It's war.

[kentuck]

The police in this country have declared war on the people.

They no longer see their jobs as to protect and defend. They see their jobs as "us" vs "them". It's war out there. Go into any police department in any average-sized city and see if that is not the way it is?

The police departments around this country have become militarized. They have bought excess military equipment, including armed personnel carriers just like the ones used in the overseas wars. They are prepared for battle and we, the people, are the enemy.

They have lost all respect for citizens rights. Citizens are to fear them. That's the way they want it.

[2banon]

1. For What It's Worth...

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. Thanks - as relevant today as when it was written about the Hollywood "hippie riots" in in the 60s

[2banon]

43. I always thought it was referring to the Watts Riots?

Oh, and that's another scene (Watts Riots) that should have been included in the links I posted down thread (i think it was in this thread) forgotten about why that song seemed relevant to me, Yes, it's definitely appropo, unfortunately.

[kwolf68]

45. That song is about...

the riots at the Democratic National Convention in 1968.

[2banon]

47. Oh Right, Yes.. Thanks for reminding me.

And that's another event that I neglected to link, in my "this is nothing new" post.. thanks for the reminder.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

54. Stephen Stills wrote For What It's Worth about the Sunset Strip riots of 1966

known as the hippie riots they were about the imposed curfew by the police on young people, especially revolving around a popular Sunset Strip rock club known as Pandora's Box.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/sights_and_sounds_of_the_november_1966_sunset_strip_riots.php

"For What It's Worth," the Buffalo Springfield song that is permanently looped, in the popular consciousness, behind footage of American soldiers in Vietnam (or maybe hippies sticking flowers in the barrels of National Guardsmen's guns), isn't really about war. It's about the right to party on the Sunset Strip. Stephen Stills wrote the song in response to the first of the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots, on November 12, 1966 (47 years ago today), and BS, just off a stint as the house band at the Whisky A Go Go, recorded it a few weeks later. In the early sixties, the Strip (and the US, really) was transitioning from the glamorous Rat Pack days into the kid-driven rock and roll era; in 1962, Jimmy O'Neill, who hosted the groundbreaking music show Shindig!, opened the purple and gold Pandora's Box club on a traffic island at Sunset and Crescent Heights, and the teens flocked (it was followed a few years later by the Whisky and then the Roxy). The flocking teens made traffic jams, the square old neighbors complained, and in 1966 LA County (WeHo was not yet incorporated) decided to start enforcing a decades-old 10 pm curfew law for anyone under 18."


For what It's Worth was recorded in 1966 and released in early 1967. The Chicago Democratic Convention incident occurred a year and a half later. But surely Stills was tuned in to the flavor of the times and he probably drew his inspiration from all of the protests of the era, including the war (as the song doesn't specifically reference any particular protest).

[2banon]

65. thanks for the correction and the details.. it was relevant then, and it's relevant today..

don'tcha think?

[Bluenorthwest]

79. I think it is worth a mention that West Hollywood's eventual incorporation was motivated to a

large extent by Police abuse and harassment of the gay community and others who enjoy the neighborhood.

[abakan]

92. Thanks for the info.

I always thought it was about the Kent State massacre. wrong song This is the Kent State song..

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

98. Yes, but...

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young added For What It's Worth to the medley, 49 Bye-Byes / America's Children, as the new medley 49 Bye-Byes / America's Children / For What It's Worth to their tour set lists around June 16, 1970, about 6 weeks after the Kent State shootings. So, it seems perhaps they felt the song to be apropos.

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/crosby-stills-nash-and-young/1970/portland-memorial-coliseum-portland-or-7bd31eb0.html

[FuzzyRabbit]

50. "For what it's worth" was a hit in 1967

I always thought it was about anti-war marches. I was wrong. From wikipedia:

"In November 1966 Stills composed his landmark song, "For What It's Worth", after police actions against the crowds of young people who had gathered on the Sunset Strip to protest the closing of a nightclub called Pandora's Box . . ."

