RNC protests

[sophia jane]

Here's an article about 2 reporters who weren't doing anything wrong either. Yet one was attacked from behind by a police officer, kicked in the ribs and arrested:
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_10358699?nclick_check=1

Yeah I saw the footage of that one last night. It's awful what's happening and how little coverage there is about it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Innocent my ass. He went there wanting some excitement and got it. Stupid is what he is.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

Here's an article about 2 reporters who weren't doing anything wrong either. Yet one was attacked from behind by a police officer, kicked in the ribs and arrested:
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_10358699?nclick_check=1

the link didnt work for me?

 

[Guest]

the link didnt work for me?

Wow. It worked for me a minute ago but not now.

I'll get you a link to the newspaper itself.

http://www . twincities . com/ pioneer press

(remove the spaces)

 

[Shwenn]

He went there wanting some excitement....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection

 

[Boxlicker101]

Here's a link to a video. There's a shot of the police indiscriminately spraying a crowd (including reporters) with pepper spray -- although many of those I see in the video don't exactly look like innocent by-standers:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1630487466?bctid=1768031599

I watched the video. The cops were standing watching the marchers as they came bopping on by. That's fine; that's what they should do. When some other marchers rushed the police line, the cops pushed back, and that's when the pepper spray was used. The cops do have an obligation to keep a certain amount of order and to prevent violence and destruction, and they are trying to do that, although they are not entirely succeeding.

ETA: I watched it again, and there did seem to be one newsman with a camera. He was wearing a white shirt and baseball cap. He seemed to be away from the pepper spray, although the camera might have missed some of it. Once the protesters turned right and started down that other street, things seemed to calm down, except for their throwing rocks or something at the cops.

I didn't actually se any rocks, but I did hear somebody shout "Heads up!" or something like that, and I did se the cops ducking, as if from projectileds.

 

[rgraham666]

the link didnt work for me?

Try this one.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

Try this one.

yours doesn't work for me either, but I did get to it finally from the spaced one earlier. Ah well thats my sign to go take my raging fever and screaming head and ear and go lay down.

Soph I hope your friend heals well because that looks painful.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SHWENN

Very good! I'm impressed that you know a little about Freudian defense mechanisms. But Eric Berne had better schemes to define social conduct, he called them 'games.' One of the games people play he called KICK ME.

The outcome of the game is to get your ass kicked by police or gangs or whomever.

 

[SeaCat]

Here are the pictures from the blog. I think the third one, with the shoe print, is quite telling.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/arminjuries-brutality.jpg


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/Bodyinjuries-brutality.jpg


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/shoeprintbrutality.jpg

I am a solid supporter of police, Box. In fact, whenever there is a police issue discussed here I'm usually one of the few on their side.

But this is just wrong. I sent the pictures to CNN along with the story. I know SJ has, too. We'll see what happens.

Just looked at these pictures. Sheesh.

From the shoulder and elbow it looks like he was dragged a good distance down a fairly rough street.

Are those bandages on his ribs under the arm?

Cat

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

According to the newspaper our young victim was part of a group of anarchists who slashed tires, broke windows, and battered delegates attempting to enter the convention. There is no presumption of innocence if a cop see's you beating up old people and vandalizing cars or you resist arrest.

 

[sophia jane]

I've just added more to my blog.

 

[sophia jane]

According to the newspaper our young victim was part of a group of anarchists who slashed tires, broke windows, and battered delegates attempting to enter the convention. There is no presumption of innocence if a cop see's you beating up old people and vandalizing cars or you resist arrest.

You don't even know who the victim is how can you put him in a group???

For fuck's sake. I've ignored your shit all day, but to make stuff up is ridiculous.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SJ

Its in the paper, dear.

200 or so anarchists crashed the party and became violent. I mean, if your smashing glass and slashing tires and shoving 80 year old men to the ground/pouring shit on them, you cant be marching down the street peacefully. Your boy got his ass caught and dragged away from the scene (probably because he went limp).

Nice try. You sucked several of the fools in for a while.

