Police raise weapons while making arrest during Occupy Denver protest (pics)

[cal04]

Police raise weapons while making an arrest during the Occupy Denver protest in Denver on Saturday. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

Occupy Denver protesters, law enforcement officers clash; 7 arrested
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19223274

Occupy Denver protesters and law enforcement officers clashed this afternoon after demonstrators marched around downtown Denver for the fourth week in a row.

Police confirmed they used pepper spray and either rubber bullets or pepper balls to disperse the crowd in Civic Center. Broadway was closed off at both Colfax and 14th Avenue and a stream of patrol cars, lights flashing and sirens blaring, hurried to the scene. Officers were dressed in riot gear.

Denver police spokesman Matt Murray said seven arrests had been made — including two for assault and one for disobedience.





7 Occupy Denver protesters arrested, some pepper sprayed
http://www.9news.com/news/article/227022/339/Some-Occupy-Denver-protesters-arrested-pepper-sprayed-


Denver police use force on Occupy protesters

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500188_162-20127440/denver-police-use-force-on-occupy-protesters/

CBS News

[Gman]

1. What an asshole

Reminds me of "Francis" in Bill Murray's movie Stripes. He wanted to be called "Killer". He said to anyone that would call him Francis, "I'll kill ya!"

Friggin' asshole.

[redgiant]

25. And you're ignorant--of firearms

Notice the red rifle stock. Notice the uncharacteristic straight magazine.

It's a pepperball launcher. The magazine contains preloaded CO2 cartridges and pepperballs.

Go to this link, then scroll down about 6 or 7 items.

http://www.pepperball.com/law/products.html#tac14

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. And that is still not to be done

Go on

[redgiant]

30. Wrong!

Effecting an arrest, surrounded by hostile crowd, even an unarmed one, they have every right to bring non-lethal weapons to bear. Have you never seen video of traffic stops and arrests where officers draw their *firearms* or are covered by others doing so? It's standard procedure for officer safety.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Worked the streets side by side the cops tough one

How about you? Oh wait, you've seen videos, my error.

Also that was not a violent crowd. There is more, those rounds are not fired that close due to officer safety. They tend to be full of capsein which can temporarilly blind, the last thing you need for officer safety.

[redgiant]

35. Please make a substantive reply to my statement...

...that it is permissible to bring weapons to bear (or to be covered by officers with weapons) when effecting an arrest.

The crowd was hostile and pushing forward. And the weapon is NON-LETHAL. Cops use pepper spray at arm's length (and sometimes receive backspray). There is no reason a paintball-size pepper round would pose undue risk to the officer. Perhaps the crowd could have heeded the orders to keep their distance during the arrest and a close-quarters face-off could have been avoided.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Well you have a cops and YouTube attitude

Informed by real life in the streets.

Of course tough law and order types who inform their views from you tube will take the side of cops.

But let's try to explain this to you in plain english. Those balls are filled with the chemical that makes peppers so damn spicy. They are meant to irritate the living daylights of your nose and eyes causing temp blindness at the range shown, your spray from your pepper spray is nor going to cause any issues, but those balls will. If your officers are temporarilly blinded you got real issues. That is why they like more like fifteen to twenty feet, not point blank. For the record the effective range in these puppies is not that long anyway, nor muzzle velocities are that high.

Now go watch cops.

[redgiant]

47. I see what you did

You turned your desire to be outraged by the cops' actions towards me when I blunted a main reason for that outrage (potential lethal force) by presenting factual information about the "gun" causing so much alarm. What's that old saw about, "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with facts?"

So, you made snide remarks to me about being a "tough one" or a some kind of a "Cops" and "You Tube" wannabe. That is so immature, so intellectually dishonest of you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. I presented facts

Oh and one last free hint, less than lethal does not mean they can't kill.

I did not make up my mind, photos show point blank range...I raised the officer safety issue in NOT using these tools correctly.

Now let's not raise all the first Ammendment issues here ok. That shan't be mentioned either.

Have a good day.