[GReedDiamond]

56. Yes, that is correct. The song was about the "hippie riots"...

...on Sunset Strip, when the city of L.A. tried to suppress the "youth revolution" by imposing curfews.

The "hippie riots" started in 1966 and continued periodically for several years, into the early 70s.

The song was not about anti-Viet Nam war protests, or the '68 Democratic Convention in Chicago (as suggested above).

As a matter of transparency, in 1978, I knew and worked with Dewey Martin (drummer of Buffalo Springfield), and bought from Dewey, the Camco drum kit he used on the recording of For What It's Worth.

I still use the Buffalo Springfield Camcos for live performance and recording.

I know, "cool story, bro"...but nonetheless, still true.

[2banon]

64. interesting, thanks for enlightening...

and correcting..for accuracy. fuzzy memory, lot of stuff going on, in '67 I was a junior in High School, both in Hawaii and in North Carolina. Somehow the "hippie riots' wasn't quite on my radar, but the music certainly seemed relevant to me at the time. I appreciate the story..

[GReedDiamond]

67. There is a lot of confusion about the song...

"For What it's Worth."

Which is understandable, because there was a lot of stuff going on back then, most notably the escalation of the Viet Nam war and its impact on the youth of the day.

But the Sunset Strip "hippie riots" were not about the war.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. Some footage....I know someone who was arrested at Pandora's Box

[calimary]

58. Welcome to DU, FuzzyRabbit!

Glad you're here! Good Heavens - Pandora's Box! I was barely sentient then, eyebrows-deep in my school books, and by the time I was aware enough to ask about it, it was all over. The place was gone - literally. But it was the hot-spot of hot-spots at one point. Doubt I could have gone there anyway. I didn't even have a learner's permit yet.

[SteveG]

85. Strange, since it was released in 1967

the song was first released in 1967, before the Democratic National Convention. I was a Senior in Highschool.

[zeemike]

41. It starts when your always afraid

Step out of line, they come and take you away.

Well we are always afraid, and the fear keeps coming almost daily now.

[cantbeserious]

2. To Protect And Serve The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks

eom

[randys1]

4. The police exist to protect the wealthy from everbody else

the war seems to be starting

and is

ONE THOUSAND GOD DAMN PERCENT ENTIRELY THE FAULT OF RIGHTWING RACIST PRICKS LIKE THE TEAPARTY

ARE YOU PRICKS HAPPY NOW!!!!!!

[villager]

27. Those rightwing racist pricks had their "Democratic" enablers along the way...

We didn't arrive at the outbreak of this Police War by accident...

[YarnAddict]

76. Yeah, because

police never killed unarmed Black men before 2009.

Of course, Amadou Diallo, Malice Green, etc. might disagree.

[randys1]

80. it has always been this way, the news is white people are finding out

[YarnAddict]

82. Okay, if it's ALWAYS been that way,

how can you pin this on the Tea Party?

[randys1]

83. teaparty is just what they call themselves now, before most of them had no group to cling

to other than GOP, this is not complicated...

teaparty is based on opposition to Black prez, period

i bet you most of those cops and white folks in that area are teaparty...i saw it myself on the local media where they were responding

teaparty is a terrorist organization, the american taliban

[Dragonfli]

93. Back in the day the Birchers were the tea party.

Same shit different assholes

[randys1]

95. Founder was daddy KOCH

[Dragonfli]

97. Why am I not surprised? /nt

[Rockyj]

94. YES its like real life Hunger Games!

Protect the 1%

[MohRokTah]

3. A cop war against the citizenry. eom

[2banon]

4. It's been this way for a very long time, it isn't anything new..

nothing new at all..

just a few examples over the course of 150 years or so:

The Haymarket Massacre - Chicago 1886 (aka "The Haymarket Affair&quot

The Ludlow Massacre - Colorado 1914

Bay View Massacre - Wisconsin - 1886


Everett Massacre - Washington - 1916

The Orangeburg Massacre - South Carolina 1968

Kent State shootings - Ohio 1970

Hanapepe massacre - Hawaii-1924


Editing to add, that you're right to call it out though, just because it isn't new, doesn't mean it should be ignored. I needs to be confronted with the outrage it deserves, and then to follow that with a call to Direct Action & Civil Disobedience.

