When they were shot at-they had their hands raised in the air & were shouting “Press! Press! Press!"

[kpete]

At a press conference early this morning, Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson told reporters in Ferguson that 31 arrests had been made, including members of the “criminal element” from “as far away as New York.” When asked by a reporter if any of those 31 had been reporters, he immediately–and falsely–replied, “these people were not journalists that were arrested.”

But he quickly admitted that in the “chaos” of the protests, officers may not be able to distinguish between reporters and other bystanders: “So yes, we may take some of you into custody. But when we do take you into custody, and we have found out that you are a journalist, we have taken the proper action.” This begs the question as to why police would be compelled to arrest an otherwise law-abiding non-journalist simply for attending a protest. But we insist that the St. Louis County Police Department, Ferguson Police Department, and Missouri Highway Patrol take the proper action and release Ryan Devereaux immediately.

*************

Update: Johnson and his colleagues did not take the “proper action.” Ryan spent the night in St. Louis County Jail, where he remains this morning. According to officials there, he is due to be released without charge—the initial pretext for his detention was “failure to disperse”—within the hour. Ryan and Lukas Hermsmeier, a reporter for the German newspaper De Bild, were both apprehended last night—and shot with beanbags and rubber bullets—while attempting to return to their car after a night of reporting. When they were shot at, they had their hands raised in the air and were shouting, “Press! Press! Press!”

Second Update: Ryan has been released. And a correction: While the situation is still not entirely clear, I believe now that both Ryan and Hermsmeier were hit with beanbags, but not rubber bullets as reported above. Also, I’ve updated the post and the headline to reflect the fact that Ryan was in fact arrested and jailed overnight, not merely detained.



More, especially the comments:
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/08/19/intercept-reporter-detained-covering-ferguson-protests/

[gratuitous]

1. Oh yeah?

We don't know that they had their hands in the air, do we? Not for sure. And who's to say that either Ryan or Hermsmeier didn't pinch a pack of gum from the local store back in the day? They might have. And nobody knows whether they didn't have any illicit or licit drugs in their systems, so they're lucky as all get out the cops just shot them with rubber bullets and bean bags. This time.

At least, that's how I am being told to view these situations. Just because somebody has been shot doesn't confer any credibility on them at all. We need to hear from our law enforcement people, who are a little busy right now conducing a thorough investigation. Very thorough. Results might not be available for weeks or months. Or ever.

[WinkyDink]

3. I heard from a friend of a friend that these so-called "reporters" were armed ISIS sympathizers!

[VanGoghRocks]

14. Double Oh, snap! That's positively brutal (But spot on)! Sincere hat tip!

[Punkingal]

4. What?

???

[gldstwmn]

10. Amen. n/t

[VanGoghRocks]

13. Oh, snap! That's positively brutal (But spot on)! Sincere hat tip!

[redqueen]

70. One of the shooter cops' friends just called and said that the reporters actually bumrushed the cops

So there you go.

[IronLionZion]

101. I know for a fact those reporters were about to do something dangerous

like report what happened. We can't allow that now, can we?

[WinkyDink]

2. I think their being deliberately "hit with" ANYTHING is BATTERY. That happens to be a crime.

[davekriss]

5. Fog of war and all that...

Un-F*ckin'believable! Wait until journalists start being arrested, Naomi Wolf warned, then we will be witnessing the closing of American society. I can't get over the use of LRAD, which were designed as weapons of war to be used in Iraq and similar illegal invasions, not on citizens of our nation.

[Mnemosyne]

6. I wish it had been a surprise to see LRAD used there. Pittsburg G20 protest in 2009 was a

trial run, I believe. It was basically ignored, even here.

[sabrina 1]

44. Second big trial run to test the Militarized police was OWS. We are the enemy. Glad to see some of

media finally beginning to 'get it'. During OWS they willingly left the scene BEFORE the police would riot when asked. It was anticipated that the Corporate Media WOULD cooperate with them so the protesters were armed with their own media equipment and the whole world got to see our Militarized Police in action.