[redgiant]

53. Not...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2211258&mesg_id=2211666

[ooglymoogly]

83. What are you 12 going on 13?

[politicat]

57. They're not NON-lethal weapons.

They're less than lethal, meaning they have less of a chance of causing death, but they still can kill, especially at such close range.

Even paintballs can kill when fired directly at the face, throat or chest at less than 10 feet. ("tsk, tsk," says my father my head. "Awful weapon discipline in those photos...") It's not "just" a CO2 gun at point blank range --then it is just as dangerous as any weapon. Paintballs have a much lower density and consumer paintball guns are significantly lower powered than pepper shot in LE arms, and at less than 10 feet, all it would take is one mis-step, one trip, one reflexive squeeze. Given how tightly packed that crowd is, everyone - cops and citizens - is in danger. Stupidity, incompetence and thoughtlessness cause a lot more problems in this world than does malice. That situation today? It was ripe for one bad decision causing harm. We - citizens and cops - all got lucky again today that Murphy didn't decide to drop kick us. That luck has held so far, but it won't last forever.

Having seen our right cowboys up close and personal (though not today), DPD has a history of being undisciplined, trigger happy and poorly trained with their DHS/DEA toys. DPD has such a history of poor behavior that they're under DOJ investigation. (Remember the series of lethal, no-knock raids where the cops got the addresses wrong, or busted into houses that, despite being under continual surveillance, still managed to shoot children? Those were here. Our blue canaries are not good with rules.) They've exhausted much of their local benefit of the doubt.

Was that crowd hostile? I was not there today, but given having been there before, my bet is on, not really, or at least, no more so than after the Broncos lose a big game. (Which DPD handles just fine without pepper spray or many arrests, despite bigger crowds, more alcohol and sports induced surliness.) Is DPD feeling paranoid? You betcha. Do they have a right to defend themselves against legitimate threats? Yes, but I'll bet the contents of my savings account that there wasn't a threat.

Right now, DPD has had most weekends (whatever days they are) and all vacation canceled for the near future. Most are working significant overtime (because Denver's mayor is seriously clueless). They're getting squirrelly, sleep deprived and annoyed. Most of them just want a day off, and instead of blaming the mostly invisible King Hickenlooper the Bought and Prince Hancock the Lost and Confused, they're taking their frustration out on the visible "cause" of their frustration. I guarantee that if that crowd was in Bronco Blue and Orange, DPD would stand down. That doesn't make DPD in the right, though. Right now, DPD is collectively like a paranoid schizophrenic off hir medication. Just because they believe that black helicopters are telling them they're Jesus doesn't mean it's true. Locally, most of us understand their poor behavior, but that doesn't get them a pass.

[Downtown Hound]

62. The crowd was fine until the police raided

There was no violence until the police made it violent. It's so patently typical of law and order types to blame the crowds for being violent when in fact if the police had just left well enough alone none of this would have have happened.

[Lars77]

72. Tear gas cannisters are non-lethal too. Until someone aims them at a persons head.

[Better Believe It]

40. So cops violating our democratic rights and Constitution is all right with you?

I don't believe some of the lame excuses in defense of police state type actions I've been reading .... from people who call themselves liberals or progressives!

[redgiant]

49. Oh, Good Grief!

I pointed out a factual error, an important one, about the weapon that caused so much hysteria.

I am against cops, or anyone else, violating Constitutional rights. The thread was about the belief the cop was pointing a lethal weapon at protesters. He was not. That is a fact.

[Downtown Hound]

63. You think those weapons can't kill?

Scott Olsen is nearly dead. Other people have been killed by them before. They're called less lethal as opposed to non-lethal for a reason.

[civilisation]

79. dude there would be no need to arrest anyone if the cops did not invade,.

you make a point of little importance,. that only you seem so geeked about,. the weapons are perhaps less-lethal,. so what is your point? WHY ARE COPS ATTACKING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS? weapons out and threatening the citizens with them. that in it self should be unacceptable to you,. I find your ranting for police violence very odd.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

64. You said "non-lethal" ...

Pepperballs and rubber bullets can kill.