[Lochloosa]

10. ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[L0oniX]

15. Detroit 1967.

[zeemike]

44. Chicago Democratic convention 1968

[ballyhoo]

46. Were you there? I was part of that

riot when the cops pulled that lady out of the car and started beating her up. I saw the entire thing. The lady was doing nothing but driving with her little kid. That's all I can say about the matter, but I'll never forget it.

[zeemike]

52. Nope but watched on TV,

Shocked at what was going on...and I remember Mayor Daily, and how he looked to this day...and that there were angry Democrats at what was going on, something you don't see much of any more.

[NOLALady]

59. I watched it on TV,

crying.

[VanGoghRocks]

60. Your post is triggering all sorts of memories for me. I was a little boy then, about 8 years old. My

parents did not own a TV but, it being summer, we had gone to my grandparents in (ironically, now) St. Louis that August for summer vacation. My grandparents did have a TV, a monstrous black and white that was as much furniture as AV equipment. I remember seeing the police riots happening and not understanding what I was seeing but understanding all too well my very-Conservative grandfather saying "They're (hippies) getting what they deserve" while my parents both looked on in shock and horror. My aunt (who is only about 8 years older than I) was a young teenager and was very hip -- she gave me my first Peter, Paul & Mary album and first Beatles album -- was on the side of the protesters even if family dynamics prevented her from voicing her feelings too stridently.

As you were there, I tip my hat to a modern American hero. If you're interested, there's a wonderful documentary about the anti-war movement in Madison, WI called "The War at Home." I have no idea if it's available from NetFlix or Amazon, but it still bears watching.

[ballyhoo]

73. I'm no hero; I was traveling around the country from

Cincinnati, and that's just happen to be where I was. I went to a bar. I left the bar and someone had broken the antennae off my car. I was pissed. Then I heard noises and people said something's going on--they need our help. So I just went with them. That was the first time I got introduced to bad cops and first time they got introduced to me, who could already tell right from wrong and was big and strong. I was lucky to escape that night. They are times, like then, when one has to take the law into their own hands. It's not right for a big, burly cop to be dragging a woman and a crying little kid out of the car hair first. That cop paid for his actions of that night. I'm older now and have seen many things similar in my life, now happening with an alarming frequency. If we don't band together, it is all over but the shouting. Time to stand and fight unless you want to be growing carrots if front of the moat for some regional neofeudal-lord in NeoAmerica of the Elite.

[VanGoghRocks]

86. Way off topic, but I hope you're recording or writing down your memories of Chicago '68, so that

they become part of archival materials. You could maybe title your memoir "The Accidental Hero" or some such (playing off "The Accidental Tourist"

BTW, every true hero denies that he or she is a hero. It's part of the credentials and almost a pre-requisite.

[lunasun]

62. Daley's- shoot to kill -orders during the 68 riots after MLK too

[ballyhoo]

39. Democratic Convention, 1968 Chicago. I was

there.

[2banon]

49. OMG How on earth could I forget to mention Chicago in 1968...jeez there's a story for the ages

And Watts the year before I think. Were you out on the streets? Did you get get tear gassed, beaten by baton's etc? I had a friend that was there. Have you written about it?

There's a fairly decent documentary, Democracy Now produced several years ago on Chicago/68 Convention ,if memory serves the entire video is of actual footage, including scenes inside the convention which was jaw dropping in it's own right, imo.

It's something to be seen by every generation, certainly learned about in great detail and remembered.