This time though, the media appears to be 'stunned' by the show of military force. Maybe if they had done their jobs in the past, they would not be at all surprised at what is happening to this country.

[Mnemosyne]

96. It astounds me how many are apathetic and ignorant of any of this. The media's 'stunned' surprise

will last until they leave there, as happened after Katrina. I have absolutely no faith in this 'media'.

It's probably going to get much worse before it gets any better, I'm afraid.

[sabrina 1]

98. I agree, they are 'acclimatizing' people to seeing military forces on the streets. Stunned media

personnel will move on from this in a few weeks. Until the next time. Next time they won't be AS stunned.

We have clearly lost this democracy and I blame the press. They were supposed to be the watchdogs who would expose government corruption, keep the people informed so they people retain the ability to stop these abuses before they get too out of control. At this, it seems to be too late.

They start with poor people, minorities introducing these methods of policing. Then move on to groups that they label 'the left'. And those who feel they will never be targets, do nothing. Until it is everyone. And then it is too late.

Where are our elected officials on this? I have not heard what I should be hearing, demands for hearings to address the problem of a militarized police force in this country. And the reason appears to be that they are part of the problem.

[cynzke]

100. Well We Know Where They Are.....

In Washington. This is a blue print of what some members of our government have in store for us. People like Paul Ryan and Tea Party pushing propaganda against the poor and minorities. They are the weakest and easiest (first) targets, but we need to be convinced these people are pariahs on society so that we blindly go along with the slow, systematic take over of this country by the corporate elite. The liberals, leftists, socialist commies including press, the middle class are the next targets. Efforts are underway to do away with all the social advancements/legislation that has passed in this country to our benefit. And we are now seeing the well oiled propaganda machine of the right doing everything in their power to demonize social progress and those of us who support it.....which is the middle class and the poor. This propaganda works on the low info voters who have been faithfully electing the elite, giving them the power to take over our government and now it is in their hands.

[Enthusiast]

102. Same playbook the Fascists always use.

When they did away with the Fairness Doctrine it put many of us on alert. Now look how far they have come in such a short period. The media has morphed into a right wing propaganda machine.

Move the jobs overseas then call the jobless, moochers. Then call them useless eaters.

The Nazis didn't start out by gassing the Jews. It was a gradual process. First it was the name calling. Then the casual violence, beating up and window breaking. Then they seized property and threw the rightful owners in death camps.

[PatrynXX]

107. Lrad is a torture device

first time I'd heard of it though. Japan used it against Sea Shepherd during Whale Wars. Does that mean Japan owns the cops now.

Think these particular cops nevermind the cop who shot Brown.. have done more to aid Iran, China and Russia than anyone else ever could

[CrispyQ]

54. Just in case you missed this:

Mapping the Spread of the Military’s Surplus Gear

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/15/us/surplus-military-equipment-map.html?smid=pl-share&_r=3



Washakie County
US County in Wyoming
Washakie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,533. Its county seat is Worland. Wikipedia
Area: 2,243 sq miles (5,809 km²)
Founded: 1911
County seat: Worland
Population: 8,464 (2012)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (Apr 2014)
Rivers: Tensleep Creek

According to the NYTimes map, they have 3 armored vehicles!

[polly7]

7. Ansgar Graw talking of his experience:

~snip~

"Have you ever had suicidal thoughts?"

The following is a measurement of blood pressure and an interview by a doctor, "Do you suffer from allergies? There are certain meals that you should not eat? Have you ever had suicidal thoughts?" No, no, no.

Re-emerge, to another switch. Stay where you are! Stay! You! Standing! The hands on the counter. On! Den! Counter!

A third time the pockets are searched. After all, we are now freed from the handcuffs. And again it goes into a holding cell. Then indeed the famous mug shot is taken. Welcome to the criminal file. One says yes, the images appear soon on the Internet.

For me this is all a new experience. I was in several conflict zones, I was in civil war regions in Georgia, in Gaza, illegal in the Kaliningrad region, when the then Soviet Union Western travelers access yet strictly refused, I was in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Vietnam and in China, I secretly met dissidents in Cuba. But to captivate me by police and rude to leave yell and see inside of a prison, I had to travel to Missouri in the United States of America by Ferguson and St. Louis.