[Pacifist Patriot]

68. No such thing as a non-lethal weapon. Some are just less lethal than others.

[SomethingFishy]

73. LMAO.. what bullshit... there would be no trouble

at all were the people allowed to exercise their 1st amendment rights. There was no reason for this at all. This was not a "hostile crowd" until the "hostile police" showed up. So all your blustering is bullshit. MAybe instead of making 50 posts about how these are "non-lethal weapons" you can write a post about why you think it's ok for the police to attack peaceful protesters.

[AllyCat]

60. And this against an unarmed, peaceful protester? Doesn't really matter what it is...

...just that this coward is hiding behind his/her weapon.

[Gman]

66. It doesn't matter what it is. The asshole is standing there like he's holding an AK-47

In just about an intimidating position as he can muster. The asshole's another sociopathic cop on a power trip.

[pasto76]

70. yep. The weapon in that picture struck me as odd.

you have to wonder though, why go through the trouble of making it look just like an AR?

[ooglymoogly]

82. And you are ignorant of just where you are. nwat

[sabrina 1]

88. It's a WEAPON, why is it being aimed by civilian cops at

American citizens? Who cares what KIND of weapon it is, this is so wrong it is hard to believe that no one in authority has done anything about it yet.

I hope every single person they touched will sue them for violating their rights AND demand jury trials for every arrest.

And where is the coward who shot an Iraq Veteran from behind, unarmed, and then attacked the people who tried to help him? Too scared to step forward and reveal who he is. This is what I hate about these Imperial Armies. They are so cowardly, only 'brave' when armed to the teeth and part of a mob also armed to the teeth.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I see pictures like this and I can't get Kent State out of my mind.

:scared:

[Duer 157099]

3. Cowards n/t

[Ignis]

56. +1

[dana_b]

65. there is hope though:

YourAnonNews Anonymous
#occupydenver confirmed report: one police officer with tears in eyes said "I can't do this anymore" and walked away from line standoff.

That took courage.

[ThomWV]

4. In time they will kill someone, violence only escalates when police are involved, and then what?

They will attack until either the crowd size grows so large that they fear it or until they kill someone and the public demands they be brought under control.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. I was thinking the same thing...

All it takes is one bullet.. and we will be plunged down a path where no one wants to go.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Oh that will happen

Read Ghandhi...one time over 1000 of his folks were shot with live ammo. They kept at it

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Looks like Blackwater trained 'em real good, eh?

With OUR tax dollars, via Dept Homeland Security.

[louslobbs]

6. Wow! Some of these police gangs are really out of control. It's pretty disturbing to see rifle

muzzles pointed at people armed with only their voices and presence. Just what part of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech do these "law enforcement" officers and their hierarchy not understand?
Lou

[redgiant]

31. Correction. Pepperball launcher. CO2 powered. See #25

[lunatica]

33. Why are you defending them?

They're the ones who started the violence. You know this too. So why do you keep jumping to their defense? Are you a cop?

[redgiant]

42. Introducing FACTS

The thrust of the OP and most of the replies had to do with the fact that a cop was POINTING A RIFLE AT PROTESTERS. The implication was that this presented an imminent threat and possibility of the use of lethal force against the protesters.

I'm not a cop, nor do I play one on TV. But, I know a bit about firearms. I immediately noticed the red butt stock on the AR-15 style weapon. I know that color coding of weapons is usually used to signify something out of the ordinary, like a training weapon (often all blue, or orange, or, whatever color). I also noticed the long, straight magazine sticking out of the bottom of the weapon. AR-15 magazines over a certain length are curved or banana shaped. A little googling brought up the exact weapon shown in the pics.

So, I'm correcting the original false premise that so enraged the thread participants. My bad. Is anything to be gained by getting enraged by something that turns out to be different from what one initially thought was the case and reason for the anger?

The third pic shows a fat-barreled weapon that does not have a red stock. But, see the three round objects attached to the stock? Those are gas rounds. That weapon is a gas launcher. Probably similar to the one Olsen was hit with. That, obviously, could be injurious or, in extreme cases, lethal. Notice that the officer has the weapon pointed DOWN while attempting to hold the protester back. That shows proper procedure.

