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Posted on 10/27/2011 5:35:51 AM PDT by Haiku Guy
Both the protesters and the police are at fault for the violence yesterday.
I'm not clear on what happened in Oakland last night, except that it was bad. The police are saying that they had to deploy beanbags and maybe tear-gas because people started throwing bottles, plates, and rocks when they tried to clear out the encampment at Occupy Oakland. I don't find this entirely implausible.
The protesters are saying that when their authority was challenged, the police reacted with overwhelming and inappropriate force, which I also don't find entirely implausible. Since the police and the protesters seem, to date, to be the only two witnesses to this event, I can't really call this one.
Since I don't really know which side is at fault (both, maybe) I'll offer some unsolicited advice to all parties.
(snip)
(Inane and useless pontificating follows abundantly)
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
“The Oakland police acted stupidly”...
Nah, but it sure was fun...
“Progressives” want government to control everybody and everything except them and their activities.
Beer Summit!
Well, lots of folks here want things to be like they used to be...I remember lots of riots back in the ‘60s, not to mention all those since the Whiskey Rebellion. Things have been relatively calm since the ‘80s.
An Oakland officer claimed to have seen someone in the camp with an AR -15, Hence the ramp up of forces..
McArdle thinks that the Obamavilles will be useful politically. This is a fantasy. These demonstrations are going to end ugly.
I agree, not many riots end attractively.
Interesting reading the comments section, not many readers sympathized with the OWs crowd. And The Atlantic is hardly a hotbed of conservative literature. When even many lefties are getting fed-up with the mostly filthy swine inhabiting their streets and parks, it might be time for Obama to reevaluate his support of the whiners.
I dont approve at all of these stun grenades used by the cops.
Both groups are using this for their own purpose.
The police state loves this stuff.
That is why we need to make sure Obama cannot distance himself from the Obamavilles. He married the girl... Now he has to stick with her!
San Francisco doesn’t want ‘em. Those “tolerant and sophisticated” San Franciscans are fed up with the OWSers.
I don't think those were stun grenades. I think they were tear gas canisters that emit a startling bang when they are deployed. But they are not bright or loud enough to incapacitate the way a stun grenade does.
Not to say that means you should support the use of this type of tear gas canister, of course. It's just a different critter.
I dont support OWS, but the police are no better.
Both are exploiting this situation for gain.
Watch the new toys these cops get next year as a result of this.
Except that's not what happened. That's the delicious irony to this whole thing.
Those weren't federal forces out there. Those were Oakland PD cops, deployed by the duly elected government of the people of the City of Oakland, Cal. The Mayor is a Democrat, as is every member of the City Council.
These are lefties rebelling against the laws and ordinances exacted, and apparently enforced, by their fellow local lefties.
anybody who thinks any police actions are ‘unprovoked’ has obviously never been in the line of fire of the crap protesters toss and spit at the police ..
some of the local media on location reported bottles and stones being thrown.. peaceful? hardly.
No. I watched it and the protestors were not only throwing things, they were shooting bottle rockets and throwing m-80's around, and hit several people including the police. The police responded with tear gas only. Those who ran up and confronted police, or refused to move were arrested.
I'm not clear on what happened in Oakland last night...
She knows exactly what happened, because she had the same opportunity I did to watch the videos. She just doesn't want to believe, or admit to what she saw.
A true hero is that guy in Atlanta that showed up at the protests sporting a rifle. When asked what he was doing there he replied that he didn't agree with what the protesters were standing for, but he was going to protect them from anybody trying to shut them up. Now THAT'S a TRUE American.
Then those cops are pussies. I worked as a bouncer in late nite bars in Chicago for years, and we had a motto, “Let them hit you. They’re yuppies. They can’t hurt you.” If these cops can’t handle a few bottle stones and hockers flying at them, they should have gotten jobs greeting people at Walmart.
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