Rev. Yearwood Attacked and Beat in Halls of Congress by Police

[Kevin Spidel]

Source: Hip Hop Caucus and SpidelBlog

Capitol Hill Police ‘Football Tackled’ Hip Hop Activist Rev. Lennox Yearwood at Petreus Hearing

WASHINGTON - September 10 - Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, was attacked by six capitol police today, when he was stopped from entering the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill, where General Petreaus gave testimony today to a joint hearing for the House Arms Services Committee and Foreign Relations Committee on the war in Iraq.

After waiting in line throughout the morning for the hearing that was scheduled to start at 12:30pm, Rev. Yearwood was stopped from entering the room, while others behind him were allowed to enter. He told the officers blocking his ability to enter the room, that he was waiting in line with everyone else and had the right to enter as well. When they threatened him with arrest he responded with “I will not be arrested today.” According to witnesses, six capitol police, without warning, “football tackled” him. He was carried off in a wheel chair by DC Fire and Emergency to George Washington Hospital.

Rev. Yearwood said as he was being released from the hospital to be taken to central booking, “The officers decided I was not going to get in Gen. Petreaus’ hearing when they saw my button, which says ‘I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ.’”

Capitol Police are not saying what the charges are, but an inside source has said that the charge is assaulting a police officer. Rev. Yearwood is scheduled to be transferred to Central Processing to be arraigned tomorrow morning.

Video seen here: http://spidel.net/blog/2007/09/10/rev-yearwood-attacked-and-beat-in-halls-of-congress-by-police/


Read more: http://spidel.net/blog/2007/09/10/rev-yearwood-attacked-and-beat-in-halls-of-congress-by-police/

---

I am told that they are going to charge him for attacking an officer. Please watch the video and judge for yourself. He is in the hospital recovering. I will post more as I find out more details

[Demeter]

1. Just When You Think It Can't Get Any More Stupid

a GOPcop proves you wrong.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. It's not stupid

It's insane.

[Bitwit1234]

59. I just sent an email to my representative please do the same.

This type of behavior should not be allowed. This is supposed to be a free country.

[defendandprotect]

126. I did, too -- Ferguson is useless -- I'll do Pelosi and my Senators ---

[MissWaverly]

70. we are spreading democracy over there

so we don't have to have it here

[Peggy Day]

108. Are we even spreading it over there? nt

[MissWaverly]

169. True, we have not had much success since purple fingers

[Demeter]

136. Too True, Mon Cheri

[MissWaverly]

170. Thanks, I wish this was less about GOP ego

I read a pundit on the Capital Hill Blog ranting about candidates groveling to the left by apologizing
for the Iraq War. Let's see, we went to war with a country that did not attack us and there are
over a million Iraqi casaulties in that war and the GOP is upset becuz somebody apologized for that.
What is wrong with this picture? Not to mention that we have now admitted that the intelligence that
lead us to invade this country was faulty and we should not have done so.

[Posteritatis]

181. Oh, I *always* think it can get more stupid. (nt)

[partylessinOhio]

2. They "hate us" for our "freedom" don't they?

:thumbsdown:

[TomInTib]

3. Looks as if he just gave about 1/8th turn when the cop behind him put his hands on him.

But even so, "resisting" would be a stretch.

Looked like total over-reaction on the part of the cops.

[LiberalFighter]

112. What cops? They just give badges to anyone that breathes.

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. That was NOT a "football tackle"

Blown way out of proportion. Sure, he should have been let in. Sure, he should not have been detained or arrested, but "attacked" and "football tackled" is clearly hyperbolic.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. They grabbed him, threw him to the floor, and broke his ankle.

Attacked is exactly what it is.

That's assault and battery.

[LiberalFighter]

113. He needs to file charges against those so called cops.

[Cronus Protagonist]

122. I agree

..but not for a football tackle.

[Cronus Protagonist]

118. Assault, sure, football tackle, no way

I think we agree.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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

[minnesota_liberal]

107. Pulling away from a cop might be "resisting arrest"

It's not "assault" unless there's hitting or shoving involved.

[kysrsoze]

128. Actually, assault is merely a threat of violence toward someone

When hitting or shoving is involved, that's considered battery.

[minnesota_liberal]

172. So if I sneezed near a cop...

that could be interpreted as "assault"?

[slampoet]

129. Saying, "I'm not under arrest" is enough to be charged these days. So is dropping to the floor.

Hell. There are people who have fallen out of their wheelchairs that get charged with this trumped up class of crime.

[Cronus Protagonist]

119. I'd call it false imprisonment and excessive use of force.

In the reverend's favor. I just don't think it compares to a tackle by Leo Linebacker. Is that so wrong?

[KaptBunnyPants]

43. He's in the hospital. How is this not an attack?

[Cronus Protagonist]

120. Well, he turned and tried to force his way in

The cops used excessive force and stumbled onto him. It's their fault. And it's not a football tackle.

