Cpt. Johnson WALKED in the Ferguson march tonight. "We're all in this together"

[bigtree]

Last edited Thu Aug 14, 2014, 08:52 PM - Edit history (5)

Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 6m
Cpt. Johnson WALKED in the march. "We're all in this together...we're not in this for fear, to intimidate."




Jon Passantino ‏@passantino 11m
MO Highway Patrol captain Ron Johnson leading protesters through streets of Ferguson. Live: http://fox2now.com/on-air/live-st




BuzzFeed News ‏@BuzzFeedNews 18m
From @jonswaine: Highway patrol captain Ron Johnson is leading protesters on a march through Ferguson




Justin Glawe's post on Vine
Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol leads marchers down Florissant in #Ferguson.

By late afternoon, Johnson was walking down the street with a group of more than 1,000 protesters as they chanted "Hands up, don't shoot," a reference to witness accounts that described Brown as having his hands in the air when the officer kept firing.

Johnson planned to talk to the demonstrators throughout the night.

"We're going to have some conversations with them and get an understanding of what's going on."

Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 22m
Cpt. Johnson of Highway Patrol hugging residents as they pass during march. "I grew up here!" he notes. #ferguson

Jim Dalrymple II ‏@JimDalrympleII 9m
Capt Johnson: "When I see a young lady cry b/c of fear of this uniform then that is a problem” http://fox2now.com/on-air/live-streaming-2/ …

Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 13m
immediate change in police tone (march is still early) now that highway patrol overseeing things #ferguson

Wesley Lowery @WesleyLowery · 5m
I've been here since Monday afternoon. At no point have officers mixed/mingled/chatted with protesters - until tonight.

KMOV ‏@KMOV 14m
RT @CoryStarkKMOV: Group cheering at changing of the guard. Hundreds here. NO SWAT gear on police. #Peace #Ferguson

Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 14m
Johnson says they are going to provide media staging areas. This is night and day from every other night this week. Night and day #ferguson

Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 16m
"I've assigned all police assigned to this detail to take their gas masks off," - Cpt. Johnson #ferguson

Wesley Lowery @WesleyLowery · 1m
Will stop waxing poetic long enough to note sun still up, night is young. But the change in tone on ground right now is stunning #ferguson

[Squinch]

1. Oh, wow! Someone might actually be doing something right!

[Squinch]

123. Finally, someone with some wisdom who is showing some respect.

For some reason, this kind of chokes me up.

[awoke_in_2003]

133. Thanks for the links. nt

[MohRokTah]

2. Talk about gaining the trust of the community!

Wow!

A cop I can respect!

FINALLY!

[awoke_in_2003]

134. On of these days...

the good cops will have to regain control of their departments- a lot of them are getting out of control, and people are only going to take so much.

[bravenak]

3. Thank You Highway Patrol Captain Johnson.

Learn from HIM coppers!

[monmouth3]

4. Now we're talkin'....n/t

[tblue37]

5. Good man. nt

[Fred Sanders]

55. What trust can do, versus the fear mongers and monsters of Fox News and reich wing media.

And thank you to the Governor. You are owed apology and credit. Chatting with President Obama and getting sage advise you followed...the true story.

[Live and Learn]

6. He is doing a great job so far.

Hoping the demonstration is large and peaceful. And that the other police departments learn something from his handling of the situation.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. I love that he's in his blues and not in his G.I. Joe costume.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

18. Oh no, how will he blend into the urban underbrush when the thuggish protesters

try to attack him!
(Snark.)

[jwirr]

24. Yes, he is taking them back to the days when not all policemen were dressed to kill.

[No Vested Interest]

96. You have him confused with the St. Louis County Police force.

He is on the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The Missouri Highway Patrol has replaced the St. Louis County Police Force, which had the heavy armour last night.

[defacto7]

107. No mylar flack jacket either.

That actually impresses me and I'm a hard liner when it comes to fighting against militarization of law enforcement.

[LynneSin]

125. That was the first mistake of those police officers the other day

They treated the protesters as criminals who would incite violence and that's what happened.

Today this guy treats the protesters as people with a voice who want to be heard and it looks to be a peaceful day.

[winter is coming]

8. Good job. Hope he doesn't get fragged by one of the local cops. n/t

[VanGoghRocks]

32. God, it is so depressing having to think that this is even remotely plausible.

[Dems to Win]

9. Bravo, Captain Johnson

Cpt Johnson was also very impressive at Gov. Nixon's press conference today. Much more so than the governor.

[Justitia]

102. Agreed. -eom

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bigtree.