(Google translation)

http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article131363772/Der-Tag-an-dem-die-US-Polizei-mein-Feind-wurde.html

[BlueCaliDem]

8. "the initial pretext for his detention was “failure to disperse”—within the hour. "

So, the 1st Amendment has restrictions and time schedules now? I see. No restrictions when it comes to paying for shares in a U.S. politician so he can vote your way, but plenty of restrictions when it comes to speaking out against government and government officials??

That Princeton University study, showing that in the past twenty years the U.S. has gone from being a democracy to a oligarchy, is now backed by the reasoning behind the arrest of the two journalists.

[tkmorris]

9. It was oddly worded

I think what was meant was that he was detained for "failure to disperse" and was due to be released from jail "within the hour".

[Jackpine Radical]

40. Schreckliche Ereignisse, schreckliche Übersetzung.

[tblue37]

91. Probably a babelfish translation. nt

[sabrina 1]

46. Their usual 'charge' for the thousands of arrests during OWS, was 'trespassing'. Most were dismissed

because protesters had their own video coverage of each arrest. The lying cops were never held accountable for false arrest and their lies under oath.

[SomethingFishy]

64. This is why I don't bother with the "camera" petitions..

A camera isn't going to make a bit of difference..

[Tommymac]

105. This ^

[DRoseDARs]

11. So much for the Great Black Hope, Cpt. Ron Johnson. Is no one in MO competent?

Can we federalize the response in Ferguson yet? Fucking clown show over there...

[sabrina 1]

47. It's beginning to look like it was all a setup. Okay, let's give them what they want, THEN send in

the agitators to rile up the criminal elements. THEN produce the scary images of the few infiltrators to 'prove' how they need a huge military force to 'control' the community.

Very disappointed in Johnson, though we shouldn't be. IF he was for real, he would not be defending what he criticized just a few days ago. He would be asking for an investigation of why that huge force was nowhere near the businesses that needed to be protected, they were way too busy with their tanks and guns harassing the Press and the Peaceful Protesters.

I wondered why it was the residents themselves who were trying to protect the businesses. With all that military power there, none were protecting the businesses.

So much for Johnson. Appears he may have been part of the plan.

[Laelth]

12. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[libodem]

15. Nothing says police state

Like shooting at and jailing the press.

[tea and oranges]

16. Interesting to know

that Johnson IS in charge. We wuz wondering around here, b/c from this distance we can't tell that things are ever so much better under the man who walked w/ protestors & gave pretty speeches.

When reporters aren't safe. . . ok, just realized I don't want to finish this sentence. . . too frightening this early in the morning.

[zeemike]

22. An other Trojan horse?

They look pretty but you never find out what is inside until you take them inside the gate.

[tea and oranges]

26. this is from august 14:

field negro (http://field-negro.blogspot.com/) said this:


"Sticking a few tokens from the police department to march with you shouldn't be enough to make you stop demanding justice. (I see you Capt. Ron Johnson) It's a tactic that that's used time and time again by the politicians to shut you up until the next time.


Let's hope it doesn't work again."

field was right.


(There's much more since at his blog.)

[sabrina 1]

48. Field isn't easily fooled generally. Looks like he WAS right.

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. This OP is shit stirring B.S., in both tone and content ...

When L/E are faced with a group of people in a crowd that they believe have engaged in criminal conduct (for whatever reason), they take the whole crowd and sort through to make sure they have the ones that they believed were engaged in that criminal conduct.

To suggest that they do otherwise is ridiculous.

{Please note: I am not saying that I support the police's response to the exercise of their 1st Amendment rights.}

[liberalmuse]

18. Have you watched the live feeds...?

Because many of us have, and did not witness the fantasy you are spinning.

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. And what fantasy am I spinning?

[Fantastic Anarchist]

34. The previous post you were trying to peddle. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

36. Can you be more specific; or, ...

are you suggesting that L/E can, on sight and in an instant, distinguish a brick thrower amongst protesters" from "journalist"?

