Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28 • Hacker News Board

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#531

Post by TheSpiceIsLife » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:03 AM UTC

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #418

rumanator wrote: post #312

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That looks very suspicious, but if this were really a widespread technique by the police Giving your comment the benefit of the doubt, that does not address the fact that a while platoon of police officers witnessed a fellow police officer vandalize public property without any reason or justification, and they didn't even flinched or complained or even frowned upon that brand of unprovoked abuse. That's pretty much…

If it were me, and I had a first hand account of what he did and whether he had a justifiable reason, I would have it documented and escalated after returning to the office, hopefully anonymously, or at least confidentially. I would also keep an eye on that officer to see if there were more violations. I would not break formation and try to handcuff another officer in the moment, because it would be strategically unw…

> If it were me

Right. Maybe that's why you aren't a police officer.

> I would not break formation and try to handcuff another officer in the moment

Maybe you should be a police officer.

> because it would be strategically unwise

Things need to change now.

When the police can demonstrate they are able to rein each other in, we can all go home and celebrate.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#532

Post by selimthegrim » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:03 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #471

jascii wrote: post #133

Disclaimer: I am a bleeding heart liberal and this may filter my observations. I have been to a few rallies/vigils/marches lately and all incidences of violence that I have witnessed either in person or through media has been instigated by the police. As far as I know,every documented case where a formerly peaceful crowd turns into chaos has been started with police shooting pepperspray, teargas, or whatever into the…

Yeah, I don’t believe it. Rioting is natural human behavior. In Bangladesh we have violent riots after every election. The police aren’t instigating them, they are nowhere to be found. Why would I believe that Americans are any different?

I’m sure you know who Shibir and Chhatra League are? Who are their American counterparts?

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#533

Post by oh_sigh » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:04 AM UTC

viraptor wrote: post #525

oh_sigh wrote: post #510

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You understand why US cops are so heavy handed though, right? It may be because they have to deal with a population with 3 guns per capita, where the amount of police killed per year on duty(even disregarding accidents) is more akin to a third world country than anything going on in the EU. > and high level LE people still not accepting any blame I don't know how you get that from OP saying that both sides need to de…

I meant that LE is largely not accepting any blame right now. That's a signal for protest not to deescalate. But since you mention that, cops do not have to be heavy handed. Training around handling mental health helps. Training around de-escalation helps. Not being a murdering racist helps. Body cameras work. If the guns were the main reason, we'd see similar reactions every time a group of open-carry white proteste…

> I meant that LE is largely not accepting any blame right now.

Well, multiple people have been fired and imprisoned. And investigations are on the way to probably arrest and imprison more cops.

Mental health is probably a small part of the picture of civilian-on-police violence, unless you consider anyone who considers it a good idea to kill a police officer as intrinsically mentally unhealthy.

> If the guns were so scary, we'd see similar reactions every time a group of open-carry white protesters show up on the streets

Cops aren't generally worried about open carry nuts, because they are mostly a known quantity. I'd imagine getting shot at a routine traffic stop or doing a domestic violence call is much more on the mind of your average officer than getting attacked by someone open carrying.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#534

Post by skoskie » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:04 AM UTC

monoideism wrote: post #286

stonogo wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here you go. https://www.reddit.com/r/ThatsInsane/comments/gv2ogk/news_ch...

That looks very suspicious, but if this were really a widespread technique by the police, I'm assuming there would be more than a single video taken. I mean, we know the black bloc and similar groups engages in these tactics, they've been doing it since Seattle WTO 1999. I've seen it in person to protests I've been to (as a protester). It's very hard for me to believe that all of a sudden those people are no longer a…

I find the bigger issue to be the videos of police doing nothing to thwart blatant vandalism, and the contrast of those videos with the unprovoked attacks on what appear to be peaceful protesters.

The “politically convenient group” seems to be anyone being destructive, like ...

https://twitter.com/SARAHKSTUDIO/status/1267371809084567554/...

... white women?

The sum of causing unnecessary damage and turning a blind eye to vandalism at least gives me confidence that there is a desire by many police officers to see property destroyed.

From that I can only guess at what the reasoning might be, but given that we’ve seen this method of undermining protests in the past, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume racist intent until there is evidence that begins to support an alternative conclusion.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#535

Post by m0zg » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:04 AM UTC

jascii wrote: post #303

m0zg wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what it is you're suggesting they do. If they arrest the looters, you will complain of "police brutality", since as a rule, criminals do not go into custody willingly. If they do not, you will complain of "looting". They also can't individually go after looters in this situation - too dangerous. Whatever they do they have to do as a group, without dispersing.