[ColesCountyDem]

11. Massive respect, Capt. Johnson!

[Historic NY]

12. Finally a wise choice, & a wise man....thank you Captain Johnson.

[LordGlenconner]

13. Powerful imagery. Well done.

[Live and Learn]

14. Refreshing to see a grown up in charge. nt

[handmade34]

78. my thoughts exactly

[sufrommich]

15. Good to see a sane cop in charge. nt

[nolabear]

16. Much, much respect for his courage and humanity.

I hope it stays intact tonight.

[calimary]

129. This guy definitely has class.

If I lived in that community, he'd be the one I'd trust. I'd hope there were cops like him in EVERY community. In leadership positions. Remember the old saying that Michael Dukakis used to use to describe leadership good and especially bad? "The fish rots from the head." I am not certain that this is a factually-accurate statement as far as where rot starts in a newly-deceased organism. But as a slogan it's a good one as far as being illustrative of wise and responsible leadership.

[avaistheone1]

130. Okay he is awesome and so is what he is doing.

More of THIS please.

[Live and Learn]

17. Mike Brown said 500 to 600 people already marching

on his live stream. http://new.livestream.com/accounts/9035483/events/3271930

[yellerpup]

19. So simple, so powerful.

That is a hero!

[Blus4u]

20. Missouri State Police...

should take over the investigation with this guy in charge.

Peace

[calimary]

33. Truly. What an improvement.

Cops looking like the officers at the local precinct rather than paramilitary battalions straight from the Green Zone. CRIMINY!!! WHY do we need that overkill.

TAKE THEIR DAMN TOYS AWAY!!!!! All they're gonna want to do is play with them. TAKE THE DAMN WAR TOYS AWAY!!!!!!! This is NOT a freakin' war zone!!!!!

[suffragette]

68. + 1,000

[Separation]

110. +2000

It still blows my mind that there a some on this site that thinks that it is not a problem, and welcomes it.

[Rose Siding]

21. Wow- On that live feed people are smiling and waving at the honking cars

Someone in authority with good sense and a little humanity is all it took.

[bigtree]

26. Revolutionary idea

Jon Swaine @jonswaine · 20m
Revolutionary idea: the police are chatting to people

[Calista241]

59. Wait, shouldn't they have AR 15's, flash bangs, helmets and gas masks?

[tomm2thumbs]

22. wow --- tone vs. tone-deaf

amazing the difference

[tridim]

23. Watched it live, I love that man!

Making the change.

[Bjorn Against]

25. What a refreshing change

I remember being in Madison for the protests against Scott Walker and the police marched with us and were very supportive of us. It really helped build trust between the police and the protesters, and that trust is even more needed in Ferguson than it was in Madison. I hope this is more than just a PR stunt, because if it is then I think this guy can do a lot to help heal that community.

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Stand up!

Get in the street where you live.
I'm a marcher.
I stand with them.

Peace, Love and the Righteous Fight.


~Lmsp

[LiberalLovinLug]

28. Better keep tabs on his career now

I'd like to see just how many promotions or lack thereof he will be getting in the next year or two.

[randys1]

29. Governor Johnson? maybe?

[hopemountain]

30. yes, this is how it is done. damn good start.

thank you for your leadership, integrity, and heart, capt. johnson.

[littlemissmartypants]

31. Thanks for your post, bigtree.

Peace, love and the Righteous Fight!

Love you.
~Lmsp

[Cal Carpenter]

34. So now there will be charges against the murderous cop, right?

Because the problem isn't keeping protestors in check, the problem is the lack of justice for a young unarmed man who was shot down by a pig.

Seeing this post gives me some hope, but unless the tables keep turning on the local cops this isn't going away, nor should it.

[Live and Learn]

37. No, but now people can protest to demand that it does happen

without being harassed. And thanks to the ridiculous policing of the last few days even more people are demanding answers.

This is also the first time we have heard strong reactions to the militarization of the cops.

Small victories maybe but good starts.

[bettyellen]

43. but job #1 is keeping the protesters safe in their own community this evening

sad to see this is needed, but it is.
there are two agencies investigating the shooting right now, and I bet their work has just been expedited today as well.

[leftstreet]

52. From Eric (Chiquita Banana Terror Squad Defender) Holder:

...

“All the while, the federal civil rights investigation into the shooting incident itself continues, in parallel with the local investigation into state law violations. Our investigators from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. attorney’s office in Missouri have already conducted interviews with eyewitnesses on the scene at the time of the shooting incident on Saturday. Our review will take time to conduct, but it will be thorough and fair.”

