their evenings unmolested.
Several dogs were also running around off leash in the center of the circle, as is typical (though technically illegal per park rules).
Two older members of the family were handcuffed, had their belongings searched, were id’d, their beverages poured out and eventually they were arrested and loaded into the van that was later pulled up into the circle.
This woman was unable to walk unassisted; the police loaded her walker into the van (photo above.)
What is happening??!”