I do not see improper use of weapons in the pics that are presented. I see no lethal firearms pointed directly at protesters. Cops are allowed to have weapons at the ready anytime they are in any situation that could compromise their safety while performing their duty. They are effecting (apparently) an arrest with a hostile crowd around them, and with some attempting to press inward. When you close in on cops who are effecting an arrest and do not heed indications to stay back, that meets every logical standard for compromise of officer safety.

[lunatica]

44. Scott Olsen was almost killed with a non-lethal non-bullet

But is that OK because it sells as a non-lethal projectile?

[redgiant]

50. Did you read my post to which you replied?

I very clearly pointed out that fact about gas launchers. Sheesh.

[tomp]

58. you're using "facts" to miss the point.

these tactics are clearly designed to intimidate the movement. a cannister to the head, pepper ball to an asthmatic, it's all the same.

and this movement is what is required to prevent the real lethality of the system. they are a hair's breadth away from live ammo and kent state/chicago redux.

the fact that you defend the cops' position at this time is telling.

[dorksied]

84. Semantics, it would seem, is all you have. They are still weapons, and at close range,

can kill.

Its rather sickening to see you defend them.

[provis99]

7. Denver police have always been notoriously thuggish.

Lots of right-wing Christian fundamentalists on that force.

[Change has come]

36. Is that what the problem is?

I read the Denver Post every morning. It seems like there has always been a lot of police brutality and other scandals.

[MindPilot]

89. As a former Denverite, I will second that.

Denver cops have a nasty, albeit well-earned, reputation.

[madamesilverspurs]

8. Local Denver CBS (ch 4) was just showing live feed.

Pretty calm at the moment, still removing food and medical tents (apparently where they began today's arrests, going by what the reporters are saying). Also removing other tents that were intended for sleeping. One of the reporters was saying that the protestors are calm, some singing, some dancing, most just watching, police line not budging. One officer was asked how soon it would be "cleared", he answered "not soon enough". TV anchors were saying that sounded like things were getting ready to heat up again. Then, of course, they left off coverage in order to prepare for more effing football.

[Tsiyu]

10. Damn!

One of those kids looks just like one of my sons ...whoa


I hate to tell the Denver cops this, but they look like scared little kids in these shots. Scared little kids with ammunition. Pathetic. What ever happened to dialog and "serving and protecting?"

Without those weapons they have AIMED at their fellow Americans :wtf: they would be pissing in their cowardly little pants.

[Marazinia]

14. That's what I noticed, too

How terrified those cops look.

[Tsiyu]

16. They are being compelled to act violently & stupidly by the 1%

If they were acting on their own, they wouldn't look like a bunch of babies scared of their own shadows.

This terrified stance they display tells me they don't really believe in what they're doing; they are being forced.

They're scared because they know the 99% could, at any moment, rise up and destroy them all. Huge loss of life, of course, but there are many more of us than there are of them. We could destroy them all, no matter what they want us to believe.

If these cops had any REAL courage, they'd stand up to their bosses and say "HELL NO." And then go join the protesters who are fighting for THEM, too.

[Marazinia]

24. I hope the cops will eventually do this

Where I live, they have no unions, they work multiple jobs, moonlighting to support their families. There aren't enough of them and that puts them in very dangerous situations. So I hope that eventually they realize this society is not in their best interests anymore than it is in mine. Because I really don't want to fight with cops, or soldiers. Not because I'll lose, but because they're not my enemies. Most of them aren't, anyway. There are some pure sadists in their ranks just like everywhere else, but aside from those, I'd rather stand with than against them. But I'm very worried that's not how it's going to work out.

[Tsiyu]

37. Exactly, Marazinia

i've met jerks in every line of work. Cops just wield more power than in other jobs, making their instability or violent propensities a real danger to peaceful society.

I'd much rather fight for cops to have decent wages, health care and benefits than to fight them on the streets when they know they are defending the 1% who STEAL FROM COPS TOO.

You know that old saying, the one I wish they'd follow: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Cops are part of the 99% too.

