General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Do you think all these gun nuts making threats will lead to a national Ruby Ridge situation? [View all]TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)...that some barred up "superhero" ON EITHER SIDE will screw the pooch and touch off a firefight.
THIS, is why most of the OWS arestees were arrested in a sitting position. Why most protest arestees are taken sitting, or in some other passive stance.
Take it as a given that, cops will inevitably overreact in tense situations, because they'd far rather attend a disciplinary hearing than be guest of honour at a funeral. The arseholes just waiting for an excuse are a minority. Most just want to be certain that they go home to wife and kids at the end of their shift.
The ONLY place to fight an illegitimate arrest is the courts. It does not matter how correct you KNOW you are and how wrong you KNOW the cop is. IF you resist with violence or the threat thereof, you'll eat gravel if you're lucky and lead if not.
Of course the police don't deserve a free pass, but if you offer them violence, you've almost certainly muddied the waters enough to effectively give them one.