The looters take advantage of the chaos. The chaos seems willingly and knowingly caused by the police. I would at this point consider the police atleast somewhat responsible for the conditions that lead to the looting.

> willingly and knowingly caused by the police

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#536

Post by klyrs » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:05 AM UTC

untog wrote: post #305

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In any case, it’s all the same: in a country that parades its freedom, people of color can’t protest without the president calling for them to be roughed up, and without the police willingly complying. That’s a load of bullshit and you know it. This isn’t the situation.

In all seriousness, what is incorrect about that statement? Take a look at all the video taken since Saturday, then compare it to, say, the protests against lockdowns just a few weeks ago. Surely you see the very notable difference?

> Surely you see the very notable difference?

Is it the open carry of long guns? Is that what peaceful protesters should use to de-escalate the situation? Makes perfect sense. Cops love guns! Just some cool doodz having a chill gun party, come have a beer and a doobie, officer. Show you mine if you'll show me yours?

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#537

Post by rumanator » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:05 AM UTC

kortilla wrote: post #360

bradly wrote: post #317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a small suburb of San Diego the protest stopped traffic. Police forced the protesters off and then riots started and two banks were burnt down. Two weeks ago a San Diego police deputy was released from jail after serving only six months after sexually assaulting (why forced oral sex is not rape I’m not sure) 16 women that had called the police for help. He does not have to register as a sexual offender. Protesting…

Stopping traffic risks the lives of people in ambulances so it’s pretty hard to condone that. Make noise, block access to some businesses, etc, but don’t block streets and cause traffic jams that could kill people FFS.

> Stopping traffic risks the lives of people in ambulances so it’s pretty hard to condone that.

Social media is clogged with live footage from the protests. Can you find a single video of an ambulance being stopped by protests?

The irony of your comment is that the likelihood of an ambulance being close to a protest is linked to the extreme violence that the police is using to attack and repress protests against police violence.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#538

Post by TheSpiceIsLife » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:05 AM UTC

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #422

vb6sp6 wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"This doesn't happen" (shows a video of it happening) "This isn't widespread" So how many videos do you need to see? 2? 10? 15???

Would you find it acceptable to shoot some footage of a handful of looting/arsonist incidents and proclaiming “protesters are doing X”, just like we are complaining that “police” are doing X? Or would you correct someone and say that isn’t happening, and when confronted with a video of someone somewhere doing a bad thing, inform them of the fact that a few cherry picked anecdotes do not represent the activity of the…

Perhaps you missed the note that got passed around that said something like:

"The police have been acting, and continue to act, with impunity. This needs to change ASAP".

If you genuinely missed that, then we're letting you know this is the problem. And it's a widespread problem across many countries.

If you're intentionally being dishonest, then piss off.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#539

Post by ashtonkem » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:05 AM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #271

Loughla wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly wish there was anyone in Washington who seemed willing or able to lead in a bipartisan manner. Someone who didn't rely on the partisan firestorm of the week to get support. It's all very disheartening, and hard to explain to my children.

Prisoner's dilemma. Bipartisanship is "cooperate", divisiveness is "defect". Cooperating with a defector results in losing badly. The right have worked this out and are playing "defect" continuously. And currently "winning". We have to change the payoff matrix.

The name for this is “asymmetric polarization”. The right polarized and stopped cooperating earlier and more aggressively.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#540

Post by gindely » Wed, Jun 03, 2020, 12:06 AM UTC

jariel wrote: post #479

kayfox wrote: post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your of course assuming that ambulance services don't track the protests and route around them as much as possible.

There is absolutely no need for emergency services to track pop-up protests, the very notion is absurd. We don't have the right to block traffic to promote our political opinions. When protestors block traffic, if the city decides they have to go, and they won't - in those situations, it's the protesters who are 'instigating', not the police. NRA 2cnd amendment protestors, pro/anti-abortion protestors, anti-capitalis…

Protests are inconvenient. But if you can amass enough people day after day to block major intersections with crowds of people, then the correct thing to do is to block major intersections with crowds of people day after day.

If people don't want their intersections blocked by crows of people day after day, then they should consider the extent to which their interests are compatible with the interests of the protesters, and if necessary and reasonable, consider joining the protesters to help them achieve their goal sooner. If seventy percent of the US population were protesting, the protests wouldn't last that long - unlike in Hong Kong.