[AllyCat]

61. That's what I thought too. What are these cops told before they go out to the streets?

What on earth are they so afraid of? Makes you wonder if they are told to act in a way against the protesters that does not meet with the reality they see once they are amongst us.

[aikoaiko]

11. Are those rubber projectile weapons?

Orange stock, unusual mag, wide barrel?

I've never seen rubber bullet weapons before.

:shrug:

[redgiant]

28. Even less lethal. Pepperball launcher. See reply #25 n/t

[lunatica]

34. Are you a cop?

You sure have defended their actions quite a few times just in this thread.

[Change has come]

38. rubber bullets or pepper balls are harmless.

Especially when point blank. No more harmful that a kittens hug!

[redgiant]

46. I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth

One more time. The OP and most of the uninformed assumed the weapon in the pictures (the one with the red/orange stock being pointed) was a firearm, a rifle, a lethal weapon. I recognized the unusual nature of the weapon and confirmed it was a pepper ball launcher, not unlike the paintball guns people play war-games with. Except the soft plastic balls are loaded with pepper material similar to what is in pepper spray. It's not even a firearm, as the balls are propelled by CO2 gas, just like paintballs. They are considerably less likely to inflict injury than rubber bullets.

Would I want to be hit by a pepper ball? No.

By a rubber bullet? No x 10.

By a real bullet? No x 1000.

Again, the weapon causing so much hysteria is a CO2 powered pepper ball launcher. It is not a rifle shooting real, lethal bullets.

If you're going to be outraged, at least be outraged for the correct reasons.

[Change has come]

55. Would you fire a harmless paint ball at point blank range?

:shrug: Would you aim your weapon at another person? EVER?

[Patiod]

59. I wouldn't characterize the reaction to any loaded weapon as "hysteria"

unless, of course, I were a gungeon-dweller or lived under a bridge.

Factual corrections are fine (I feel compelled to crash pharma-companies-are-all-out-to-kill-us parties here with facts, myself), but characterizing a fear of weapons as "hysteria" is both patronizing and inappropriate to a civil conversation here on DU.

[redgiant]

43. Your questions answered in #42. n/t

[lunatica]

45. And my answer is #44

Good thing you point me back to another comment. I would have never know it was there :sarcasm:

[dorksied]

85. People like this need to be shot at point blank range by these weapons...

... perhaps while chanting their 'Its not lethal! Its not lethal!'

[indepat]

12. Smacks of a totalitarian society: seemingly only their black-shirts distinguish them

from the brown-shirt-types, so why not just change the color scheme? :patriot:

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. Bad people dress in black. Sometimes in very dark blue. Can you spot them?

And why is it becoming so clear a delineation?

[Marazinia]

15. I want the people giving these cops their orders held responsible

And arrested for treason. Now. They are violating the Constitution of the United States and are turning America into even more of a police state than it already was. Easy to get mad at the cops, they're the faces we see most clearly behind those guns. But they didn't deploy themselves.

[hack89]

80. It is not treason

it is heavyhanded and not necessary but it is not treason. Go read the Constitution - the definition is right there.

[Marazinia]

91. If it's not treason

Maybe we need to elect politicians who will properly alter the Constitution so that this violation of civil rights is treason. They're using violence, deceit, and theft to quell free speech and prevent peaceful protesters from bringing needed attention to the state of our country. Yeah, to me, that's treason.

[hack89]

92. It is very hard to change the Constitution

which is the way it should be. I wouldn't hold my breath - I can't imagine this is an issue that will motivate people to change the Constitution.

[Marazinia]

93. I'm aware

I'm not holding my breath, either, but this is an issue that should motivate people. Or anyway, it should motivate free people. But I look around me every day, and to be honest, I don't see many of those.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

17. The whole world is watching you motherfuckers! Land of the free indeed.

[Celefin]

75. Problem is, the world would never dare say anything against the US.

Yeah, they may voice 'concern' if people start getting killed by the dozen. But that's about it, I'm afraid.
(speaking of your allies, of course) Those who would confront the US usually are in no moral position to do so on this issue.

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Video of raised weapons and baton use, spread the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDTvdAYkKdg&feature=player_embedded

[cal04]

22. Can you please post it in videos

I think everyone should see it.

