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.
The yhugs and looters are nothing but criminals and should be treated as such, shoot the scum.
DUH! What did you expect?These people mean to hurt policemen. If it had been a white youth,do you think there would be violent protests? If it had been a black cop who had did the shooting,would these protests have taken place? Now GOD does not look at color,rather he looks at inside of people.Brarvo for our black friends who speak out against this.
How does it even make sense to loot? I agree they are just scum that should be shot! Target practice boys!
I liked truth and action, but after this report I’ll have to even more research on anything from you guys. The police were not like this until the people in Ferguson and others from outside the area that want to just cause problems, started burning and looting the local area. The city was being destroyed and they had to stop the situation. Now before someone says the police started the situation, I only go by facts. Does anyone know why the two young males were stopped in the first place? How many knew there was two? They were in the middle of the street walking from a gas station where one of the two was questioned about a shoplifting from the gas station. They men then wouldn’t move to the sidewalk to go where they were going. The cop attempted to get out of his cruiser and as he did he was were pushed back into the car. Now this where a few different reports vary but it should be all caught on the the camera in the car. There was a struggle and a alleged struggle over the gun. Let’s wait and see what the camera show and what the true facts are. The officer was treated at a hospital for contusions to his face. Why doesn’t the media report that? Or the burning and looting of the area leading to the stronger police force. This is why we have a news source like this and the followers should know to do their research. The protesters also threw some $#%&!@*tail bombs and shoots fired at the police. You don’t want your business protected and a normal protester safety protected?
It doesn’t matter the police are the forefront of Obamas way to bring martial law to America and they are being used! The UN has labelled white America as terrorists!
I have news for these black youth that are rioting in Ferguson, Missouri If ISIS does come into the US and take over you ass will be dead. They will kill any violence other then their own. The “blacks had better wise up and straighten up.
These cops should be fored and there comander too
IN MY OPINION THE THEY SHOULD HAVE SHOT THE ANNIMALS DEAD THAT IS NOT PROTESTINNG STEALIN AND BURNING OTHERS BUSSINNESSES WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE THANK GOD FOR THESE POLICE THAT WILL DO WHAT THEY EED TO TO QUELL THESE RIOTERS
can someone tell me why when any black is killed in the commission of a crime the blacks feel it is right to steal, loot, vandalize and burn to me this is sub-human response and the race baiters like Sharpton and Jackson don’t help matters
whats up with the camo $#%&!@* .. all the military c**p ….