To the editor:

The Kobach/Arpaio “Illegal is illegal” rally in Overland Park (Journal-World, July 14) was mostly predictable. Protesters held signs, amid repeated police warnings, “cars parked in the (nearby) lot will be towed, unless you are attending the meeting,” which was clearly unenforceable, and “If you step off the (public) sidewalk onto the (private) grass, you are subject to arrest.”

Inside, the exclusively WAS(P?) crowd of 2,000 was ratcheted up by Kobach, who introduced Sheriff Joe as “a hero” (this compliment was duly reciprocated), who is “teaching inmates respect for the law.” The gruff, folksy sheriff boasted about housing inmates in tents at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, taking away their cigarettes and coffee (“The heart association should thank me.”) and having the only women’s chain gang in the world. (“We don’t discriminate.”)

The only surprise came when the Overland Park police chief interrupted Kobach to announce a “suspicious package” had been found that “we take seriously.” The assurance that there was no evacuation order indicated that the perceived danger was minimal, but it gave Kobach the opportunity to challenge the press to “report which side resorted to violence,” a charge repeated at the end of the meeting.

Of course, neither side in fact resorted to violence. The suspect briefcase was eventually destroyed by water cannon and found to contain papers indicating the probable owner’s name, undoubtedly an absent-minded meeting attendee. That a candidate for secretary of state would resort to such shoot-from-the-hip crowd baiting scares me much more than a suspicious package.