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 that’s what I read also. The officer is beaten badly. Michael Brown was actually shot inside the car while he was k
That is not what the people who witnessed this incident said. If He was beaten so badly how come he is not in the hospital? that is another propaganda statement put out by the police chief who by the way has been relieved of command of the situation
Welcome to Hussein obamas new police state. There your change,
Those aren’t cops or police. They are armed thugs. They are not upholding a law, they are crushing freedom.
Ha! Really?!
If you were a policeman & people were throwing bricks & other thing’s at you.What would you do? The police were just trying to control a lot of people that were out of control.
You might want to watch how the British handled their riots, they used round shields and helmets not military gear. And, before you tell me there was gunfire from the crowd I’ve watched all the videos of this incident, all the gunfire that I’ve seen has come from the police, not the demonstrators. Again, more propaganda from the local police to justify their actions on civilians
REMEMBER OUR GOVERNMENT JUST BOUGHT A FEW MILLION BULLETS!!!!!!! The people in Missouri need answers, the neighborhood deserves better than rioter’s…THEY ARE SOOOOO WRONG TO DESTROY THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reminds me of NAZI Germany in the 30’s, Communist Russia in the 50’s, communist China in the 70’s and the middle east for the last 20 years.
weekend warriors hiding behind barrys skirt
I am loathe to say it’s a “Black” problem but it is. I’m OK with the protests, even the evil incarnate, the “Reverend Al Sharpton, but before a thorough investigation is conducted, it’s RIOT TIME, get your goodies, break windows, set stores on fire. No dearth of “witnesses”. “He didn’t do anything.”, “He was running from what??” “He just finished conducting a Bible study class.” I am not in the shoes of these officers and cannot judge what really occurred; however, I’m seeing more and more abuse by a minority of police officers who should be in some other profession. My sympathy to the Michael Brown family at the loss of their son.
Jim Hoover says:
“I’m sorry but if the cop that shot that young unarmed man came to my neighborhood I would complain. You Ed Rivera are the people that Martin Luther King Jr. warned us about the ones who stand by and do nothing while evil does it[‘s thing”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-427969