Ferguson

[Glaucus]

The Militarization of the Police

The most striking photographs from Ferguson, Missouri, aren’t of Saturday’s demonstrations or Sunday night’s riots; they’re of the police. Image after image shows officers clad in Kevlar vests, helmets, and camouflage, armed with pistols, shotguns, automatic rifles, and tear gas. In one photo, protesters stand toe-to-toe with baton-wielding riot police, in another, an unarmed man faces several cops, each with rifles at the ready.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

The Militarization of the Police

This is what Democracy(TM) looks like. We sold it to Afghanistan, we sold it to Iraq. They didn't like the look of it so they sent it back.

Best tweet I've seen so far:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/499760644594601985

 

[cecilia]

and the cops are preventing the news from filming them - destroying equipment from what I hear.

jesus, they are paranoid

 

[cecilia]

tweets from Anonymous:

https://twitter.com/OpFerguson

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/500050517268389889

 

[cecilia]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/500053094802391041

 

[cecilia]

http://www.kmov.com/special-coverag...n-Jr-shooting-speaks-to-News-4-271139501.html

 

[cecilia]

http://www.thewrap.com/police-tear-gas-not-fired-at-al-jazeera-news-crew-intentionally-video/

 

[cecilia]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...in-ferguson/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

 

[Robert]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...in-ferguson/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

Not only did Johnson march with the protesters, but he vowed to not blockade the street, to set up a media staging center, and to ensure that residents’ rights to assemble and protest were not infringed upon.

How refreshing.

 

[cecilia]

on the other hand......

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2014/...olice-officer-who-shot-african-american-teen/

 

[metalman]

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

You'll probably never understand but just because someone acts badly still doesn't mean cops can just shoot him. This is about the cops and whether or not they are the "good guys" or a gang that acts outside of law. If the police had cause to arrest him then they should have arrested him, not executed him. The laws that protect Mike Brown from arbitrary execution by the cops are the same (and only) laws that protect you from arbitrary execution by the cops.

 

[metalman]

You'll probably never understand but just because someone acts badly still doesn't mean cops can just shoot him.

as more details that come out, the police version of the story is being confirmed

he was doing more than acting "badly"

A 'gentle giant" who had committed a felony robbery , and then draws attention to himself by walking down the center of the street, may indeed had a reason to bull rush and attempt to take the officers gun.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Indeed. This seems germane.

 

[metalman]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/500981295359741952

#CanAnyoneConfirm

 

[metalman]

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

#CanAnyoneConfirm

That should have been in the funny pics thread.

 

[metalman]

That should have been in the funny pics thread.

a reporter tweeting a picture of fired rubber bullets in #Ferguson is funny??

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

a reporter tweeting a picture of fired rubber bullets in #Ferguson is funny??

A reporter tweeting a picture of ear plugs.

 

[metalman]

A reporter tweeting a picture of ear plugs.

Ryan J Reilly, Justice Reporter for @HuffPostPol.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/501217937039314944

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/501063005527105537