Federal judge orders police not to use chemical weapons, projectiles against peaceful Denver protes

[riversedge]

Source: Colorado Sun





“The Denver Police Department has failed in its duty to police its own,” Judge R. Brooke Jackson wrote in his sweeping ruling

Published on Jun 5, 2020 9:53PM MDT


A federal judge issued an extraordinary ruling late Friday ordering police not to use chemical weapons — such as tear gas and pepper spray — and less-lethal projectiles against peaceful protesters in Denver.

“The Denver Police Department has failed in its duty to police its own,” Judge R. Brooke Jackson wrote in his sweeping ruling.

The order comes on the the ninth straight day of demonstrations in the city in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minnesota police officers last week.

“The Court has reviewed video evidence of numerous incidents in which officers used pepper-spray on individual demonstrators who appeared to be standing peacefully, some of whom were speaking to or yelling at the officers, none of whom appeared to be engaging in violence or destructive behavior,” Jackson wrote. The order is immediate but temporary.............................

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2020/06/05/denver-george-floyd-protests-federal-order/

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[C Moon]

1. I was watching a protest on tv that was in Santa Monica, California on the second day (Saturday).

The police brought in some kind of armored vehicle, and were shooting rubber bullets and pepper bullets into the crowd.
I saw one guy get hit in the side by a rubber bullet, collapse, grab his side, and scramble off.

The newscaster had some of the bullets and showed them to the camera. They were HUGE—the rubber bullets. I was shocked. My first thought was that the guy who was hit in the side could have had major organ damage from that thing.

They also shot several canisters of tear gas.

By the time the Natl. Guard arrived, all of the war tactics stopped. I wonder why the arrival of the Guard made such a huge difference in attitude toward the protesters. To the police's credit, the crowd was throwing huge stones at the police (which hospitalized a few of them), so I think both sides had to settle down. The crowd was also throwing professional pyrotechnic fireworks at the police—they would explode with a big flash (like you see in the sky).

But yeah, calling those rubber bullets "a less lethal weapon" is not a good idea. Those things can kill, just like a rock thrown can kill, so they are still lethal.

[ArizonaLib]

4. Regarding the National Guard

You probably know this, but for those who may not:

The National Guard, which are known more often internally, as 'Citizen Solders'. They are intended to be full time members of the community, and professionally trained soldiers when on military duty. The intention behind not being full timers (except those manning offices during the week) is so that they service members of their own community when called to emergency assistance to civilians. Because full time law enforcement officers are not full time members of the community, they obviously have a different perspective.

The exception are military police units within the national guard. I have seen on CNN where the commentators inaccurately say 'those national guard troops are not trained for this...' When I was working at the state headquarters in AZ during the 90's, the military police units spent a lot of time practicing riot control. It is important to note that many members of these units are full time law enforcement officers. Of the approximately 35 units during the mid 90's in AZ, there were about 3 military police companies in Arizona. They were among the first to be mobilized to Desert Shield/Storm, along with some transportation units.

Part of the idea is that the national guard is commanded by local governors, and the citizen soldiers are in theory less likely to practice violence against its own community members. The president can nationalize national guard troops instantly, but it does not instantly change a soldier's attitude toward their community. This is why the president has recently threatened federal troops - the federal troop command structure has little to no relationship with the local governors and local community members. These relationships also explain any expressions of sympathy or compassion the national guard troops have toward protesters - something this president is afraid of viewers seeing on tv.

Solidarity, C Moon
PS - Let's give Ireland back to the Irish

[azureblue]

6. slightly OT

The NG is what The Constitution describes in the 2nd amendment - a "well regulated militia" .
And that's the part the gun nuts ignore. They don't want to do their patriotic duty and be a Guardsman in order to own firearms.

[ArizonaLib]

7. You are correct - this should never be left out of any conversation re: 2nd amend or the NG

Thanks!

[Polybius]

9. The 2nd Amendment completely contradicts itself

One part says "A well regulated Militia." That strongly implies the National Guard. Then it says "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." That strongly implies that it's a person right. It's very contradictory.

[Cha]

2. YAY!

[quakerboy]

3. How many days will it take

for them to violate this order?
Or to judge shop for someone to put it on hold or overturn.

Also.. why did they need a court order. Why didn't mayor Hancock already deal with that.

[Bayard]

5. So now the baton work will become more lethal

[47of74]

8. How long til Mitch McFuckstick starts pressuring Jackson to retire

[Coventina]

10. FTP & ACAB