‘Horrific beating’ of Barlow by deputies reveals legacy of ‘stolen land,’ ‘racism,’ ‘lack of understanding’

Let’s start with an acknowledgement. We live on land originally inhabited and cared for by the Paiute, Shoshone and Timbisha people. Those original caretakers are still here and still honor and care for this land and these waters. White people stole the land, killed many original inhabitants, and began abusing the natural world here including imprisoning the waters that naturally flow here to send to people manipulating nature down south. It’s a shameful and brutal history for the original people and the natural history of this land.

This is a time, right now, where we can begin to undo some of the brutal history of the past. A young Paiute man, George Barlow, is currently on life support in Loma Linda Hospital in southern California having been beaten severely by Inyo County deputies. He was not breaking the law and yet was approached by a deputy. If you consider the current status as well as history of abuse of people of color by law enforcement, you will know that being approached by law enforcement likely will be perceived as a threat by the one approached. They are obviously armed to the hilt, with batons, guns and Tasers clearly at the ready. As humans, when we are threatened our nervous systems go into fight, flight or freeze. So to think one can respond in a “reasonable” way at that point, especially if experiencing a mental health emergency, is not understanding the human being.

The horrific beating of George Barlow by Inyo County Sheriff’s deputies has uncovered the wounds of stolen land, racism, and the total lack of understanding and skill of some of our law enforcement people and policies. These wounds have been here since colonization and because of this incident, in these times, those wounds are wide open. This is an opportunity, right now, to clean out the wound and bring healing to our whole community with commitment to reforming how we enforce the law and how we deal with mental health emergencies. Let Inyo County be a role model for how to move forward with reforms based on understanding of history, mental health needs and compassion. One successful model of reform is from Eugene, Oregon called CAHOOTS, Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets. Money for these people, who are well-trained to respond to mental health emergencies, comes from the law enforcement budget. Money well spent!

Here are some steps in the right direction for right now:

1. Deputies involved in nearly killing a person who wasn’t doing anything against the law should be off the job during this investigation.

2. People are not going to trust an investigation by the Sheriff’s Department on the Sheriff’s Department. As much outside investigation as is possible should occur.

3. Has the Sheriff’s Department reached out to the Barlow family offering their sorrow and remorse at how that evening transpired? To George? To notice and speak up about the hurts we have caused does not imply guilt, it implies humanity and compassion.

And then let’s all commit that now is the time to make changes.

This is not going away. Wounds are open, revealed. It’s time for healing.

Betsy McDonald Bishop