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. I can't. The videos aren't youtube or vimeo, they're twitvid embedded and

I can't extract the URL, which is required in that forum as part of the OP.

[kentuck]

19. I just checked my email and recd this from Occupation Colorado Springs...

"Sorry we haven't been great about updates recently, computers have been down and its been a bit tricky. Today, we write with sad news. Occupy Denver, while attempting to march peacefully and with a permit, was attacked by the police today. At this point, what we know is that Denver has been hit with tear gas and we have received word of police brutality, including against some of our own Occupy Colorado Springs participants who were there to show solidarity. Please continue to call Governor Hickenlooper and tell him that this is not acceptable. We stand in solidarity with Denver and all occupations across the country and we will not be silenced!"

[vets74]

20. Police officers are trained to brandish weapons ONLY when threatened, or when a hazard presents.

This does not look good.

Anybody see video of this with understandable audio ?

--------

Btw: we have a solid report that a provocateur attempted to get demonstrators to adopt violent resistance at another event.

He was removed from the site.

Don't underestimate the criminality of the righties. They do listen to Limbaugh hour after hour... resulting in gawd-awful brain damage.

[vets74]

21. Police officers are trained to brandish weapons ONLY when threatened, or when a hazard presents.

This does not look good.

Anybody see video of this with understandable audio ?

----

Btw: we have a solid report that a provocateur attempted to get demonstrators to adopt violent resistance at another event.

He was removed from the site.

Don't underestimate the criminality of the righties. They do listen to Limbaugh hour after hour... resulting in gawd-awful brain damage.

[Blue_In_AK]

29. Things haven't changed much.

I am reminded of Canned Heat: "The Police in Denver don't want none of them longhairs hangin' round." I lived there in those days, and the lyrics sure fit the Denver pigs then.

[MindPilot]

90. "Get outta Denver 'cause you look just like a commie and you might just be a member"

Bob Seger.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cal04]

51. Denver Police Officer hits Protester in the face

http://twitter.com/#!/OperationLeakS
OperationLeakS Anonymous
Denver Police Officer hits Protester in the face (pic) http://lockerz.com/s/151521779 #OccupyDenver #OWS Stay warm #OccupyWallStreet 30 degrees out

[cal04]

52. Denver PD hospitalize protester

http://www.examiner.com/freethought-in-colorado-springs/denver-pd-hospitalize-protester-occupy-together

Frank “Frankie” Roper of Colorado Springs was Hospitalized on October 29th, 2011, after an altercation with Denver police. Mr. Roper was in Denver to be part of a nationally organized event to rally at state capitals within the Occupy Together movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall St. He and a dozen other protesters from the Occupy Colorado Springs site made an event out of carpooling to the Occupy Denver protests to march on the state capitol.

After a violent day of being met with tear gas and rubber bullets for a march that had previously received a permit under the auspices of medical marijuana protesting, a theme many Colorado occupation protesters also support, Mr. Roper had an altercation with police that would result in his hospitalization. A Denver motorcycle policeman frustrated with protesters in his way decided to charge the impeding crowd with his motorcycle, running directly into Mr. Roper with his motorcycle. Mr. Roper reacted by shoving the motorcycle, followed by a brief sprint when he saw that the officer was turning around for him. Mr. Roper made it about 10 yards before being gang tackled by police and severely beaten resulting in multiple lacerations to his face. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Footage of the incident is in the sidebar.

Man hospitalized by Denver PD
video
http://www.examiner.com/freethought-in-colorado-springs/man-hospitalized-by-denver-pd-video

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Since there is tape

We call that assault.

[cal04]

67. Cops, Occupy Protesters Clash in Denver; Portland Demonstrators Defy City Leaders

http://abcnews.go.com/US/occupy-protesters-police-square-off-nationwide/story?id=14845431
video at link

Tensions between the Occupy protesters and police boiled over in Denver this weekend, and demonstrators in Portland, Ore., defied city officials by taking their march to one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods.