If it's archived on DN!'s website, maybe it can be shared. (don't know)

[ballyhoo]

74. I've written about it before, but not recently.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

61. A few more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_massacre_of_1871_%28Los_Angeles%29

"The Chinese massacre of 1871 was a racially motivated riot on October 24, 1871, when a mob of over 500 white men entered Los Angeles' Chinatown to attack, rob and murder Chinese residents of the city.[1] The riots took place on Calle de los Negros (Street of the Negroes), also referred to as "Nigger Alley", which later became part of Los Angeles Street. A total of 18 Chinese immigrants were systematically killed by the mob, making the so-called "Chinatown War" the largest incident of mass lynching in American history."


http://newsone.com/3009368/race-riots-augusta-ga/

"On May 11, 1970, the city of Augusta, Ga., was rocked by a race riot sparked by a prison killing of a mentally handicapped Black teenager at the hands of prisoners. Black residents in the town frustrated by the treatment of police and the conditions of the jail marched through the town before it was a full-fledged riot. By the next day, six people were dead and more than 60 were injured after the melee."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_State_killings

"The Jackson State killings occurred on Friday May 15, 1970, at Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) in Jackson, Mississippi. On May 14, 1970, a group of student protesters against the Vietnam War, specifically the United States invasion of Cambodia, were confronted by city and state police. Shortly after midnight, the police opened fire, killing two students and injuring twelve.[1] The event happened only 11 days after National Guardsmen killed four students in similar protests at Kent State University in Ohio, which had first captured national attention."

Jackson State, Mississippi protest victims:

[2banon]

66. And how could I forget to mention Philadelphia 1985? The Police BOMBED an entire neighborhood block

The Police BOMBED and BURNED an entire neighborhood block

[YarnAddict]

77. I have forgotten his name, but

there was a young Black man killed in Milwaukee many, many years ago. The cops planted a weapon on his body. A lot of years later, the young man was vindicated. Anyone remember his name?

[babylonsister]

6. Stop it! What should we do now, arm ourselves?

Bullshit. Calm down.

Go ahead, alert on this.

[2banon]

7. Who are you addressing? The Police?

[babylonsister]

9. The OP. As indicated. nt

[2banon]

12. that seems odd, shouldn't you be directing that message to the cops?

[tkmorris]

14. I don't know what you want the OP to stop

Every word in it was true. You want someone to stop telling the truth?

[babylonsister]

19. Are you ready to go to war? Baloney.

And no, truth is expected, fear is what rethugs do.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. The OP was saying that is the way the COPS are acting....

And it's true.

They treat the citizens as being one of two types: The guilty and the yet to be guilty.

[babylonsister]

30. OK, thanks, but broad brush there.

I'm torn; some cops truly suck, some just try to do their job. They are all being painted with the same brush.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

34. That's because there is a wider agenda at work here. Good, bad,...they're the ones getting the tank.

[kardonb]

57. police

sure , blame the police , they are always wrong , right ? NOPE ! They are up against criminals and thugs . Best example : the rioters , looters , and burners seizing any opportunity to create havoc . Rioting etc. solves NOTHING , just creating more hurt on ordinary people .
No more police = total chaos .

[ballyhoo]

40. That OP is as efficacious as anything I've

ever read on this board. We are in a STASI State in many areas of the country right now. The pitchforks are about to appear. This is why Bush changed Posse Comitatus. He knew back then what was gonna happen. And now it is starting for real.

[GP6971]

8. I don't see that

in my small city of 9,000. Police are very friendly and helpful. So far, I haven't seen any militarization of the force. That could change though.

[CrispyQ]

88. I haven't seen it in my area, either, but check this out.

Here's a story about a university getting a MRAP. I didn't even know what a MRAP was until I read this.

The Criminalization of Everyday Life
December 9, 2013

http://billmoyers.com/2013/12/09/the-criminalization-of-everyday-life/

Sometimes a single story has a way of standing in for everything you need to know. In the case of the up-arming, up-armoring and militarization of police forces across the country, there is such a story. Not the police, mind you, but the campus cops at Ohio State University now possess an MRAP; that is, a $500,000, 18-ton, mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored vehicle of a sort used in the war in Afghanistan and, as Hunter Stuart of the Huffington Post reported, built to withstand “ballistic arms fire, mine fields, IEDs and nuclear, biological and chemical environments.” Sounds like just the thing for bouts of binge drinking and post-football-game shenanigans.

For a college campus?

