Ironically, the authorities who say that the police aren’t brutal deploy the police to beat up demonstrators against police brutality. Talk about making a point for you.
Responding to Protests against Police Brutality with Police Brutality
Ironically, the authorities who say that the police aren’t brutal deploy the police to beat up demonstrators against police brutality. Talk about making a point for you.
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Pre-Test. Moderation?
Pre-Test II. Moderation?
Police brutality is the unavoidable result of capitalist brutality.
A big part of the problem is local cops with military weapons, helmets, vests, and armored vehicles.
The 1033 Program permits the Secretary of Defense to transfer, without charge, excess U.S. Department of Defense personal property (supplies and equipment) to state and local law enforcement agencies . This has allowed law enforcement agencies to acquire vehicles (land, air and sea), weapons, computer equipment, fingerprint equipment, night vision equipment, radios and televisions, first aid equipment, tents and sleeping bags, photographic equipment and more.
They have this stuff and they’re itching to use it. A kid with a bb gun may promise not to kill anything with it. He’ll shoot cans for a while, but the temptation to try it on an animal is irresistible.
“Defense Secretary Mark Esper compared protests in cities across the country over the weekend to “battlespace” in a White House call with governors on Monday, urging leaders overwhelm protestors to restore the peace.”
“One of the helicopters opens fire with armour-piercing shells. “Look at that. Right through the windshield,” says one of the crew. Another responds with a laugh.
“Sitting behind the windscreen were two children who were wounded.
“After ground forces arrive and the children are discovered, the American air crew blame the Iraqis. “Well it’s their fault for bringing kids in to a battle,” says one. “That’s right,” says another.”— Chelsea Manning video
Police violence is clearly the fault of Americans who bring their children into a battlespace.
It’s interesting (to me at least) to see how much of the discussion has been about knee-to-the-neck brutality. Yes, that’s a major part of the problem: the police, literally, get away with murder. Read up on what happened to the murderers at My Lai (and what happened to the soldiers who stopped the massacre).
But a whole lot of things fed the sickness the police have now. Perhaps our national Pavlovian star-spangled knee-jerk chauvinism toward the police: “Thank you for your service.” “New York’s Finest” “Heroes” etc.
If Ted ever gets a day in LA’s fairest and justest courts, you know that standing behind the police officer in question who slapped him with the jaywalking ticket will be row after row of armed, uniformed police officers, sending one clear message to the judge and jury. “We can do to you exactly what we did to this guy. We know where you live. We know where your kids go to school. We can plant evidence on anyone.”
It can’t just be defunding the police departments. It has to be a whole bushel of related things. And anyone who starts organizing it better be ready for when they commit suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head twice.
“And anyone who starts organizing it better be ready for when they commit suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head twice.”
Like Gary Webb.
Or, for that matter, people who die in strange single motor car crashes after publishing an interview with a prominent US general, like Michael Mahon Hastings….
Henri
«It can’t just be defunding the police departments. It has to be a whole bushel of related things.» Indeed. In this connexion, cf Charles McRay Blow’s OpEd in Wednesday’s New York Times….
Henri
That’s why the US police are being militarised, Ted, both with regards to equipment and with regard to training. Quasi-homeopathic brutality just doesn’t cut it any more ; now it’s time for the big guns….
Henri
Ted’s algortihms are acting funny again ; here the URLs to which I tried to link above with regard to police equipment (nytimes.com/2020/06/01/us/politics/police-military-gear.html) and training (www.amnestyusa.org/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/)….
Henri
See the rest of the list for total outrage.
5. Administrative agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Small Business Administration (SBA), Smithsonian Institution, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Mint, Department of Education, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and many other agencies purchased guns, ammo, and military-style equipment. 6. Since 2004, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) purchased 1.7 billion bullets including 453 million hollow-point bullets. As of 1/1/2014, DHS estimated its bullet inventory-reserve at 22-months, or 160 million rounds.
https://www.openthebooks.com/asset/1/6/Oversight_TheMilitarizationOfAmerica_06102016.pdf