(snip)
The latest arrests came early this morning in Portland, Ore., where protesters remained in a park in the affluent Pearl District past the midnight curfew, after city officials had told them not to expand their encampments beyond the parks they had already occupied.

March organizer Cameron Whitten told ABC affiliate KATU-TV in Portland that the neighborhood was chosen "to bring awareness to the inequality of wealth within our very city and to be in solidarity with other occupations and people in Portland and nationally who have been the target of police brutality."

(snip)
"They are definitely slap happy with their weapons they have no qualms about using it on a peaceful bunch of people and I think that's a shame," one woman involved in the protest told ABC News Radio.

[DeSwiss]

69. K&R n/t

[pasto76]

71. un rec for the misleading title

folks, the cops are not the enemy. You all need to flush out your headgear and remember all those right wing pols who say police, fire and teachers have "ferrari salaries".

The cops I know are under constant attack about their pay. Everyone here in Colorado Springs would vote them a huge paycut right now if they could.

Anyone who does not realize that, in fact, PD is in the same position as OWS is too daft for this movement.

This bear repeating to no end: If you particpate in OWS, you need to be non violent to no end. Even if some cop is beating on you. Get arrested> lawyer up.

THEN GET OUT. AND FILE THE LAWSUITS.

Answering any violence from PD in kind is a losing deal.

[2banon]

87. Cops need to stop acting like we're the enemy

Riot Police armed in Riot Gear and weaponry is completely UNCALLED for in response to unarmed demonstrators. Period, The fact is that too many LOVE LOVE LOVE any excuse to commit acts of brutal violence against unarmed demonstrators. They can act with complete impunity because people are unarmed. File lawsuits you say? Now that's funny.

[GreenStormCloud]

74. Those are pepper ball guns.

They don't shoot real bullets.

[DreamSmoker]

76. Memories of Kent State

This brings it back..

This adds fuel the Movement..

[blackspade]

77. Fucking thugs.

[DemOhio]

78. I remember this from the Tea Party rallies

Remember how all those people got arrested. The ones that showed up with guns and signs that threatened second amendment solutions.

[workinclasszero]

81. ARMED Tea party rallies with people threating to kill

leftists...no arrests, no jail time, no busted heads, no tear gas, pepper spray, no corralling, etc. All in support of the interests of the 1%.
Nationwide very favorable news coverage especially by Fox "news". Many pols associate with this fascist astroturf "movement" and claim it as their own.":puke:

Later the republicans put the tea party on a leash and assimilate it into the 1% Borg effectively destroying it. Watch Mitt Romney get the nomination, and all the radical teathugs will vote for him! LOLOL!

OTOH...

Occupy movement...UNarmed, peaceful protests, fully covered by constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly.


People shot in the head with "non-lethal" weapons, numerous beatings by full body armor thugs/stormtroopers of the 1%!

Numerous arrests, camps destroyed along with peoples property, time and time again. No pol stands 100% behind them, well maybe a few.

MSM news org first try to ignore the movement. When that tactic fails, they slander the movement, what do they want? who is the leader?, dirty hippies, shiftless bums, sex in the parks, pooing on cop cars, drug deals, etc.

Some dem pols and Paulites try to infiltrate and assimilate the movement but that's a fail so far.

Which one of these movements do you think is a real grassroots move of the American people? Its soooo clear to me.

Rise up 99% and God bless the occupiers! You all will be in the history books someday as the legendary freedom fighters who saved America and quite possibly the world!

[2banon]

86. Oakland was looking like Syria, but this is getting close..

there's an outstanding video posted somewhere here on du, with Clinton and Obama chastising Syrian govt for their brutal and hostile actions against their citizenry for excerising the desire to express their grievances against their government (my words, but that's essentially the meaning)juxtoposed against the backdrop of riot police actions taken against Occupy here in the U.S..

Absolutely freakin' sureal. the absolute disconnect. Imo, despite the Corporate Media giving attention to the movement, the coverage is still highly disconnected if not straight up state sponsored propagandized poppy cock in the spin by and large. A few exceptions to varying degrees, but significantly. Kind of like Syrian State media. Yes, and several other neighboring countries.. you get the point.