[Phlem]

11. This

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/11/1320245/-The-Pentagon-is-preparing-for-societal-collapse-due-to-Climate-Change?detail=facebook

Maybe we are seeing the first signs of it. The prep work.

[Lurks Often]

70. The Pentagon makes plans for EVERYTHING

it's just common sense and practical for the military to make contigency plans for any scenario they can think of, waiting for to hit the fan before making contingency plans isn't very smart.

I don't doubt that there are contingency plans in a cabinet somewhere for the invasion of Canada or Mexico.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Five#Rainbow_plans

[Phlem]

89. Well I'm glad the Pentagon's prepared.

I'm sure they've got plans for meeting aliens.

All I'm saying is the militarization of police is happening all over and that it could be related.

[Lurks Often]

90. Very doubtful, but believe what you will

[Phlem]

91. you too.

[Initech]

13. And the republicans can't say there isn't when the police Will shoot you on sight.

No trial, no warranty, no conviction. Immediate death penalty. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.,Fuck the police state and for profit prisons.

[Snarkoleptic]

17. Here's a prescient quote-

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre."
-Frank Zappa

[kath]

38. Yeppers, ol' Frank knew the score.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. It was inevitable.

I think it's a natural outcome from a process where local, state and federal government prefers to limit its interaction to select private entities in the corporate world and community leadership positions. The rest of us are just a nuisance. So, what better way to marginalize rights than to provoke a situation where the police will always have the upper hand.

Once you have a criminal record they have something they can discredit you with.

[WillyT]

20. K & R !!!

[Cleita]

21. They are following in lockstep our elected nabobs.

They no longer feel that they are serving their people but the creeps who give them money. It couldn't have been long before law and order followed.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. The police aren't supposed to be able to handle EVERYTHING....

That's what the National Guard is for and then there's the U. S. Army.

Even the uniforms need to be changed.

Get them out of the SS issue black. Put em back in blue again.

[ErikJ]

29. And with CAMERAS

:large

[Spitfire of ATJ]

33. I wonder how many cops complained their job felt more like being at work....

In most jobs you have to be courteous to everyone, even if they're nasty to you.

Being a cop meant cracking their skull if they gave you shit.

But not now. Not if it's on camera.

[octoberlib]

23. Our country is broken.

Simon Maloy ‏@SimonMaloy 32s
A police force that's clearly out of control and political leadership that won't rein it in. Not a good look for our civic institutions.

[neverforget]

25. This is what happens when you give military equipment to cops. It does no good if it's not used. nt

[Solomon]

26. Yeah, they gunning down white people everyday.

Not!!!

[VanGoghRocks]

63. In Fullerton, CA they beat a white, mentally ill young man to death

in full public view. The Orange County DA had to be dragged kicking and screaming to prosecute even 2 of the 6 officers involved in the beat-down. A jury of the cops' peers acquiited the two cops, thereby proving that, at least in Fullerton, one can be beaten to death BY THE POLICE merely for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and\or being mentally ill.

Once the police are finished with the residents of Ferguson, they will be coming for you and me. But who will be left to speak for us then?

RIP Kelly Thomas. You will NOT be forgotten.

[DrBulldog]

31. There can't possibly be any race problem there in Ferguson...

... at least according to the Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Obama sits meekly in the back of the room as the injustices and denials of civil rights goes on and on across our nation without any prosecution ...

[jwirr]

32. It's war and they sure as hell to do not see themselves as public servants paid by the people. We

the people aught to withhold their paychecks until they begin to protect us instead of bully us.

[Sparhawk60]

68. This is NOT War

In war, both sides are armed. This is just cops dressed up like wanta-be soldiers beating down an unarmed group of people, not a war.

[jwirr]

71. Come to think about it - you are right. But I do wonder if this isn't the way we are treating people

in the ME? If it is no wonder we now have groups like ISIS.

[mopinko]

35. excess my shiny metal ass. i would like to see du follow the money.

$1/5B per for these armored clown cars that are being doled out "free" from "surplus"???
i call bs.
big fat bs.

qui bono?

