General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe US government are using chemical weapons on their own citizens.
While the first link is to a Facebook page, in the second link the government doesn't deny using chemical weapons on civilians.

Link
https://www.facebook.com/TheDailyPolitik/photos/the-us-government-are-now-using-chemical-weapons-on-their-own-citizenson-wednesd/1361083062730323/
Link
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ice-agents-deploy-chemical-irritants-during-minneapolis-enforcement-forcing-live-tv-cut-and-reporter-coughing/ar-AA1UhioM
Coldwater
(984 posts)erronis
(22,761 posts)Smoke grenades, called hexachloroethane smoke or HC smoke, utilize a mixture containing roughly equal parts of hexachloroethane and zinc oxide and approximately 6% granular aluminium. These smokes are toxic, which is attributed to the production of zinc chloride (ZnCl2).[8][9] According to Steinritz et al., "Due to its potential pulmonary toxicity," zinc chloride producing smoke grenades "have been discharged from the armory of most western countries (...)."[10]
Use as a riot control agent
Most documented uses of HC smoke as a riot control agent have occurred in the United States; its purchase towards that end has occurred in Milwaukee, Denver and Portland.[11]
Federal Protective Services (FPS) and forces from the Department of Homeland Security are believed to have used HC smoke grenades against protesters during various protests in 2020.[12] At the time, journalists photographed numerous smoke canisters labeled "HC", and measured unusually high levels of zinc and chloride in the area. However, FPS communications director Rob Sperling has denied the use of HC smoke, arguing that, of the two organizations, "FPS doesn't have any items that contain HC."[13]
Toxicity
Hexachloroethane is not particularly toxic when taken orally,[14] but is considered to be quite toxic by skin adsorption. The primary effect is depression of the central nervous system.[3] The concentration that is immediately dangerous to life or health is 300 ppm and the permissible exposure limit according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 1 ppm (skin).[14] It is reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen.[15]
dutch777
(4,912 posts)bluestarone
(21,301 posts)What can be done to even investigate this? Jesus Christ people are fucking stupid to continue allowing masks on these terrorists.
Coldwater
(984 posts)but they won't because it's controlled by MAGA rightwing ideologues
jaymac
(260 posts)all that hate filled manosphere on line Limbaugh, beck, rogan smith, all that right wing Fox News psychobabble....that's how we got here.......
Coldwater
(984 posts)He was detained at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities found a bottle of Viagra in his bag after returning home from a vacation (picking up male prostitutes) in the Dominican Republic.
Chemical Bill
(3,066 posts)Frankly, most other options (picking up or paying for women or men) were available in the US. He certainly didn't need to leave the country to romp with the guys he traveled with.
Timeflyer
(3,701 posts)BTW, to call Congress re: this and all the fascist BS--- 1-202-2243121.
Chemical Bill
(3,066 posts)but it is not something you want to be exposed to.
stage left
(3,211 posts)I have that number on speed dial
bronxiteforever
(11,124 posts)Ol Janx Spirit
(761 posts)...[t]he nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
But now federal agents are invading cities and states to just "do their job" and "help" fight crime by deporting your neighbors?
Where are all of those "states' rights;" government should be so small you can drown it in a bathtub Republicans now?
I guess they are trying to make that old quote from Ronny Ray Gun true after all....
It is terrifying.
FakeNoose
(40,328 posts)... in fact THEY are the riot!
Minneapolis citizens are peaceful in their own neighborhoods, minding their own business.
Moostache
(11,011 posts)1) Release the goddamn Trumpstein files already.
2) Boycott the 2026 World Cup matches because they are going to be a magnet for protests and violence from ICE and Trump's Gestapo SS thugs.
If I were foreign, there is ZERO CHANCE I would come to the USA and risk being hit with chemical weapons and arrest for the appearance of my skin tone or the imbeciles in charge of this shithole country at the moment.