[lonestarnot]

78. Lughead fuckhead numbnuts tackle then!

[Cronus Protagonist]

121. I"m looking for the rest of your haiku

:P

[John Gauger]

171. Agreed.

I don't see where he was tackled. And I also didn't see any beating.

[DS1]

5. punk ass motherfuckers

sad that the old vet got an eyeful of everything he fought for

[ClintonTyree]

6. Is it fascism yet?

Bin Laden has won. He destroyed our freedoms by baiting the frothing, moronic, right wing lunatics then having THEM destroy our country for him. Brilliant. And the idiots fell for it: hook, line and sinker. It's a sad, sad day in America. :cry:

[superkia]

11. Not a sad day for the wealthy and politicians,

they don't live in the America we do and thats why it will only get worse for us.

[subsuelo]

25. assigning motives in 911 consp. theory

isn't too hard to understand, is it?

[NYC]

69. No, it isn't.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[dickbearton]

44. Fascism yet!

We have lived in a police state longer then you realize, while
the vast majority do not have a clue. 

[the808]

127. my first thought too

and then i just started crying.

[Kevin Spidel]

7. please help make this viral...

digg this here:
http://digg.com/politics/VIDEO_Reverend_Attacked_and_Beaten_in_Halls_of_Congress_by_Police/

[Felinity]

152. Comment from the link

"Progressive is a code word for Communist/socialist/humanist…ie without God."

So a progressive minister would be . . .

This guy's god I'd rather do without.

[txaslftist]

153. Fascists say the dumbest things.

[angrycarpenter]

8. get used to it

That could be anyone under that dogpile.Those police officers felt it was their duty to protect their masters from passive ridicule. What will happen if they see actual unruly mobs. Didn't homeland security buy a bunch of automatic weapons for them? I think we will see protesters fired upon before the election next november and almost certainly after if a rebullican happens to win.

[snappyturtle]

88. You bring up a good point....what is in store for this Saturday's

march against the war in Washington,D.C.?

Edit: Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Just-plain-Kathy]

94. It seems they want to scare people into not going.

:banghead:

[tomg]

99. And that is why we go.

Hope to see you there.

[xchrom]

9. recommend

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Nothing he did...

Warrented that reaction or the charge.

Lawsuit time.

[jaksavage]

48. they'll settle for x million n/t

[librechik]

13. assaulting a police officer is a felony and a serious crime

the Gestapo is serious about taking this activist off the street. What a travesty!

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. But he didn't assault anyone

They assaulted him.

[puebloknot]

101. But...war is peace, doncha know? nt

[puebloknot]

103. 1984: A lesson from the Ministry of Love

"You are a slow learner," said O'Brien gently. "How can I help it?" Winston blubbered. "How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four."

"Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane,"

Are we there yet?

[librechik]

117. of course

i'm just saying that is an astoundingly serious charge for fucking standing in line in The People's House. Are they insane?

[Robb]

14. Clearly football has changed since I was a boy

Also, I guess I missed the beating. :shrug:

Harsh response? It was quick and involved a lot of police all at once, responding to an unknown person relatively close to a lot of elected officials.

Sorry he didn't get in. But you don't shove your way in when security says "no," either.

[subsuelo]

26. I missed the shove

The entire video is there.

Kindly give the time in the video (min:sec) where you saw the reverend "shove his way" in.

[Judi Lynn]

30. We must not be as honed for evil du'ers as some! I missed it, too, after seeing it twice. n/t

[Robb]

31. Right before they jumped him

He has his hands at his side, says no, I'm not being arrested, and pushes past. No mystery... what, you think he was walking away?

[subsuelo]

32. Are you serious?

You actually see the Reverend pushing someone? Where?? Is there another video you're watching or something?

on edit: I just watched again... Rev pushes no one at all. I don't see any push.

[Robb]

37. Well, look:

Rev has his left hand under the cop's right armpit, he's moving to push him to his right and go around him to the left. I can't see Rev's right hand. The cop with his back to us is putting his hands on his shoulders.



The cops all see the move, and they squash him. It sucks, but there it is. It was a heavy, heavy move on the part of the cops, but they are in a federal building. :shrug:

[Ediacara]

46. He's not touching the cop and clearly several feet away from the cop

Left hand under his right armpit... did he fit his briefcase in there too?

[Robb]

54. I watched it several times to try to see what you do

He's getting more and more surrounded as he keeps refusing to do whatever they're asking him, presumably they're telling him he can't go in and he's upset by it.

More cops come over with every passing moment, and (from what I see) he gives a push and starts moving his shoulders around to keep the oncoming hands off of him. Do they have a right to corral him like that? No idea. But clearly there were several moments there where anyone, anyone not looking for confrontation could've taken a step back.

