When residents took to the streets to protest the recent killing of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown by local police in the small town of Ferguson, Missouri, we get a clear look at today’s law enforcement – not exactly persons you would feel comfortable calling should you need to be protected or served.
Instead of showing up to help serve citizens exercising their rights to protest against an injustice, these law enforcement officers show up in full military gear, flaunting an ‘us vs them’ mentality.
This is the new USA.
“Why do these cops need MARPAT camo pants again,” I asked on Twitter this morning. One of the most interesting responses came from a follower who says he served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division: “We rolled lighter than that in an actual warzone,” writes Paul Szoldra from Business Insider, who wrote an penned an article questioning the recent change in our law enforcement.
There can be no doubt that American citizens are the new ‘insurgents’. The state is obviously preparing for a coming event. Are you aware of this? Are you prepared?
We looked intimidating, but all of our vehicles and equipment had a clear purpose for combat against enemy forces. So why is this same gear being used on our city streets?
On Saturday, a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black man. In the days that have followed, the town with a population of about 21,000 has seen massive protests in response to the shooting, as some witnesses said Brown had his hands up when he was killed.
Putting aside what started the protests for a moment, it’s worth discussing the police response to the outrage. In photos taken Monday, we are shown a heavily armed SWAT team.
They have short-barreled 5.56-mm rifles based on the military M4 carbine, with scopes that can accurately hit a target out to 500 meters. On their side they carry pistols. On their front, over their body armor, they carry at least four to six extra magazines, loaded with 30 rounds each.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Police officers try to disperse a crowd Monday in Ferguson, Missouri.
Their uniform would be mistaken for a soldier’s if it weren’t for their “Police” patches. They wear green tops, and pants fashioned after the U.S. Marine Corps MARPAT camouflage pattern. And they stand in front of a massive uparmored truck called a Bearcat, similar in look to a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, or as the troops who rode in them call it, the MRAP.
When did this become OK? When did “protect and serve” turn into “us versus them”?
“Why do these cops need MARPAT camo pants again,” I asked on Twitter this morning. One of the most interesting responses came from a follower who says he served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division: “We rolled lighter than that in an actual warzone.”
AP/Jeff Roberson
The police point their weapons at a car as it pulls away after tear gas was used by authorities Monday in Ferguson, Missouri.
Let’s be clear: This is not a war zone — even if the FAA banned flights under 3,000 feet. This is a city outside of St. Louis where people on both sides are angry. Protesters have looted and torched a gas station, and shots were fired at police, according to The Washington Post.
The scene is tense, but the presence of what looks like a military force doesn’t seem to be helping.
“Bring it. You fucking animals, bring it,” one police officer was caught on video telling protesters. In Ferguson and beyond, it seems that some police officers have shed the blue uniform and have put on the uniform and gear of the military, bringing the attitude along with it.
Matt Ford, the social-media editor at The Atlantic, summed it up well:
And here’s journalist Radley Balko, author of “Rise of the Warrior Cop“:
In Afghanistan, we patrolled in big, armored trucks. We wore uniforms that conveyed the message, “We are a military force, and we are in control right now.” Many Afghans saw us as occupiers.
And now we see some of our police officers in this same way. “The militarization of law enforcement is counter-productive to domestic policing and needs to stop,” tweeted Andrew Exum, a former Army infantry officer.
If there’s one thing I learned in Afghanistan, it’s this: You can’t win a person’s heart and mind when you are pointing a rifle at his or her chest.
Corporations all steal something.
this looks more like a military invasion than a police force
Cops would rather fight civilians???
If the thugs are getting more like Islamics then the law needs to step it up to kill the cancer!!
all Sharpton those is duel his hate amongs the people because he is a racists and hate whites so don’t call us racists every time a black kid gets killed the kid was a good kid and so on but some pictures tell a different story but instead of letting the police and handle it why to there always have to riot and destroy stuff that don’t solve nothing was it a white officer that shot brown???????/ sense there say there all black police men exept 3 are white I think all you people do is destroy you comunatie . the press is all over that and Sharpton has a field day with this because he is cheering people on with his hatered he should stay out of it. wen a black person kills white people I guess that’s ok I hear no out cry from any media then like some one said in Chicago black people kill each other every day over drugs and other stuff I don’t see that racist Sharpton over there to make peace or say something he looks forward to shooting his mouth of about racism and now there destryen every thing thaks mr. Sharpton for getting the people to do this I am surprised Jackson is not there. wen a white couple gets killed I don’t hear the president say anything or the media is not all over. things have gotten worse sense that congress got in the wh there is a lot of good black and white people in America who don’t want that stuff going on and are civilized people I know mr and mrs brown want justice and there the deserve justice for there son but do it the legal way what is happening now in your town solves nothing. all the facts should go from there. all these hatred and rioting is wrong . Sharpton go home and stop interfearing everytime something happens let the people handle it there own way with out a riot
But senseless killing should not be happening!
This is all part of the plan that follows decision ! Take over from the inside . Change from the top down , from the bottom up ! Once division takes place you can bet there will be unrest . They have prepared for unrest ! Next step is , once our country is at unrest and fighting with each other , in other words occupied !! Then the laws of our nation will change dramatically to give government the authority to instill what I believe Sharia law ! Then they will begin the bloodbath to unite this country into the new America under sharia . The new policies will be to horrify people into submission ! I believe these socialists are so drunk on power right now with their agenda , they are making a huge mistake ! They like many others have failed to grasp true Americans and their love for country . This administration understands the risk of a civil conflict , heck they want it , are seeding it now ! They just don’t understand American patriotism ! I remember a clip of Michelle Obama standing next to his husband . No sound but you could lip read her statement . And see Obama shake his head ! She said : all this for a flag !! Obama shook his head in disgust ! It was for the protest of closing national parks and monuments ! Blood will be shed and that is exactly what they are seeding ! Support this ? HELL NO !
what will happen next is you will see cops being killed… ambushed.. shot and killed..and they will blame everyone but themselves…
From the videos I’ve seen there are no peaceful protest happening. People are rioting and that requires a different approach then if it was just a protest.
have been saying this from the mint. they stared gun control across this country. this is what its about now. are freedomas are being wiped out across this country, by obama and the whackos in D/C . people you better wake the hell up and see what kind of people your putting into office. large citys and small towns, once your freedom is gone its gone. we will be no, differance then other countrys. think not better think again, the nut cases in D/C is tearing this country to pieces,