[DrBulldog]

36. It's time to replace the middle finger greeting ...

... with the hands-up sign. It will convey a far more powerful message to the police.

[aikoaiko]

37. Except for the occasional clash between uprising vs. land and order, I don't see it.

Yes, their technology is more militarized, but I don't see a war.

[glinda]

42. I think they receive funds through the Dept. Of Homeland Security for

Military based training Programs at Military Sites to train them in "Community Emergencies" or "Crowd Control". Someone needs to take a look at this. This is coming right out of our Government.

[Mkap]

48. 1st amendment suspended!

It appears the militarized police of Ferguson have now suspended the first amendment and arrested a Huffpost and Washington Times reporter. Ordering all protesters to turn off their cameras

[HereSince1628]

69. AUTHORITY has been challenged with words...it's show time for Amendment 2

and the activity of a well organized militia.

Militia are different than police. Police respond to prevent harm to individuals and property and enforce laws broken by individuals Militia attack enemy positions, cause harm to individuals and property and nullify laws that get in their way.

What's going on in Ferguson police has gone beyond policing.

[ancianita]

51. So you're right. Now what. Anything constructive here? How about this.

The playbook for all cities suffering militarized police/citizen confrontations over police murder:

1. Force all mayors' resignations and hold special elections.
2. Establish and ELECT Civilian Police Review Boards which include attorneys.
3. Restructure funding and the police department under a new mayor.
4. Defund all police budgets to end paid suspensions for improper enforcement.
5. Make all police attend re-education class about proper enforcement as a term of keeping their jobs.

[akbacchus_BC]

53. But the DOJ is equipping the police to become more

militarised. How does this stop? Channel the financial resources to needy people rather than giving these thugs weapons and machinery to attack innocent people! My humble opinion!

The worst scenario are when these militarised thugs target a segment of the population to shoot, whether they are armed or not, Hands in the air still get you shot. What is America coming to and has the President made a statement yet?

Here in Canada, the skytrain has a police force, armed with guns and they were pleased to announce last week that they catch illegal immigrants whom they report to the authorities so they can be deported. Every frecking part of the status quo are against civilians.

There was a time when being a police was to serve and protect, now, you cannot trust those thugs! I saw one incident of skytrain police brutality and I was so angry but if you write letters to Christry Clark, you do not get a response.

I just hope we elect better politicians.

[Luminous Animal]

55. It has been war. Bush spying on anti-war orbs. The brutal repression of Occupy and the attack on

Ferguson.

Our racist incarceration system, the abandonment of our communities for capitalism, the destruction of our schools.

And so many points in between.

[treestar]

72. Aren't you broad brushing?

Taking the actions of a few members of a set and applying their actions/attitudes to everyone in it?

I could call you an idiot because of Mitch McConnell, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it?

[kentuck]

75. For fifty years, I have seen it gradually get worse and worse...

And it is not going to get any better. Either we control the police or they will control us...

[NutmegYankee]

81. +1 nt

[dionysus]

84. i think it really depends on where you live, the demographics, and the size of the town\city

you can't deny a huge problem exists, you read about police brutality almost every day. I don't think the small little towns suffer from this as much (at least in the part of the north where I live), and as for the cities, it depends where in the city you live, and sadly, if you are white.

in the suburbs, the police interactions I have had have been cordial.

in the small towns also, even when I had the misfortune of being arrested (long story), and thankfully released.

that said, we did have SWAT make an appearance last week; some guy heisted a jewelry store and had a lady hostage at gun point. didn't have a tank though.

I guess I'm just lucky where I live. from the articles I read on DU where cops are busting skulls and shooting people, those are places you couldn't pay me enough to live...

[randome]

87. So who are you going to kill?

That's what happens in a war, you know.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[Dragonfli]

96. When war is declared on unarmed civilians

It is more a matter of which and how many of the civilians are they going to kill.

It is not the citizens that appear to be declaring the war. The victims do not want this and do not posses the means to protect themselves let alone go around killing as you appear to assume the meaning of the OP to be. (I don't even see how you arrived at what you did, having read the same OP.)