 

[sophia jane]

SJ

Its in the paper, dear.

200 or so anarchists crashed the party and became violent. I mean, if your smashing glass and slashing tires and shoving 80 year old men to the ground/pouring shit on them, you cant be marching down the street peacefully. Your boy got his ass caught and dragged away from the scene (probably because he went limp).

Nice try. You sucked several of the fools in for a while.

Yeah there was an anarchist group. He was separate from that. As in not involved with that. Maybe you should read the paper. There was a small anarchist group and a huge anti-war protest.

 

[rgraham666]

He can't tell the difference.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SJ

I've been watching videos bloggers made of the confrontation and arrests. They threw urine on people, attacked Cub Scouts, for christs-sake, tossed sandbags and blocks from overpasses onto vehicles, smashed windows, and obstructed traffic. They had a good old time, and a few had to be dragged to the paddy-wagons.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yes Rob, and if you had testicles you'd have been there.

 

[Katyusha]

I am a solid supporter of police, Box. In fact, whenever there is a police issue discussed here I'm usually one of the few on their side.

But this is just wrong. I sent the pictures to CNN along with the story. I know SJ has, too. We'll see what happens.

They stepped on him hard enough to break capillaries like that? The only thing that's ever broken capillaries in me like that is my 30-06. And my capillary walls are weak. *shaking head*

There is a part of me that's wondering if he provoked the police in more ways than just reaching into his bag but I also know that when it comes to violent protests, the police can and sometimes do overreact badly.

 

[Belegon]

Some of the people here are talking like they are neutral, but then they immediately jump into "How can you prove it's the cops fault?"

Protesters somtimes get out of hand,sure.

But Police are human... they fuck up and get overemotional, too.

If you are saying that the person needs to prove that he didn't do something to provoke the police, you are misunderstanding the point.

The people, regardless of what they are wearing or who they represent, who take such violent action need to prove they were justified. It is not the responsibility of the injured party to prove he did nothing to provoke.

Although I am using an extreme to prove the point, it would be like you were accused of stealing a car and thrown into jail. When you protest, they ask you to prove that you did NOT steal the car.

That is not the way the American justice system is supposed to work.

 

[DeeZire]

Here's a link to a story about Amy Goodman and two of the producers of her radio show 'Democracy Now' getting themselves arrested for covering a police skirmish with rioters.

http://www.startribune.com/politics...l?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU


Is this what we do in America, arrest the press for covering the news? I mean, I would expect that in Russia, or China, but not here. The worst part about it is the lack of coverage in the national media. What the fuck is going on? Where's the liberal media when you need them, (besides in jail?)

 

[cantdog]

It was much the same in New York. The RNC encourages this shit.

 

[sophia jane]

Much has happened/been found out today with this whole thing, most of it chronicled in the blog. At this point, I'm just a key researcher and shouter to the internet to get the story spread, which it's starting to do.

And what I can share here:
he was blocking traffic initially by sitting and then standing in a street. He was interviewed by several media outlets. At some point he was beaten; we're still looking for that footage. He was covered with someone else's shirt and cuffed and led out. Then he was sat on a curb cuffed. We have footage of all of those pieces (except the beating) but the last footage of him clearly shows some of his bleeding wounds which were not there in earlier pictures. So...it makes a decent case and there's still some avenues we're checking into.
He was not with the anarchists.
He was not destroying property.
He was not in any way threatening to the people around him or to the police. I watched enough footage today to get an idea of what was happening, and he wasn't even in the middle of larger drama.

So we'll keep watching and speaking out. To those who have my blog, please share with anyone who would find it interesting. We're contacting media (small and large) and politicians. At some point, with enough voices, and enough complaints not just on Keith's behalf but on all the people like him, change is possible.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If he was blocking traffic he's one of the anarchists. Duh.

Your boy and his thug friends joined the demonstration and showed their asses. The cops stepped on them. I mean, if wonder boy doesnt have to respect the law why should the cops or anyone?

 

[Just-Legal]

Soph, can you send me a link when you have a moment please?