"Who's cops, OUR cops..."

[nadinbrzezinski]

"We Love You."

Well they may seem like just chants to those not involved, but they are brilliant.

Compare and contrast to the sixties universal cry of PIGS.

The cry of pigs immediately set up an us vs them dynamic making it easier for the cop to do his or her job. I know it might not seem that way but I saw this with my own eyes last night. You see SDPD has pissed off it's good will with the community over the last two months... in serious ways. Last night we thanked them for doing their job well. We told them we love them, when they do their job well. The stone faces were befuddled for a minute, especially that of the LT in charge.

No, it might not be obvious, but it sets the beginning of a different dynamic... and one that is actually healthy long term. Because OWS is not going away... and neither are my officers.

Language matters.

[Demeter]

1. Well...

I guess it's worth a try. Keep saying it until it feels sincere, or the violence stops.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Oh nobody is expectinng the violence to stop

but it will lead to defections.

THe Retired Captain who was arrested yesterday, the two cops in Denver who turned their badges, Occupy Police... those are signs of it working. It is not OBVIOUS. The defections are slow and in the dark.. that is the nature of this.

Some, are very obvious.

I need to chase one one story I heard yesterday about a cop fired locally for signing an OWSer petition.

[DaveJ]

3. Oh, you're in California. Not sure that would work elsewhere.

Cops would more likely laugh it up if protesters ever said that, then proceed to beat them even harder.

[Scuba]

12. Not here in Wisconsin. Our cops ARE the protesters (when off duty). n/t

[Eric J in MN]

4. Were the OWS protesters

...chanting "Whose cops, our cops" yesterday?

If so, where?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Oh this has happened everywhere

at every occupation in the livestream... and yesterday in san diego in person.

[Marrah_G]

5. You know... that is a great idea

The night the BPD threw the posters out of one park in Boston there was a man with a scottish or english accent imploring the police not to do it. He kept telling them, "You have a choice, you don't have to do this" The cops nearby looked clearly uncomfortable and ashamed, especially the older ones. You could tell they did not want to be there. I think the majority of cops just are afraid to lose their incomes and benefits, but then they use the gung-ho types to crack heads and all the cops end up either looking bad or sliding into an us and them mentality when the scuffling starts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. And I have heard this chant on the stream as well

And I remember that one too.

[virgogal]

13. Now there's a non-profit group that wants OWS out of Dewey Square,

The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.

[Marrah_G]

15. Yeah- I heard that yesterday

Have the Kennedy's voiced an opinion?

[virgogal]

17. Not to my knowledge. eom

[Huey P. Long]

7. "You're sexy, you're cute, take off that riot suit." -eom

[Marrah_G]

10. ROFL- Now that is a good one!

[AsahinaKimi]

11. I have heard that one from a video

from a week or so back. It made me chuckle.

[Earth_First]

9. We had a police lieutenant stop in yesterday...

Told us that the conversation was off the record, but said that his own personal beliefs were that he supported us fully.

He made mention that there are tens of others on the force who feel the same way, but by fear of repercussions from 'the brass', have not expressed vocal support of our local Occupy.

He handed us his card, wrote his cell number on the back and told us that if there was *anything* we would need to call him and he would see about doing whatever he could do to support us.

I honestly believe this exchange in conversation that we had was genuine.

My best friend is a cop, some do sympathize with #OWS.

Losing their job and pension over #OWS is just simply not something that is going to happen, regardless of the romanticism of it happening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. What you saw with that Lt... was a crack

and this is how it happens.

As to the romanticism of it... we are in the middle of it and defections from police are happening in the dark... but they are happening. We have the report of the two cops who turned in their badges at Denver.

The danger in that is that inside they can provide SOME breaks... but doing that is also important.

This is a dynamic that is virtually unknown in the US, but it happens in revolutions all the time. It starts with small cracks, hairline cracks... and it builds from there is the revolution takes on a moral character.

[Marrah_G]

16. They are in a tough position too

I am sure they have families who need healthcare and food and a roof over their heads. They have mortgages and debt just like the rest of us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Yup, why the protesters remind them regularly

that they are part of the 99%.

[Uncle Joe]

19. If you can't bring yourself to do this,

do this



Thanks for the thread, nadinbrzezinski.:thumbsup:

[Huey P. Long]

20. Thanks for the photos Uncle Joe. -eom