Brooklyn Park

Citizens, boxed in, held in broad daylight
five men, seven, pressing in
demands for papers
violent movements
barking voices

She reaches for her phone
it’s knocked away, broken,
Guns, drawn.

Threats, they are all threats.
Her training kicks in
“Police officer Brooklyn Park,”
her captors’ eyes now nervous
looking at each other like,
what should we do?

They slink away
as fast as they can.

Those without badges
can’t pull this off.
They have no magic words
no badge will change their skin.

Hidden behind masks,
believing there are no consequences.
Authority without accountability
It’s a tightrope.
Democracy on a tightrope.
What do we do?
That’s the question isn’t?

Who has the power to arrest
those whose power needs arresting?

Unsolicited
Current Events
Brooklyn Park
Laura Gerling
© 2026

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(Minneapolis, MN, January 20, 2026)