I would also push really hard on the IOC to move the 2028 Olympics out of Los Angeles and to Mexico City or Toronto.
haele
(15,113 posts)Or if it does, there won't be any crowds of spectators. Maybe lots of National Guard or DHS to ensure a "peaceful event", but very few actual visitors
Just hoping people didn't buy tickets early, because with the militarization of US law enforcement and politics, fewer people are going to want to go out and risk being caught up in protests or worse, political roundups and hit squad actions.
FakeNoose
(40,328 posts)It's the fact that we cannot guarantee the safety of any of these foreigners who might be coming to the US this summer. Many of them are brown and black, and many don't speak English. For the ones who do speak English, it's their 2nd language. Normally that would be fine, but these aren't normal times.
If these ICE assholes are still wandering around shooting people and tossing riot gas cannisters into crowds, it will be a recipe for disaster.
MadameButterfly
(3,790 posts)He is dreaming of showing off at World Cup and Olympics like Hitler did
RetiredParatrooper
(87 posts)HC was/is also used for screening purposes and can be deployed by field artillery shells and hand grenades.
This is NOT saying that it will be done, it is merely how I came to be acquainted with HC smoke during my says as an Army Forward Observer.
BidenRocks
(2,830 posts)We won't be using the N part.
They have started with the Chemical attacks. Do they realize we have access to chemistry books?
Bleach and ammonia? Nasty. A quick internet search lists many things which never should be mixed.
They started it. Even if they had masks, they will have failed the first step! (GAS! Quit breathing and put your mask on). These untrained yahoos will take that last breath first.
Finally Biological. Peaceful protests with all measles, flu and Covid cases up front greeting the SS. They are choosing to be near you. Cough a lot! I doubt the masks are N1. Spread the word.
Sheeple? Are they in for a surprise! Uncle Sam trained us to kill to protect the Constitution.
Upscale the violence at your own risk!
Pray for peace but prepare for war!
THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
thesquanderer
(12,905 posts)wolfie001
(7,172 posts)I hope our Democracy can withstand these fascist pigs.
stage left
(3,211 posts)I'll be calling my mis-represenatatives in the morning.
B.See
(7,869 posts)drone strikes, carpet bombing and tanks. Coming soon to a theatre near you.
In Trump's fascist America.
eppur_se_muova
(41,066 posts)Granular aluminum is a very active reducing agent, especially when hot -- this is what drives the Thermite reaction.
Many chlorinated and fluorinated/chlorinated organic compounds come with warnings not to let them contact aluminum. This is because aluminum can react with these compounds to generate aluminum chloride (AlCl3) -- a powerfully reactive Lewis acid -- and a (at least partially) dechlorinated organic compound. In the case of hexachlorethane (HC) one would expect the first product of reduction to be tetrachloroethylene (TCE), a toxic, carcinogenic liquid which is reportedly able to react violently with aluminum. The reduction product of that *might* be, but probably isn't dichloroacetylene, a gas with reacts explosively with oxygen; it's more likely that in the presence of atmospheric moisture it is reduced to trichloroethylene (unfortunately, also "TCE" ), a toxic, carcinogenic liquid made infamous by the high incidence of leukemia in the vicinity of chemical plants in Woburn, MA, publicized by the book and movie "A Civil Action". None of the compounds listed so far should be ingested by anyone.
So what's all the emphasis on zinc chloride ? Zinc Oxide (ZnO), a slightly basic oxide, is capable of reacting with the more acidic AlCl3 to form ZnCl2, a weaker (but still irritant*) Lewis acid, and Al2O3, which causes Shaver's Disease when inhaled. Calling this mixture a "toxic brew" isn't hysteria or overreaction, it's a pretty straightforward literal description. Supposedly, these "smoke grenades" were declared obsolete years ago. It should be illegal to keep them around anymore.
*If you've ever done soldering with an "acid flux", you've probably inhaled a little ZnCl2 and the HCl fumes that accompany it. Not particularly pleasant, but maybe one of the *less* harmful chemicals in this "green smoke".
red dog 1
(32,562 posts)Trump's America = Hitler's Germany