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/August/14-ag-854.html

We'll see

[Cal Carpenter]

56. Thanks for the info

And yeah, time will tell. I'm not ready to trust any law enforcement body, from the county to the highway patrol to the federal government, let alone the justice department..

I hope to god things stay peaceful in Ferguson. But how many more incidents like this, murders of unarmed innocents, before there is systemic change?

[leftstreet]

62. :-(

If there was going to be systemic change, it would have happened long before now.

What counts is that tonight things are better for the protestors in Ferguson. Which is good

But in spite of the media attention, the 'middle class' shock !! of it all, and the new hero in the making who ended (insert racism, sexism, oppression, whatever) - tomorrow, next week, next year the same thing will happen in another city

[bigtree]

64. Holder told Brown family in phone call today

Carrie Johnson ‏@johnson_carrie 1h

Attorney General Eric Holder told Brown family in phone call today there would be a "full, independent civil rights investigation"#Ferguson.

[DRoseDARs]

70. For the immediate future, it's to keep FPD from inflicting MORE violence upon the community.

eom

[Dustlawyer]

91. Yeah, can they ever admit that one cop seriously FU? That will be the real test!

Plus, they need to get rid of the Ferguson Chief of Police who has a Confederate flag in a window of his home and doesn't seem to hire black police officers!

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. ...

[leftstreet]

36. DURec

[cui bono]

38. Awesome. Great start. n/t

[Autumn]

39. That is the measure of a man. Thank you Cpt. Johnson for your compassion, love and wisdom.

Rare qualities.

[merrily]

40. I guess he doesn't think he has "4000 animals" to deal with, but instead sees

the demonstrators as humans. Makes a lot of difference--very necessary difference.

[lunasun]

97. +1

[Frustratedlady]

41. He is taking control from the get-go.

Whoa! Good for him.

[BumRushDaShow]

42. K&R

I heard a blip from him on the radio this afternoon and he means business. He said that he's from the area.

[RufusTFirefly]

44. Absolutely the right thing to do! Thank you, Capt. Johnson!! I hope there are more like you.

For a brief shining moment, this jaded news junkie is feeling a genuine sense of hope.

Thank you, bigtree, for posting.

[bigtree]

46. what a difference a day makes

Christopher Hayes ‏@chrislhayes 4m

Very minimal police presence, feeling of exuberance and peacefulness among the crowd. What a difference a day makes.

All In w/Chris Hayes ‏@allinwithchris 3m
All In live from Furgeson MO #inners

[RufusTFirefly]

49. Just the prospect makes me misty. Peace is not only possible. It's pragmatic.

This is the America I am proud of.


"You may say that I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one."

[uponit7771]

58. +1

[sheshe2]

45. Thank you Cpt. Johnson.

Excellent OP, bigtree. Thank you.

[tea and oranges]

47. Thanks so much for the post bigtree & kick

[VA_Jill]

48. Somebody got it right

Last edited Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Thank you Capt. Johnson.

[betsuni]

50. I think I'd forget to protest

and just follow Captain Johnson around all day....

[WillyT]

51. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[smiley]

53. Nobel nod....?

hey - Obama got one. Why not this guy?

[myrna minx]

54. THAT is how you protect and serve.

[uponit7771]

57. Blessed are the peace makers

[GoneFishin]

60. K & R.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

61. Most of the cops on the force are afraid to go in that area.

[LiberalElite]

63. THIS is what was needed from the beginning n/t

[HipChick]

65. All they did is put a black face on the problem..

Does not fix issue of racist cops

[geomon666]

66. No it won't fix the problem

But just hopefully we won't have people shot at and tear gassed in the streets tonight.

[HipChick]

69. Agree..for the short term

But I guess I am asking, when the cameras leave, and the spotlight is off, how do we prevent this from re-occuring?

[BumRushDaShow]

112. "how do we prevent this from re-occuring?"

Nothing will ever completely "prevent it" but it may trigger the establishment of new policies and re-training of hundreds of thousands of officers in police departments nationwide in "community affairs" and "community policing".

I.e., rather than spending so much time and money on post-9/11 "tabletop exercises" involving "terrorist attacks", "mass shooters" or other "disaster management" activities, they will add exercises on how to properly maintain crowds without armored personnel carriers, camo uniforms, stun grenades, flash-bangs, teargas, and rubber bullets, as well as mandating them to get the hell out of the patrol cars and "walk the beat" to positively interact with the people who live in the areas they patrol. That way, they get to know the teens they see hanging out on the corner because they got to know them as children riding their bikes around the neighborhood or playing ball in the street.