That would be fantasy.

[Android3.14]

51. One might notice the presence of notebooks, cameras and press badges

And a profound lack of bricks.
Sheesh.

[1StrongBlackMan]

56. Yes, because when one is attempting to "control" a large group ...

One has all the time in the world to do that "noticing."

Again, evidence on DU that one must suspend one's everyday real life experience to make arguments make the least bit of sense.

[Android3.14]

63. Your the one who pointed out the brick thrower

Police receive training to distinguish threats from non-threats. This tells me that they see the press as a threat.
Actually, when one is trying to influence a large group, noticing the details is an essential component of the task. That's another element of leadership.
Your everyday real-life experience might be a little incomplete, or perhaps it is in fact you who suspends your experience in order to make a senseless argument.

[1StrongBlackMan]

69. Yeah. Okay.

[rhett o rick]

73. Why should he/she be more specific. You weren't specific at all with your attack on the OP.

You do make a statement about how the police operate as if you know, and as if they never deviate.

If anyone is trying to stir the shit it isnt the OP.

[polly7]

75. +1000. nt.

[1StrongBlackMan]

78. Thank you very much ...

I think?

[Enthusiast]

103. +1001

[Ed Suspicious]

106. Spot on.

[A Simple Game]

19. Just like Israel is justified in killing the human shields to get at the terrorist? Gotcha. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. False equivalency, gotcha. eom.

[A Simple Game]

30. No denial, gotcha. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

35. Yeah, okay. ...

But, interestingly ... your ire and outrage of the treatment of the press is misplaced in the context of Ferguson. If it has to be explained to you why, then ... well ...

[A Simple Game]

66. No need to explain to me, I see no difference between your attitude and

the "Shoot them all and let god sort them out" attitude displayed during many of our wars.

By the way could you tell me why they didn't "round up" the cop that shot the teen? He may have been justified in the shooting or he may have been guilty of murder, they could have sorted it out later and that would have taken away the need for any protests. The public may be having a hard time understanding why a suspected murderer is hiding away on a paid vacation.

And some wonder why the public doesn't trust the police.

[1StrongBlackMan]

71. Reporters got shot? ...

Should that bit of hyperbole point out how ridiculous your assessment of my attitude is?

By the way could you tell me why they didn't "round up" the cop that shot the teen? He may have been justified in the shooting or he may have been guilty of murder, they could have sorted it out later and that would have taken away the need for any protests. The public may be having a hard time understanding why a suspected murderer is hiding away on a paid vacation.

I have called that very point in question ... even to the point of offering that taking the cop into custody, will likely calm this whole situation down.

[A Simple Game]

74. Yes taking the shooter into custody probably would quell the unrest.

I heard that doing so before the prosecution is ready could cause the evidence gathering process to accelerate once he's charged because of the speedy trial thing, but it seems he could be held at least for a short while as a material witness without charge. I can only imagine what my fate would have been if I were the one that shot someone in the street and witnesses said it was unjustified. I would expect to be arrested and expect the same for any cop. Give him the same justice I would get, a jury of his civilian peers.

Casting wide nets will never quell unrest it will just increase it. Collateral damage does have long term consequences. Our military makes terrorists the same way, it is just a matter of magnitude, same thing just a higher level.

Who said a reporter got shot? Could you provide a link to the article? I knew some were arrested and/or detained but not that any were shot.

[rhett o rick]

77. Well said. nm

[1StrongBlackMan]

79. We largely agree, here ...

well, not the "held as a material witness" part, but yes, the cop can be arrested on the basis of the witness statements.

However, you are making false comparisons between arresting/detaining journalists that a swooped up while among suspected wrong-doers and the collateral damage cause by military use of force.

[A Simple Game]

80. Yes I think we aren't far apart in how we assess the mess in Ferguson.

But I don't know where you got the journalists from.

A quick scan of my posts and I don't see where I ever mentioned a journalist until post #74 where I asked:

Who said a reporter got shot? Could you provide a link to the article? I knew some were arrested and/or detained but not that any were shot.