They probably didn't need to take him down, but he wasn't allowing himself to be moved with hands.

[snappyturtle]

90. From where this started, near, very near the door and where he

was overwhelmed by several cops, he had moved away from the door! imho

Edit---AND, if the Reverend had gotten that far, hadn't he already been through security, metal detectors and all? Maybe he didn't have the button on at the door...that is possible...and we don't know whether he was asked to remove it or not, do we? And, what's so objectionable about the button in the first place? He's a Reverend! of course, he loves all people....like in human beings.

He was no threat. They let the disruptors in!

[pstans]

92. He took a step towards the door, not sure if he pushed though

He took a step towards the door right before he was taken to the ground. It looked like he took a step towards the door and then paused or stood up straight and then was taken down. I didn't see any push with so many cops around. I think he had a notebook or something in his hands earlier, so could he have really pushed very hard?

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. You know, we can all see the video too.

We can all clearly see that the cop grabbed Yearwood first from behind, starts the struggle, the other cop gets involved, and Yearwood never laid a hand on a cop. Yearwood's hand in that still is holding his bible, not the cop's armpit.

So I don't know who you expect to fall for this bullshit. Or why.

[Robb]

62. I've got no ulterior motive here, I'm just looking at it.

I don't see any reason for you to assume I'm on some kind of mission. What, you've finally outed me as a racist cop apologist after six years (or however long I've been at this) at DU?

We've all seen people get arrested for doing nothing, standing still, at a demonstration. When a cop asks you to to move, and you don't, next he puts his hands on you and moves you. If you duck and bob, he's going to grab you. Keep ducking and bobbing and a bunch of cops will grab you.

I'll concede it's just as likely he never puts a hand on any of them, if you'll agree it wouldn't matter whether or not he did -- he's not allowing himself to get moved, and we're in a federal building with senators and what-not behind those doors.

Rev made a choice to make a scene and get a reaction. Probably the right choice, by the way.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. Look, who do you expect us to believe?

You or our own lying eyes?

Why make things up, when we can all see the video?

[Robb]

68. Exactly my point

We can all see it. I see a guy not backing off and getting stomped. You just see a guy getting stomped. We both even agree he was excessively stomped.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

72. That doesn't begin to explain...

why you felt it necessary to make shit up.

[Robb]

82. If me calling it like I see it is "making shit up"

...what's "football tackle" and "beaten"? Creative license?

[GMFORD]

104. Rev did not choose to make a scene

He chose to wait in line peacefully with everyone else to go into the hearing. The cops chose to make a scene when they singled him out. His only response was 'Why are you singling me out?' They never answered that question -- apparently telling people why they are pushing them around is not in the handbook.

Is it your position that you can be minding your own business and it's okay for the cops to interfere and never tell you why? When you persist in asking why, they finally just take you down in force, breaking your leg in the process...and still never telling you why you were singled out.

He did nothing wrong and there's no defense for their actions.

[emmadoggy]

109. "I'll concede it's just as likely he never puts a hand on any of them, if you'll agree...

"...it wouldn't matter whether or not he did -- he's not allowing himself to get moved, and we're in a federal building with senators and what-not behind those doors."

Ok, so how does that equate to assaulting a police officer? At best, you might construe it as resisting arrest, but since he wasn't under arrest at that point, that dog don't hunt either.

He had stepped away from the door and was still pleading his case. He was holding a binder or book in his left hand. I never saw any threatening movements whatsoever, and certainly no shove. Nor did I see him make any attempt to dodge away from them. The man did absolutely nothing wrong and they pushed him to the floor, injuring him in the process.

[LiberalFighter]

114. Hmmm by attacking the guy when he has a bible he is attacking god

[appleannie1]

64. Actually, if you look closely you will see that the

reverand is holding a book, and does not have his hand under the officer's armpit as you claim. His hand is clearly on the book.

[tabasco]

87. You're seeing what you want to see, apparently.

He has a portfolio in his left hand. That is not his hand on the police officer. It is his hand on his portfolio.

The fucking assholes.

[goodhue]

93. his left hand is not under armpit

left hand is holding a portfolio

[Ediacara]

39. Well, yes, he was walking away

If you call that "pushing" I've got a bridge to sell you....

[dbonds]

75. I think you are wrong, he just tries to sit down.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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

[WillyT]

85. And When They Put Me In Some Sort Of Camp...

I'll be looking for YOUR smiling face. I'm sure you'll be on the other side of the fence.

:wtf:

[Judi Lynn]

15. He clearly didn't "assault" anyone. He attempted to go through the closing doors into the Caucus Rm.

The original video seems to indicate they hauled off some of the voices standing up for the Rev., as well, just for having the nerve to yell words of encouragement to the guy, and "Arrest _Bush, not Rev."

Thanks for posting this info.