[RufusTFirefly]

74. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Captain Johnson took that step.
Nobody's naive. Certainly not the people in Ferguson. There's still a long, long way to go.
But at least we're moving. Together.
And if we stop? Or turn back? It's up to all of us to make sure we get started again and keep moving in the right direction.

[Puzzledtraveller]

115. Glad you saw through it too

this is pure manipulation.

[bigtree]

122. sure

. . . facilitating demonstrations which can actually sway politicians public officials and others to respond to this community's concerns - demonstrations which are free from police intimidation and police violence directed at protestors - is 'pure manipulation.' Right.

[fishwax]

67. imagine! police engaging a community instead of combatting it

[Rex]

71. This is what we need to see, cops coming to the rescue.

NOT cops coming to invade a neighborhood like it was Iraq!

BRAVO SIR!

Capt Johnson: "When I see a young lady cry b/c of fear of this uniform then that is a problem”

[BuelahWitch]

72. This is what leadership looks like

Worth 1000 of the G.I Joe wannabes.

[CaptainTruth]

73. Make him chief of the Ferguson police dept.

And give him the authority & resources to transform it into a force that actually protects & serves.

[No Vested Interest]

99. This reminds me of how General Honore' came in to New Orleans

when there was no leadership during the worst days after Katrina.

I bet Captain Johnson has had military training and learned his leadership skills there.

[Sissyk]

75. K&R

Thank You, Captain Johnson!

[blackspade]

76. Actual policing...refreshing.

Sounds like they sent someone with a clue.

[Agony]

77. Community Policing Rocks!

Fuck tha other police.

May reason and justice prevail.

[niyad]

79. k and r for this courageous man.

[woo me with science]

80. Exactly the right thing to do,

for a start.

Thank you, Capt. Johnson.

[winter is coming]

81. Shoe leather: cheaper and more effective than tear gas. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

82. k&r

[SCVDem]

83. I'm Tea Party Material.

White, 59 and an atheist. Okay, two out of three.

I am so tired of this pseudo apartheid fear from the whites. They, not me, seem to fear being forced to share power in government.

Look at Gov. Nixon. What a pasty ass mealy mouthed son of a bitch. This is white fear imposing it's last gasp, arming itself and using military type power to maintain the status quo.

I'm glad I live in a diversified California. Whites are already a minority and life goes on just fine!

[Jack Rabbit]

84. K/R

A little ounce of nobility is exactly what is needed right now.

Thank you, Captain Johnson.

[frylock]

85. this is how you serve your community

knr

[sufrommich]

86. Cpt. Johnson - Rock Star:

https://vine.co/v/MYQhgEPqJUd

[Cracklin Charlie]

94. It's easy.

He wanted their respect. To earn it, he had to show them that he respected them. The Captain is a smart man.

He used his brain to figure out the best way to deal with the situation. Brains wins every time.

[malthaussen]

87. Good man.

We could use a few thousand more like him.

-- Mal

[eggplant]

88. OH NOES!!1!! Now the protesters are ARMED! DUCK AND COVER, EVERYONE!1!!1

Will this escalation never cease?!?!11!?!

[SunSeeker]

89. Finally, they send in a competent cop. nt

[TheKentuckian]

90. A little sanity goes a long way sometimes

[NBachers]

92. Oh yeah? Just wait 'till he gets hit by all those Molotov Coctails

Just kidding- I admire Captain Johnson, and I support the protestors in Ferguson.

[Voice for Peace]

93. great improvement.

good. I want to say Thanks Obama. I know it is more
complex but something powerful is going on.

[L0oniX]

95. Well that's one good cop. More good ones need to stand up for the people. Democracy includes the...

right to demonstrate and protest.

[Darkhawk32]

98. The Fox News "reporter" looks disappointed in today's results. n/t

[arikara]

100. They used to call them "peace officers"

This guy really is one. I hope more learn the old ways from him.

[Rex]

101. Officers of the Peace. I remember actually calling them peace officers.

And they were. No military hardware or tactic needed. And a lot of cops still do just that. We are looking at an exemplary one right now taking over and trying to make sure nobody dies from violence. No doubt also to find out exactly how bad that PD is, since they work together.

[bigtree]

104. I've grown up with DC protests

. . .the fuzz are all badass looking here, but they're mostly hands off. No guns pointed, not a lot of pushing or shoving, but they do put out a large presence that's pretty intimidating.

In my younger days, they had horses that they would line up across from Lafayette Square . . .not like we were going to actually rush them and storm the WH gates or anything.

I think it's a matter of how much experience these forces around the nation have; or lack of, in some cases, which determines the safe outcome of demonstrations.