In response to:

Reporters got shot? ...

in your post #71.

My original, and probably only, complaint was about your "cast a wide net" philosophy.

From post #17

When L/E are faced with a group of people in a crowd that they believe have engaged in criminal conduct (for whatever reason), they take the whole crowd and sort through to make sure they have the ones that they believed were engaged in that criminal conduct.

The bold is mine.

I disagree with punishing innocent people to get a few criminals, I didn't like it in grade school and still don't like it as a senior citizen. It is a very poor way to win the hearts and minds of people.

[1StrongBlackMan]

81. Well ...

I disagree with punishing innocent people to get a few criminals, I didn't like it in grade school and still don't like it as a senior citizen.

I generally agree; however, I do not consider detaining someone for a couple of hours (when they are among suspected wrong-doers) punishment.

[A Simple Game]

83. How long would you consider too long? Over night, 24 hours? n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

85. The longer the detainment ...

the closer it comes to "punishment".

[gratuitous]

20. God bless you, Sir!

I feared I was the only one who saw through this self-serving narrative by Devereaux. "Returning to his car" he says. Maybe he was going to get in, gun the engine and run over those brave law enforcement officers! Nobody knows what might have been in Devereaux's heart. Better safe than sorry, and a night in the slammer will teach him a good lesson about not dispersing* promptly. If a few allegedly innocent people get swept up in the process of protecting and serving, well, the cops have a tough job, and some of you eggs might get scrambled in the process of making this law-and-order omelette.

*I'm now sure how one person can disperse, but I have every confidence that our faultless boys in blue know exactly what that means, and took necessary and wholly proportionate action in defense of the good citizens of Ferguson.

[rhett o rick]

72. I hope this is sarcasm. If so, very good. nm

[Chiyo-chichi]

23. Your description is simply not what is happening w/regard to the arrest & detention of journalists

From the letter signed by 48 media organizations:

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/263847/48-news-orgs-send-letter-protesting-lack-of-information-in-ferguson/

"First-hand accounts indicate that Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post and Ryan Reilly of The Huffington Post were doing nothing more than sitting in a McDonald’s recharging their phones when they were questioned by police and detained. (Their respective news organizations are both signatories to this letter.) Their statements indicate they were physically mistreated, harassed, handcuffed, and denied answers to their repeated requests for information as to why they were taken into custody. In addition, Lowery was told to stop recording police in violation of his First Amendment rights."

Getty Images photographer Scott Olson was arrested -- zip tied and frogmarched by himself, not as part of a big roundup of a crowd -- for being 15 or 20 feet away from where the police demanded that he be.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/18/getty-photographer-arrested-scott-olson/14265155/

[1StrongBlackMan]

28. This is not what the OP is discussing ...

the McDonald thing was clearly wrong.

The OP is talking about the arrest of journalists that are in the midst of Protesters suspected of violence.

As Johnson pointed out, journalists are seeking out folks that they think might become violent (i.e., wearing masks, bandanas, etc.) to highlight. It is the medias job to capture images of what is going on and violent images sells; whereas, non-violent images are boring.

[Chiyo-chichi]

53. The OP actually cites an instance where Johnson said one thing and another was true.

He said no journalists were arrested.... and that was not the case.

If you read the whole story, it goes on to cite another such instance. Johnson said "ok, we are arresting some journalists, but when we find out they are journalists, we take the proper action."

From the story:
"Update: Johnson and his colleagues did not take the “proper action.” Ryan spent the night in St. Louis County Jail, where he remains this morning."

So... I'm not inclined to take Captain Johnson's word on anything as gospel.

[1StrongBlackMan]

58. My objection to this "reporting" is ...

that in order for the premise to be accepted, i.e., L/E should distinguish between peaceful protesters, suspect violent protesters and journalists, in a crowd, one must suspend one's every day real life stressful situations.

