Why are cops being used to harass peaceful protestors?

[MrScorpio]

Not just in NYC, but everywhere else in the country.

What do state and city politicians think will be gained by this course of action, especially when publicity of that harassment makes the protests more sympathetic and popular?

[elleng]

1. No good idea. Self-images of 'toughness?'

:(

[snappyturtle]

2. Why? because they get away with it. Look what they did here in the Twin

Cities before and during the Repuke convention. Hopefully the individual police person will learn that his/her power is superceded by the power of the people.

[cleanhippie]

3. Because it is a threat to "the system." This movement is poised to CHANGE EVERYTHING...

and the establishment is not going to go down without a fight. Repubs, Dems, Liberals and Conservatives, anyone who benefits from the current system is fighting this.

[G_j]

8. bottom line? they are there to protect the 1%. nt

[cleanhippie]

14. Exactly.

[brooklynite]

4. Because they're responsible for Law Enforcement...

I know it's not a popular theme here, but the local Police are not responsible for arresting Bankers and investigating white-collar financial crimes. They are responsible for enforcing local laws on the books in each community, many of those laws passed by Democratic City Councils and Mayors. Those laws include not blocking the streets (without a permit) and obstructing traffic, and generally prohibit camping, amplified noise or built structures in public parks and plazas (again, without a permit). It is perfectly legitimate to raise questions about how the Police are enforcing the laws (FWIW, the Seattle Police I saw this past weekend were keeping a much lower profile that NYPD) but it is not reasonable to want them to make arbitrary decisions as to which laws to enforce and which not to.

[PETRUS]

5. Don't kid yourself.

The structure of our laws has created a situation where the police DO make artibrary decisions about law enforcement everyday. Capsule example: Speed limits. 80% of traffic is over the maximum, officers decide who to pick on. Same story with excessive use of "stop & frisk" tactics in NYC. There is a two-tiered justice system in place in this country, arbitrary enforcement is one aspect of it. That said, police behavior towards protestors is almost certainly a result of marching orders delivered from above. Just as the suspension of SEC investigations into Wall Street fraud (and subsequent destruction of evidence) was a result of orders from above.

[Logical]

7. And slap a few of them around in the process.

[TBF]

10. "Law Enforcement" as defined by the 1% who make the laws ... nt

[kctim]

15. Aw, come on now

You can't have a 'poor me' conspiracy out of those facts. You're supposed to ignore them.

[pintobean]

18. Good post

[Logical]

6. Because COPS can legally harass people.

[backscatter712]

9. Because police departments are owned by the banksters. n/t

[madrchsod]

11. they work cheaper than hired goons.....

[Scuba]

12. Campaign donations. n/t

[fascisthunter]

13. those in control of the Police are Stupid and Out of Touch with Reality

their own impulses are that of bullies, so they order the police to bully with very little thought of repercussions. If they were smart, they'd realize that ordering cops to treat peaceful protestors this way is back-firing... the meatheads do not care, they just want to brutalize those they dislike.

[coalition_unwilling]

16. The cops are class traitors and enemies of the people - n/t

[lpbk2713]

17. They are easily manipulated by the power brokers.

Some law enforcement types, not all, truly believe they protect and serve the wealthy and powerful.
They view the poor and disadvantaged in an adversarial light. Take most traffic stops for example.

[Gregorian]

19. Because everything is owned by the corporations.

Not really. But we have lost (or more like been forced into) the sense of union. Now we tend to be more of a MacUnitedstatesofamerica. Even if it's only the perception by many people. It is still the fact that treating public space like private space is tolerated.

[blindpig]

20. Because the primary purpose of the State is to protect Property.

Property is very touchy and takes any criticism as a threat.