You can’t leave out the absurd militarized rollout by the police. I never thought I would see a manned, tripod-mounted machine gun on top of an APC in this country, but the police did that in Ferguson - along with cop-troops sticking rifles in everyone’s faces and firing tear-gas into private yards. They deliberately incited the rioting by these acts, nothing less. It was obscene and dangerous and inexcusable. Anyone who doesn’t see it as a major incrementalism step towards acclimatizing the population towards totalitarianism is simply in denial.
Amen… but you do not dare say that among some in this crowd.
You will be accused of being a ‘race-baiter’.
Sorry, SWAT teams have existed for decades. With gangs and drug cartels the need for special weapons and tactics is obvious.
When confronting large crowds of angry people, who begin throwing rocks and then Molotov cocktails at officers, nd who reuse to disperse...tear gas is routinely used, then rubber bullets, etc.
This was not an incitement, it was a response to escalation, being driven by agitators and a wholly false narrative.
Not one...not one protestor has been injured by police. Several have been injured by other protestors, and several police have been injured by thrown rocks and bottles.
IMHO, when protestors begin initiating violence against law enforcement, they should be told to disperse. When the do not do so, but continue with violence the police should take measures to clear the streets. They did, using tear gas, and rubber bullets.
Had the crowd escalated it further, I am sure the billy clubs would have come out. I am grateful they did not.
One of the good things I have seen has been large numbers of protestors, lined up to keep agitators from approaching police line...and some of them specifically pointing out the offenders to police who then arrested the perps.
Good for those law abiding folks. I am sure they have helped prevent far worse violence.