What a shame an administration can commit atrocities on innocents in other countries, allow "hearings," and hire people who need a job to stand watch over rooms the people give them, through their taxes, to keep out the people who don't look as supportive of the atrocities as right-wingers are.

[AlCzervik]

16. he faked right and then they slammed him to the the floor, over react much officers?

[Marnieworld]

18. But Jesus would wear that pin.

What madness have we come to? :grr:

[subsuelo]

20. police state

[Baby Snooks]

76. And not just on Capitol Hill

Don't think some of the state and local law enforcement agencies aren't watching this wholesale violation of constitutional rights and figuring that if the feds can do it, then they can do it too.

Really scary country we live in. Made even scarier by the Democrats in Congress who sit by and say nothing. The right to peacefully protest is the most fundamental of all our rights.

What say you, Madame Speaker?

[liberalnurse]

21. As soon as I saw the post and YouTube video

I immediately thought of you.....and the Hip Hop Caucus! Oh Boy! I am so outraged, I know you are....I wish I was there. Tell him I send my love.O8) :hug:

...Have him "Ice and Elevate" that ankle.

[subsuelo]

22. unreported in the media

Google News Search Results for Lennox+yearwood Sort by Date

[Kevin Spidel]

23. Kos picked it up...

here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/10/175844/360

[Lone_Star_Dem]

24. That was way too extreme

From the video I saw no reason for them to be attempting to arrest him in the first place. Let alone did they have a valid reason not to admit him.

Then the 5 (or was it 6?) police that jumped him and pinned him to the ground, was shameful. It was uncalled for and over kill for the situation.

I hope his ankle ends up not to be broken. I'd hate to see what they would do to him if he were in a cast next time.

[EVDebs]

35. He kept saying 'why you singling me out ?' nt

[ProudDad]

53. Very easy question to answer in racist Amerika (n/t)

[INDIA]

79. Yes, the black cop stopping him first was racist. n/t

[NOLALady]

86. Black cops are as racist as others towards the

powerless.

[clixtox]

95. Apparently!

The fact that the cop happened to be black makes it an impossibility that he is racist?

Whatever else he might be he is certainly a willing tool of our oppressors...

[ProudDad]

131. Black cops tend to be the most over-reactive

It's a compensation mechanism for many of them so they can look like they "belong in the club"...

Anyway, according to the video, it was the white cop who initiated the attack on Rev. Yearwood...

Watch it again...

[reggie the dog]

137. listen to old NWA

Listen to old NWA songs like "fuck the police" they explain that black cops are often worse than white cops because they need to "show off" and prove to the white cops that they are not loyal to black people.

[Mz Pip]

27. "I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ"

WHy would BushCO be threatened by that? I thought they all loved the people of Iraq and that is why we are fighting to bring freedom and democracy to them. :sarcasm:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[goodhue]

28. common dreams link . . .

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0910-14.htm

[goodhue]

29. I posted video to DU video forum . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x53236

[LosinIt]

33. I hope that the Iraqis enjoy our brand of Democracy that we insist will set them free...

Because it scares me to death. I knew things would get bad after the Bush Coup, but I had no idea that it would be this bad.

[goodhue]

34. GD discussion here . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1777353

[OzarkDem]

36. In WaPo article about Cindy's arrest

"Others arrested shortly after noon included Desiree Fairooz, 50, of Arlington, Tex., a member of Code Pink, and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. of the D.C.-based Hip Hop Caucus, was taken to George Washington University Hospital after complaining that he was injured during his arrest. Yearwood allegedly refused to move back after jumping in front of a line of about two dozen people waiting to get into the hearing. He was charged with disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer, Capitol Police said."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091001068.html?hpid=topnews

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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

[jaksavage]

52. I won't and you can't make me...

[ProudDad]

132. You don't have to

I was speaking metaphorically (metaphysically?) :evilgrin:

[INDIA]

80. Thank you for your well thought out and reasoned addition to this thread. Not. n/t

[ProudDad]

133. Thank YOU for contributing NOTHING... (n/t)

[INDIA]

165. Yes, "F*ck the police" indeed.

Unless you need them to help/protect you. At which point you will run crying your nearest phone, and demand that they immediately respond to serve your need.

Laaaaaaaaaaaame........

[ProudDad]

168. The fuckers haven't yet...

"Unless you need them to help/protect you."

They're too busy busting peaceful demonstrators, running around with their phony little "war on drugs" rousting black folk in Toyotas, chasing whores (and occasionally getting serviced in the back seats of police cars) and rousting homeless people.

They don't respond any more when you actually get burglarized, vandalized or robbed -- they send a questionnaire for you to fill out so you can get a case number and collect the insurance; if you have any.

FTP...

I SURE as hell don't depend on THEM to keep me "safe"...

