Yes - very similar situations.
Maybe we should all make excuses for the dirtbags who hit a cop with a rock. "Conditional assualt" we could call it - cops can't be guilty of assault, rioters can't be guilty of assault, because there are always some special circumstances.
Cool... free for all, that sounds good to me. Nobody should go crying to the media or FBI for investigations.
Raise the red rag and let's have some fun.