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.
No,because of incidents like this is why our police needs to have those gears.
You do know that Britain just endured a week of Riots much worse than this and not one armored vehicle and not one M-4 carbine in sight and only three officers hurt none seriously
Although I don’t know any more than the rest of you, and I do not like the looks of this lets just pause and think for a moment when people take to the streets over a racially motivated incident how nasty it usually gets, the looting, the assaults, and in some cases the killing of other innocent people. I think this is more being prepared in case it is needed. And don’t forget that it was a policeman that shot and killed this boy. I am all about something big is going to happen and that there is a definite police state brewing I just don’t think this is a good example. JMO
cops a bit too military imho. excesses have been noted. however they must protect themselves especially when outnumbered. riot duty different than city patrol for sure. Only a couple people in Ferguson know what happened we hope the trruth comes out. disrespect for authority rampant now days. too many tort lawyers.
The first thing that happened was Looting and Destroying property by the Uninformed in the group, there was no initial peaceful Demonstrations, the police are being attacked as well, what would you expect !!
another uninformed person heard from. Not a peaceful protest? You tell me how a group of people chanting hands up please don’t shoot is anything but a peaceful demonstration. You are talking about a few frustrated people looting and burning businesses those should be arrested but they were clearly not a part of the Demonstration, Those are just the excuses that you can use for the behavior of the police to treat the demonstrators the way they are doing
Welcome to Nazi Germany. Get Guns and Drones. These Terrorist cops No trial, No Lawyer cause ur all ready guilty. Rand Paul 2016!
When dealing with lawless savages you have to use force
So said the United States Army about the Native Americans. So said the Spanish about the natives of Mexico and South America. So said Adolf Hitler about those nasty Jews. So said Chairman Mao about the people who opposed him, the same with Stalin and Lenin, Pol Pot. None have worked out for the better Think on that
It appears that Michael Brown attacked the officer before he even got out of his car and Brown was shot attacking the officer inside of the officers car.
not according to two eyewitnesses that were there, How are you so sure? Because, the police said that, and of course the police have never lied. It is to their benefit if that version of events becomes the truth, doesn’t it?
This comment is ridiculous.
The situation may have called for this. They sure as hell never know what they may come up on. They don’t need to dress in shorts, t-shirts and a plastic cup of water to disperse a mob……We would needed to be there to know if was right or wrong.
If you show up in Riot gear guess what will more than likely happen? You guessed it a Riot. If you show up in regular uniform and treat people with respect and only arrest those who are breaking the law like looting breaking and entering and let the protesters protest guess what you get a peaceful demonstration. and yes how you dress can influence your reactions to stimuli.
Watched a problem as long as they are burning and looting their own