[kpete]

32. Michael Brown is dead and he could be any of us –even me.

“Give Me your tired rhetoric, your poor attempts at pacification, your yearning to yell logical fallacies…”

Give it to me. Or what did the uncouth Ferguson cop say on CNN to the African American protesters, “Bring it you f—g animals!” Tell me all about “absentee fathers” Joseph Epstein—because you’re an expert on Black people if I ever saw one (shandeh!). Please say, “What you (people) need to do…” (Thanks for the paternalism) and “What you need to tell your people is to stop…….” Tell me all about how Black men are far more likely to commit this crime or that crime…and hold a mirror to my face about Black on Black crime vs. white on Black crime. Tell me about myths of low IQ’s, poor academic performance, a failed attempt at instilling pride through Black history and Afrocentric culture; please tell me everything about what you might feel to be the “real” root cause. Rap music, the “n” word, drugs, liquor—give me your tired rhetoric, your poor attempts at pacification, your yearning to yell logical fallacies. You might well be Black, or white, or brown or “yellow” but it is all nonsense and distraction because let’s put it in terms you can understand, Michael Brown is dead and he could be any of us –even me.

oh, there is more, much more, bring tissue:
http://afroculinaria.com/2014/08/18/ferguson-my-thoughts-on-an-american-flashpoint/

[1StrongBlackMan]

37. I fail to see how this relates to anything I have written. eom.

[kpete]

42. it does not relate to anything you wrote

it was an arthritic mistake

My joint on my ring finger of my right hand is acting up this a.m.

I had wanted to create a new post
because I thought the author had some important messages.

not a joke, my fingers just locked

I hope you do not mind that I left it here,
it was just simpler for me then deleting at the time....
(which I will do if you wish)

going to try some massage & hot water.
Cut and pasting can be a challenge....


peace to us all,
kp

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. Okay. Not a problem ...

I do agree that the OP makes some important points.

So if you don't mind ... I will make it its on thread.

[kpete]

45. Please do!

and thanks for understanding these silly fingers of mine...

peace again to us all,
kp

[sabrina 1]

49. Let me ask you something. There was a HUGE military/cop presence in Ferguson last night. As some

reporters stated, they had not seen anything like since they were covering war zones.

IF they were there to protect the innocent, why were they NOT stationed near the businesses? How come they could not protect them? Why were they so busy harassing the PEACEFUL PROTESTERS and the THE PRESS rather than surrounding the business areas?

I saw ordinary residents protecting the businesses THEMSELVES this week, why did THEY have to do that when there were National Guard, Mercs, or what look like those 'private contractors' dressed in military garb with no ID, regular police and the Highway Patrol and all of them together were unable to protect those businesses?

You must not have been watching it live last night. I was and was shocked by what I saw.

Several of the Community Leaders stated that there were 'agents provacteurs' there stirring up trouble. But it seems to me that if I really was there to HELP the community, I would station my 'troops' where I would assume they are most needed.

Didn't see that, saw peaceful protesters and the press being harassed.

[1StrongBlackMan]

57. I have already expressed my opposition to what and how ...

Law Enforcement has handled this situation.

My post is about the treatment of "journalist", in crowds, amongst suspected wrong-doings.

[Luminous Animal]

59. Photo of the arrest. Notice the press credentials.

[1StrongBlackMan]

60. Yes ...

I see it ... Now tell me:

1) How difficult do you think it would be to get a lanyard?

2) What's to say this man/these men are members of the press? (even with the lanyards)

3) Even if this man/these men are members of the press, what's to say they were not inciting (to get the money shot photo/story) or otherwise interfering with L/E?

4) How long after this picture was taken, were the men detained?

If you are the least bit honest, you would answer:

1) Not very difficult.

2) I can't say.

3) I can't say.

4) I can't say.

[cwydro]

62. You're being too sensible, see.

You'll never get anywhere with that attitude.

But you're right.

[1StrongBlackMan]

68. I've said before ...

on any number of issues, in order for many of DU posts to make just a little sense, one has to suspend one's real life, every day experience, in favor of the most negative interpretation of every issue.

