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.
Jim Hoover says:
“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”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-427975
Jim Hoover says:
“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”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-427985
IS IT TRUE FROM THE PICTURES THEY SHOW OF THIS YOUNG MAN IN A GANG MAKING SIGNALS THAT GANGS MAKE & FINGERING ANYONE LOOKING AT THE PICTURE???????
Jim Hoover says:
“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”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-427993
Jim Hoover says:
“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?”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-427996
Jim Hoover says:
“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.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-428002
Jim Hoover says:
“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”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-428007
GREAT.NOW SEND THEM TO TTEXAS BOURDER!!!!!!
Jim Hoover says:
“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”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/new-police-exemplified-missouri-protests/comment-page-10/#comment-428012
What? This is the police? Looks like the military to me