An organization, WeAreChange Ohio, traveled to Newport, Kentucky to investigate the military checkpoints that appeared around the downtown area on 6 September 2009. Officially, this was done for traffic control purposes during the annual Riverfest celebration that is held on both sides of the Ohio River.
Military Police from the U.S. Army National Guard performed a series of tasks throughout the day, which included aiding the local police to close bridges across the river, and to reverse traffic along Monmouth Street in Newport.
Two Military Police officers were located at each corner of Monmouth from the Ohio River to 11th Street, while two Humvees were strategically placed to block traffic onto the Taylor-Southgate Bridge. One of the National Guard members indicated that there were also Marines in the area.
WeAreChange Ohio spoke with a thirty-year veteran of the Newport Police Department, who wished to remain anonymous. He stated that the local municipalities were desperately strapped for funds and that the city had been cutting back his division at the department.
While he welcomed the help from the National Guard, he recognized that funding was being systematically shifted away from local governments in favor of Washington.
The officers interviewed at the festival stated that they were on duty to help the local police. They did make it clear that they would follow orders. They are simply soldiers doing their duty.
Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.