[Luminous Animal]

82. Press credentials are an official document issued by the government or law enforcement.

1) They contain both a picture and an identifying number. If the cops disbelieved that Ryan was really the press, they could have phoned in and confirmed the identification was legit.

2) Because they are and they were issued press credentials.

3) They were arrested for failure to disperse. They were never charged.

4) They spent the entire night in jail.

[1StrongBlackMan]

84. Okay.

[WCLinolVir]

86. The cops have been doing this for so many years.

It's always an arbitrary time limit, which they don't adhere to, and then they block egress, after they tell you which way to go. They make it impossible and move to split up the crowd and start arresting people. They don't want you to leave, they want to arrest you, take names, get pictures and put together a file on the people there.
I once went to protest Bush at the retreat in No Cal, and the cameras were rolling. They wanted to know who we were like we some group of spies or something, instead of a bunch of hippie libs from SF, protesting war and policies. It was deep with men behind mirror shades. I think we were out-numbered.
Seriously, this is not just looking for the criminal element. They are engaged in something far more sinister. They probably have certain people they are looking for as well.

[Thor_MN]

88. Arrest them all, let the Judge sort them out?

[1StrongBlackMan]

90. No ...

That's not what happened here.

[Thor_MN]

93. Kind of sounded like what you were saying...

"When L/E are faced with a group of people in a crowd that they believe have engaged in criminal conduct (for whatever reason), they take the whole crowd"


Guess what it sounded like is not what you meant.

[1StrongBlackMan]

95. But there is no judge involved. eom.

[Thor_MN]

97. So just arrest them all, then sort them out later. Got it.

[JEB]

21. Fascism. Pure and simple.

[Android3.14]

25. So where the heck is our leadership?

Constitutional scholar my ass.

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Yes ...

this is all President Obama's fault. He should be on the ground, parting the Ferguson sea; calming the angry Black voices, while slaying the racist attitudes of law enforcement. Right?

[Android3.14]

50. Weird response 1SBM

The OP was about First and Second Amendment violations, not the issue of frustration, anger and institutional racism. And yes, a word from our President would insure that these cops stop acting like a bunch of fascist assholes to the press. That's why they call it leadership.
Right?

[1StrongBlackMan]

55. I suspose it would seem "weird" to you ...

And you will take, not a moment, to consider why I may have responding thusly.

[Android3.14]

61. I've taken several moments of consideration

I find your posts to be inscrutable fairly often, but interesting nonetheless.

[1StrongBlackMan]

67. Well ...

Others don't seem to have a problem understanding my posts ... maybe that says more about you than me. But at any rate, I guess inscrutably interesting is better than weird!

[Voice for Peace]

39. exactly, that's precisely where your leadership is.

[Kablooie]

31. Don't journalists always have press tags prominently displayed?

How could the cops arrest them by accident?

[woo me with science]

33. Both protesting AND the press are supposed to be Constitutionally protected.

[mwooldri]

52. Supposed to be.

I guess journalists would now need to be following links like this one ( http://www.remotetrauma.com/personal-protective-equipment-2013-07-24/press-flak-jacket-70-detail ), purchase and wear the flak jacket, and then go out and report.

Or they could go all out and get dressed like this:



Seems like what's standard practice in Gaza needs to be standard practice in Ferguson.

[malokvale77]

89. Yes...

which is why I don't understand DUers on here, twisting themselves into knots, trying to justify any of this.

[Enthusiast]

104. Supposed being the key word here.

They are Constitutionally protected if the Righties® are doing it.

[WCLinolVir]

87. They don't. They arrest to intimidate. they are now in the system.

[Voice for Peace]

38. so much for johnson.

[blackspade]

41. WTH is going on with the cops?

Everything they do makes it worse!

[WinkyDink]

65. It's a chance to use all their cool stuff.

[upaloopa]

76. I was thinking that last night.

Cops sitting on black military equipment with sniper rifles pointed at who knows what. Just when do the get to play GI Joe ever?

[tblue37]

92. That might be a feature rather than a bug. nt

[niyad]

94. why is this not surprising?

[littlemissmartypants]

99. That's the surprise. eom