[Bitwit1234]

40. This is ridculous...what is wrong with our police

have they been told to deny people their rights. Damn it is getting so that you will be afraid to even walk down the street. This minister should sue and all the people around. You could hear them saying he hasn't done anything he is a minister. And does it take all those brave brave police officers to tackle one middle aged minister. WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS COUNTRY COMING TO....

[goodhue]

47. Yes it is ridiculous

Rev. Yearwood is actually relatively young I believe; not sure he is yet middle age.

http://www.hiphopcaucus.org/rev.php

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., is a minister, community activist, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. A powerful and fiery orator, Rev. Yearwood works diligently and tirelessly to encourage the Hip Hop generation to utilize its political and social voice. He currently serves as President of the Hip Hop Caucus in Washington, D.C. The Hip Hop Caucus is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, organization that inspires and motivates those born after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Rev. Yearwood is known for his activist work as the National Director of the Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign in which he organized a coalition of national organizations and grassroots organizations to advocate for the rights of Hurricane Katrina survivors. More recently, Rev. Yearwood has become an important figure in the peace movement as an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration. He was an Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and recently led a "Make Hip Hop Not War" national tour to engage more young people in the movement for peace.

Rev. Yearwood was a co-creator of the 2004 campaign Vote or Die with Sean Diddy Combs. He was also the Political and Grassroots Director for Russell Simmons Hip Hop Summit Action Network in 2003 and 2004, and a Senior Consultant to Jay Zs Voice Your Choice.

Rev. Yearwood, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of the District of Columbia in 1998 and was awarded a Master of Divinity from Howard University in May 2002. Firmly grounded in his Caribbean and Louisiana roots, Rev. Yearwood is a fierce advocate for the poor and minorities. Rev. Yearwood has been seen on CNN, BET Tonight, MTV, BBC, C-Span, and Hardball with Chris Mathews and featured in the Washington Post, The New York Times and VIBE.

[reggie the dog]

138. I noticed something over here in Europe

In the countries I know, France, the UK and the Netherlands I have seen the police talking to people like this and the situations have all been difused without arrest. I have even seen the cops giveup an basically say all right whatever (this happened to an old man on Réunion island (part of france) who was smoking a joint on the beach). The cops came up and said the french for "you can't do that, you can't have grass, the old man said "sure I can, it grows wild everywhere in the hills and is easy to find", the cops said, "no you cant have it", he said, "but I found it growing wild in the woods, of course i can have it just like the berries I find in the hills" cops "its forbidden" guy, "if it is forbidden why does it grow wild everywhere? how can you forbid seeds from sprouting in the hills?" at this point the cops just gave up and left the guy to smoke the joint they did not even take away from him.

[KaptBunnyPants]

41. He flinched when they grabbed him. That's all it takes.

Be careful people, and bring your camera everywhere. The cops know this game, and they love it. I had a cop get an inch in front of my face screaming at me with one hand on his gun last week in an attempt to get me to flinch. If I had I wouldn't be here to post this message. I'd either be in jail, in a hospital, or dead. It took 6 cops to beat up an unresisting middle aged minister for the crime of appearing at a government function. Cops are such brave heroes.

[Stump]

56. Sure

We would be so much better off without any police presence. Everyone loves being a Monday morning QB...what would you have done if you were the police commander at that scene?

[goodhue]

57. lol

eom

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

58. I'd have let the Reverend in the door.

Why? What would you have done?

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

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

[Robb]

65. Remember we don't have that charge yet

If it does come down from the DA that way, I agree, it's a farce. But so far it's just "I hear they're going to charge him with".

My money's on refusing a lawful order, followed by resisting arrest, and whatever else they can think of. Still a farce, but a smaller one.

[KaptBunnyPants]

71. Listen closely to the tape, the police accuse him of "assaulting a police officer".

Something along the lines of "If you're a peaceful man than why did you assault a police officer? You stabbed me in the chest!". But you're probably right, a DA would have to be insane to take this to trial with the videotaped evidence. So he probably won't be charged with that, but it's not because the police didn't try.

[Maat]

102. I agree.

This law school grad thinks that a D.A. would have to be crazy to press charges here.

[Stump]

83. Not all cops are thugs...

They followed their training. That's all I'm saying.

[Usrename]

110. Question is: Why do they prefer doing this to innocent people?

I have never seen them roughing up a Ken Lay, or a Scooter Libby, or even a Larry Craig.

It always seems to be someone they just pick out of the crowd, like Cinthia Mckinney.

[Webster Green]

116. Many of them are thugs!

And they are just itchin' to ruin your fucking day.

I've run into a few decent cops, but most are punks on a control trip.B-)

[Kolesar]

97. They jab you with a hat pin to get a reaction

I heard that one on NPR years ago during the Rodney King trial. Put a suspect up against a wall to search him. Jab him with a pin an when he recoils, beat him senseless with an aluminum club.

[mopinko]

45. is it fascism yet?

welcome to the people's house, rev. jesus f'ing christ.