I also remember at least a modicum of leadership to our protests (my generation was the '70's, with, I'm sure, lessons learned from the more chaotic '60's. We need more leaders; responsible ones who can channel all of this energy into something more productive and satiating than just a wild and noisy time out.

Still, I am 53 and a bit past the point where I'm willing to get my head bonked again. That willingness to take it to the edge was certainly a factor in sparking changes and shaking up the system. It's always a uncertain line between agitation and chaos with demonstrations.

I'm from the MLK school . . .just a matter of timing, I think. I remember the riots after MLK was shot dead in D.C. and they scared the hell out of me as a very young kid. I was a bit wild at protests as a teen. Back to peaceful and King-like as an adult.

It's always uncertain in these protests . . .but I'm repeating myself.

[uponit7771]

106. +1

[mackerel]

103. Finally someone is taking charge and changing the tone!

[MFM008]

105. Salute!

[JustAnotherGen]

111. We need more like this!

We need more people like this man in law enforcement positions.

[newfie11]

113. The Governor made an excellent choice

And a wise one.

The State Police were like pouring water on a fire.

Cpt. Johnson was an excellent choice!

[Locrian]

114. the contrast is stunning....

The contrast is stunning between this and the previous police thugs.
THIS is what real strength and integrity look like. Not hiding behind military gear and weapons.

This image of partnership should be shown as a contrast to the STUPIDITY and FUTILITY of the dominator approach to trying to beat people down into submission.

[drray23]

116. true leadership in action

That is true leadership in action. Now of course I am pretty sure he will be criticized by the right wingers for consorting with the enemy... and horror, he is black..

[justiceischeap]

117. It's great that he did this (even though that's what he was brought in to do)

As well as be a black face of leadership but the underlying problem is still there. When all this is "over" the Ferguson PD is still going to be there, still predominantly white and unless the Justice Dept. can somehow get involved, will continue it's racial profiling practices.

Don't get me wrong, I'm beyond happy that the protesters finally got to protest without fear of reprisal, the community needed that but this really doesn't change much for Ferguson in the long run. I posted an article earlier about a situation that happened in Ferguson in 2009 (where the police beat a man--turns out it he had the same surname of someone who was wanted) and then when they found out he was the wrong guy, charged him with destruction of property because he got blood on their uniforms. This has been a long-term ongoing problem with the PD.

[drray23]

119. that may be the catalyst

I agree that this does not address the underlying causes immediatly. However this may be the catalyst that starts it. After all the civil right movement for example started with people's individual and courageous actions ( lunch counter, bus sitting in front, etc..) and then solidified around mlk until change did happen.

[sammythecat]

118. Combine what we see and hear

on the news with the very real fact that being a cop is a magnet for certain kinds of assholes and many of us, myself included, view cops with varying measures of wariness, fear, and distrust. This post, however, can remind us, and myself included again, that being a cop can also attract some of the very best among us. There are few things more noble and inspiring than a genuinely good cop.

[riqster]

120. He said the magic word: "we". And meant it.

[pinto]

121. +1

[LynneSin]

124. I truly believe the reason why the protesters looted and rioted was because the police treated them

like they were all guilty of something.

The fact that this police officer not only walks with the protesters but treat them as equals who have a voice - I think we'll see the riots subside and justice happen.

Having police officers equipped to the hilt with military grade equipment is just wrong!

[AllyCat]

126. Oh, so they found an effective leader.

Way to go Capt Johnson!

[marew]

127. I am so utterly impressed by this man.

Words fail me... He is a man of great wisdom and compassion.

[Gothmog]

128. I like this officer

[riversedge]

131. several ++++

[Peregrine Took]

132. Sleight of hand P.R. strategy devised by crisis managers and cynical politicians.

Don't look there - look here!

[awoke_in_2003]

135. K&R. nt

[griloco]

136. waxing poetic

A Man
Who knows
'Tis not
Them vs us
Rather 'tis
Them is us

[skeewee08]

137. Kudos Capt. Johnson n/t

[Kire]

138. That's a nice Thursday evening photo-op.

Was he there after midnight Friday when they resumed the tear gas and the violence?

[bigtree]

139. he was instrumental in getting them to back off after their fuck up

. . .and they did keep their distance until almost daylight, when they went in pursuit of the roving looters who had headed to Walmart.

Alderman Antonio French says he got them to stand down about midnight or so and to stop the bullhorn nonsense too. It was too late for the encroachment and gassing though . . . he did get involved and exerted control over the forces after being contacted, though, I believe.

Of course, we'll need to hear that from him at some point to be certain.