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.
THey wanted a war by acting like animals we need out police to protect and serve let them do their job
“We rolled lighter than that in a warzone.”
Must have been a bitch being behind the wire in that nice comfy rack with REAL soldiers providing security for you huh?
mob is looting your store … call the weed salesman ?
That’s why all citizens should arm thier selves I wish the brothers would have picked of the snippers on the military vehicles. But the thug brown was not a soft giant he was a thug he would have been a men acne to society any ways
Yes, body armor and snazzy camo patterns turned a group of peaceful, 1st amendment loving bunny-huggers into firebomb throwing urban bargain hunters. The police wear $#%&!@* like that to have a better chance of going home. I’m sure if the cops wore bunny suits or big red noses and wigs the “protestors” would put up the SKS and Glock for-tay and stop burning $#%&!@*. $#%&!@*s.
Vance Plumhoff….you are my hero bro.
Libtards will never get it.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about how to do our jobs, the gear we use, and what we wear…yet they seem to have never set foot in our shoes.
I love the comment “We rode lighter than that in a warzone.”
I call bull$#%&!@*, but what would you or I know.
Looks like their dressed to go into a full fledged war zone!
I’m really getting tired of the bashing the cops are getting. Reports say it looks like a war zone. If I was a cop I sure would want more than a hand gun and have to deal with these savages. The governor who is a liberal is in conversation with Obama and Holder. He’s going to insult the cops more by bringing in the state police to earn their trust back. This is showing the low life’s it pays to play the race card and act like savages. If those people got a job the taxpayers wouldn’t be supporting them and they wouldn’t have the time to protest loot steal and destroy businesses. This punk was a gang member. All of this for a POS. He had a criminal record also. Good people need to move out, cops need a different place to work other than with these low life losers. Business need to relocate. Let the thugs kill each other like in Chicago.
Can you blame them when almost every person is carrying a gun “for protection”? They were hollaring Kill the police”.
The level of ignorance and bigotry by the idiots commenting is stark proof that racism is alive and stronger than ever. There have been riots, looting and mass protest on college campuses, celebratory moments and problems across the country by white people the last few years but your evil minded, sick sense of self exceptionalism cant see. The Fat tuesday riots in south philadelphia, the Indiana of Paa riots, purdue Indiana ckash, l.a. championship riots, etc the occupy wall st protests were 90% white, police had bottles thrown, businesses took damage, etc but you bigots are too evil minded to put away your ignorant and pathetic racial and racist bias’. Whats even worse, is the fact whats been happening to minorities for 50 years, now finds it self on your doorstep. Police shoot and kill you now too! Your cowardice and fear keeps your head pinned to racist ideologies instead of being quality human beings and real AMERICANS and standing up for EVERYONES right to live. By ANY MEANS NECESSARY. I am ashamed that people around the world lump people like you in with MY country. Love freedom for all, or get the $#%&!@* out!