[ProudDad]

60. That ship sailed in 1946

The beginning of fascism in the U.S. -- Bretton-Woods...

[mntleo2]

55. Love To The Reverend!

...I am appalled and disgusted that because somebody loves the Iraqi people they are tackled and held hostage. I love them too. Want to come to Seattle and get me too and send me to one of your dirty gulags, DC Policeman? What a bunch of rabid dogs!

Gawd!

Cat in Seattle

[leQ]

63. did he go to the building with the intention of making a scene? iow, was he with others? it looks

like he was alone and had nobody with him (how odd, no?) i think because of that fact, they pounced like they did. they knew he wasn't in immeninent danger and neither was anybody else around. i think the police just acted like 'hey we got something to do' attitude. and i for one don't like it.

[emlev]

67. Love to the Rev--if you don't know who he is, find out! (link)

Wikipedia link

Here he is giving an inspiring speech for The Backbone Campaign.

[whistle]

73. Well, this explains the protest that was triggered inside the hearing room which delayed the start

...of the hearings :wtf:

[dbonds]

74. Homegrown terrorist.

And they have invaded our capitol.

[Postman]

77. Cops - tools of the state used to protect the stacked deck known as "society"

"To Protect And Serve"

Yeah, but the question is who are they protecting and serving?

A job that attracts racists and Machiavellian assholes.

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

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

[Vinnie From Indy]

84. Did the Rev cut in line?

HE shouldn't have just walked to the front of a line of people waiting. The police were obviously way over the line.

[goodhue]

89. Watching the video, he does not appear to have cut in line . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x53236

[puebloknot]

105. In the former United States of America, cutting in line wouldn't...

...put you in the hospital.

First they came....

[Usrename]

111. He says very clearly, several times, he was in line and a cop pulled him aside.

That's about all I can hear clearly watching the video. He says he was in line.

[madrchsod]

91. "Wear the badge. Feel the honor. "

The dedication. The pride. The legacy.

http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov/home.php
US Capitol Police Press Releases - Wear the Badge, Feel the Honor

[Ken Burch]

123. "FEEL the honor"? ....that sounds like a real creepy double-entendre....

Ewwwwwww..............:puke::puke::puke:

[Danger Mouse]

96. Assualting a police officer?

:rofl:
That's hilarious.
And pathetic. :wtf:

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

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

[jaysunb]

100. A D.C. Jury will see this very clearly...

both in the criminal & civil trial. :evilfrown:

[Joey Liberal]

106. He did not attack a Police Officer

That charge will not stand. Well, at least it would not stand if this were still a free country. My question is why did the police not let him into the room with everyone else? I say those Police Officers should be wearing turbans because they acted like the Taliban.

[LiberalFighter]

115. Fire every one of those cops when Bush is out of office.

[ProudDad]

134. It's the Capital police

they report to the Dems now...

Don't hold your breath...

[Kat 333]

124. k & r

:grr:

[defendandprotect]

125. Let's be clearer about this: These are GESTAPO tactics being used against American citizens ---

in the halls of Congress -- !!!!!!

Why were they so aggressively confronting him?

What had he done?

What was the problem, except what the police were causing?

[ProudDad]

135. Rev. Yearwood was guilty of being a prominent

anti-administration Black Man in public...

That is occasionally a capital offense in Police State Amerika...

[EFerrari]

130. Thanks for posting, Kevin.

[MethuenProgressive]

139. Well, he obviously didn't obey the officers.

And that was hardly a "football tackle"...

[txaslftist]

146. Obedience is an over-rated virtue. Unless you're a fan of police-states.

[MethuenProgressive]

163. Don't obey several cops, several times, and then whine you were arrested....

:eyes:

[ProudDad]

159. You watched the same video we did, right?

The last I heard the bastards are charging him with FELONIOUS ASSAULT!!!

That's a REAL freakin' stretch...

But then the cops and da's in the criminal-injustice system ALWAYS overcharge people (hell, they make up shit), especially BLACK and poor people, then expect them to do time for the "lesser charge".

I'm always mindful of a quote attributed to the DA of Alameda County California; "The only difference between the innocent and the guilty is that the innocent are a little harder to convict."

That's Amerikan law enforcement in a nutshell -- as is this bogus arrest of this peaceful man...

FTP...

[MethuenProgressive]

166. Yup. Did you many times was he told to move - before he was "tackled"?

Civil disobedience has nothing to do with crying like a baby.
MLK never cried about getting arrested.

[ProudDad]

178. HAVE YOU WATCHED THE VIDEO

If you have, where the hell was any "crying like a baby"????

Rev. Yearwood was not 'crying', he was peacefully asking why they singled him out for harassment.

As for MLK, even Jim Clark didn't rough him up the way these pigs did to Rev. Yearwood!!!

