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.
Obama promised us a domestic force as well armed as the military and I did not hear protests from either side about this. Personally I think its over the top and an incitement to more violence. These are not from Ferguson’s own Police Force but from neighboring cities. Stimulus money was used to hire more policemen and many of those hired with Federal money in larger cities may wear a local uniform and work locally but they actually report to an agency of the Federal Government. I can’t help but wonder how many of this type of ‘Policeman’ fall into this category. Would be interesting to know if Holder is paying for the busloads of protesters coming in as he did in FL. If so, its only going to get worse . Just hate what is happening to us.
Wonder why they have masks on, think we are being warned of the future!
Betty Woods look at that picture again…. that black tactical vest…… is body armor. They have even gone one step farther and have gotten out all of the “tacti-cool” equipment. If the bounderies were not overstepped in the first place and the unnamed officer would not have murdered that unarmed 18 year old boy( i could care less if he was purple/green/white/black….) the police would not be out in full tac gear. It is not ok to loot. Riots are going to happen when they circle the wagons and try to defend a criminal that is paid to uphold the law. Why is the shooter sitting in a cell? Lock him up and let justice be served. There you have it…. problem solved, no looting, no riots. Instead you get what we have going on there. The above the law attitude of the people we pay to serve us is unacceptable. If you confront them about this you will be met with violence. One cant expext to perpatrate violence on another and not expect a violent defense. I do not support the one way street the poilce opperate on. If they want peace they should be the first to lead by example.
Vehicle in background looks like a couple I seen at the Gillette Police Dept.
why are they pointing guns at we the people…. seems these men an supply’s should be on the boarders.
This shows exactly what everyone has been talking about for a few years now where in the hell has everyone been sitting on the john holding your heads… asking where the hell am I… about time to start waking up and paying attention … it is happening here what is happening in Iraq and Afganistan…you think your living on easy street.. well your living on disaster street.. about to explode.. wide open..
Sorry but I can’t agree with you in this instance. When you have looters and people throwing molotov $#%&!@*tails you don’t show up like you are going to a prom. There was a time in the not too distant past that looters in a mob were shot on site. I think they showed allot of restraint for the actions of the mob.Most of these “demonstrators” couldn’t care less about Michael Brown and only cared about what they could steal or destroy. The justice system will deal with the police officer when all the facts are in. The police are not always right but looting and burning a town cannot be condoned at any level.
How else are you supposed to stop the rioting? Just let them destroy everything? They brought it on themselves.
I hope all Americans have seen the “camps” that are ready, the FEMA coffins stacked and waiting, etc., etc. If you haven’t you need to WAKE UP!!! Christian, Constitution following and loving Americans ARE THE TARGET! THE ILLEGAL MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD TERRORIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALREADY TRIED (AND THANKS TO TRUE AMERICAN HEROES..FAILED) TO TAKE MILLIONS OF US OUT. HE HAS READIED “LAW ENFORCEMENT” TO BECOME “HIS” ASSASINS because he has learned that OUR HEROES IN THE MILITARY WON’T DO WHAT MOST “LAW ENFORCEMENT” WILL. Check it out…I KNOW it’s true!! You should decide and check it out before they TAKE EVERYTHING DOWN THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT I’VE JUST TOLD YOU!!
Amen Jack Lincer! This situation is a completely different incident