It IS a different time all right, the fascist police state is in charge and apologists like you are part of the problem!!

[MethuenProgressive]

180. CAN YOU READ ENGLISH?

Too funny - typing in caps like a pre-teen...
"pigs"? "fascist police state"? I'd wager you'd never speak that way to a polic officer in person.
The Rev was kicked out of the room for shouting, and then told to go to the end of the line outside.
He was told (HAVE YOU WATCHED THE VIDEO??) many, many times to move, and he refused to obey the officer's instructions, and then made a move toward the door. That'll get you arrested, sonny. And then he lay on the floor crying...
If you're trying to get arrested, you shouldn't squeal like the code pink lady and the Rev.
Really embarrassing scene, they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[Kevin Spidel]

140. URGENT - Show Support for Rev today at his arraingment!

Support is needed for Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.



Please show your solidarity by coming to his arraignment on September 11th.



He is being held overnight in jail and will be arraigned tomorrow at 1:00 in DC Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave.)



This is near the Judiciary Square Metro Stop.



Rev. Yearwood did not assault the police or even resist them. We hear he is being charged with a felony resisting arrest. This is often done when police overreact and use unnecessary force in order to justify their actions. This is a serious charge. The community needs to come out today and show their support for this important spokesperson for our cause.

[Kevin Spidel]

150. ironic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1782249&mesg_id=1782249

[tom_paine]

141. Oh, it's 1937 now, and Gestapo don't take no shit

Read about Germany in 1937. It is Amerika 2007.

And OF COURSE getting your ankle broken by cops is "resisting arrest" just the same way that trying to register minorties to vote is "voter fraud".

Middle Phase Transition has begun. The Bushies are almost at the midway point, early 1938.

May God Help and Forgive Us.

[olddad56]

147. how long before they fire up the ovens?

[tom_paine]

157. I am guessing they probably won't do that. It's bad PR to make a negative

association like that.

Besides, Bushie policy has been to studiously avoid comparing themselves to their spiritual antecedents, the Nazis, so as to achieve the same goals in a kinder and gentler fashion, as befits what is necessary to achieve the same relative aims (tyrannical, unchallenged control) in Amerika 2007 as in Germany 1937.

So, no, I don't expect Industrialized Death Camps. Maybe industrialized Slave Labor Camps in which lots of Liberals and Arabs die from bad food, poor medical care, bad living conditions, and unhygienic conditions. But ovens and daily gassing of thousands...more doubtful.

No one can tell what the Final Form of the New BushPutinist Totalitarianism will look like, but I can guess it will look very little like Nazi Germany, at least not directly.

[LeftHander]

142. Tell me capital police DON'T have lists of who to deny entry....

They have lists of people to watch for and NOT let into events.

They also have guidlines to bar entry of anyone who MIGHT disrupt the meeting.

Freedom in America has been stabbed in the heart by the GOP and Bush.

[ProudDad]

160. Bingo!!!!

That's the REAL answer to Rev. Yearwood's question, "Why did you pull me out of the line?"

Because you're on the no-fly, no-drive, no-walk, no-view, non-person list...

[ContraBass Black]

143. The video doesn't start early enough to show whether he was in line or not.

He was standing to the right of the door, when most of the people appear to be to the left, and stepped to the right before the officer at the door denied him entry. Everything looks fine as they clear the doorway and surround him. An officer steps toward the door to allow him an exit path and he turns to leave, but then jumps and whirls around suddenly, saying "no" or "ow" as the officer's left hand jerks back and away from him. I cannot tell which moved first. His feet are not in the frame, so their movement is not visible, but his jump and turn shifts his shoulders toward the door. He straightens up as if attempting to pull back as two officers press his back forward and downward, and the one in front, who denied him entry, tries to catch his chest or shoulder and misses. He breaks his fall with his knee, other officers join in, and the group rolls him onto his side. He hits the floor with an impact that jolts through the rest of his body, and a capitol police hat flies out of the group of officers and hits the floor at the same time. Then, they put knees and shoulders on him. His feet kick out of the side of the crowd, failing to make traction, and they tell him to stop. The camera moves around the group. Several of the officers have stood up or stopped leaning on him. The officer who stepped aside to let him leave, the apparent owner of the flying hat, is partially under him. It is not clear if he's pinned or trying to go for the arms. Several officers tell him to put his hands behind his back, and he says he will not. The camera's holder tries for a low shot between an officer's legs, and is moved back several feet by another officer.

So far as I can see, "football tackle" is an exaggeration, and "beaten" is false. "Shoved, knocked over, and knee dropped/slammed/pinned" is more accurate.

[ProudDad]

162. I take HIS word for it

"Why did you pull me out of the line?" -- he asked the cop who pulled him out of line...

[Justyce]

144. They shouldn't have stopped him from going in, but he shouldn't have

made a run at the entrance either -- at that point, it was their job to secure him. They didn't beat him or tackle him -- too many of them responded at once, but I guess that's what they're trained to do -- gut reaction to someone making a run at the entrance after being refused, where there are many elected officials inside. I think this has been exaggerated a little from what I saw. JMO

[ProudDad]

161. Did YOU see the video???

"made a run at the entrance"

When? Not on the video linked to in the OP.

Damn!

[Justyce]

174. Did you?

I saw it at 05:53.....

[ProudDad]

179. Your interpretation -- probably wrong -- he's not a stupid man (n/t)

[txaslftist]

145. O come on. What do you people expect?

The state is dropping bombs on orphanages in Iraq, sniping at random cars in Baghdad, doing airstrikes on mosques in Afghanistan, supporting a genocidal ethnic cleansing state in Israel and a police-state tyranny in Saudi Arabia. And that's just the most obvious of its crimes.

You think they're gonna hesitate to break some protestor's ankle? This is just the teeniest glimpse of the top of the tip of the iceberg. The only reason he wasn't beaten senseless was because there were witnesses and cameras. Resistance means being arrested, beaten, having your property confiscated, being jailed on false charges and being shot and murdered by night.

Freedom, real freedom, costs blood and treasure and pain. Change is painful. Protest is risk.

If you aren't willing to take a beating to change things, stay home.

[Webster Green]

148. He was merely standing in line, waiting to enter a hearing.

I watched the video.

[txaslftist]

151. Yep, but he was wearing a button that made his opposition clear...

...to the "powers that be".

That's resistance, or at least is percieved as resistance.

Thus he got beaten down. And no, he didn't do anything to deserve it, but that's not the point. The point is teaching him and anyone else who doesn't want to be an obedient little statist the price of resistance.

[Webster Green]

154. I appreciate the point that you are making. You are correct.

I have been arrested for civil dis-obedience several times. Each time, I expected to be arrested, and would have been disappointed had I not been.

I would not expect to be arrested for wearing a button though!:patriot:

[txaslftist]

156. Well, it's a police state now. You need to lower your expectations.

At least he most likely won't be shipped to Gitmo.

[ecstatic]

149. Good thing he didn't try to pull out his wallet

and some DUers are making excuses for the officers? x(

[intheflow]

155. I hope he sues the force and then each of those officers individually in civil court.

Attacking an officer, my ass. Sad to have to k&r this.

[Peace Patriot]

158. Police fascism at a public meeting is in direct proportion to the evil being done

by the public officials in the meeting (or before or after the meeting, in the backrooms).

I've seen it often. The more evil being done by public officials, the more they pump up their "guards" to look scary and oppressive, to have hair-trigger reactions to any perceived "disruption" or just to somebody they don't like the looks of, and to come down like a ton of bricks on anyone who "breaks the rules" (moves their shoulder in the wrong direction when cops put their hands on, as in this case--or brings a sign, or speaks longer than the 2 minutes permitted, or responds verbally to outrageous actions of public officials, or looks like they might be going to). Public hearings are often a sham. Whether it's the destruction of forests and other resources, or the privatization (theft, purchase) of public resources or agencies, or unjust war, mass murder and torture, the triumph of the corporate rulers and war profiteers has ALREADY BEEN DECIDED, and what takes place in public is a shadow play, a dumb show. The purpose of a "public hearing" in these situations is to orchestrate the ILLUSION of public agreement with actions that are hugely detrimental to the public interest, by going through the motions of a democratic process that has no substance whatsoever. And the worse and more damaging those backroom decisions are, the more steely is the face of the police force, and the more edgy and violence-prone the police become, because they are protecting massive theft, or, in this case, mass murder, torture and horror and illegality beyond belief, by our "public servants."

Why should cops be necessary at all, in a public hearing? Metal detectors are necessary, I suppose, because our public officials have been "bought and paid for" on the matter of flooding our society with firearms. Beyond that, why should public officials be afraid of the public? It is because they are doing things that are not in the public interest, and are egregiously wrong, that they have a big police presence at a public hearing, and cops primed to bust heads (or legs).

An audience of the general public will, more often than not, take care of any disruptors among them--if the disruptors are out of line. People have an inherent sense of fairness. If the public hearing is an honest one, most people actually want to hear what's being said. They want everyone to speak who has a right to speak, in that situation. And if someone is just crazy and will not shut up, they get booed down. So why are cops needed? Cops are only needed when public officials are committing felonies, and anger and disruption by the public, in protest of those crimes and ill decisions, is therefore anticipated. And the worse the felonies, and the more criminal the public officials, the nastier the cops become, and the bigger the cop force needs to be.

The chairs of public meetings also have many options--use of the gavel, appeals to the audience, postponing the meeting, clearing the room, or...here's a novel one...negotiating among people who are angry with each other. That's what leadership IS. In this particular hearing--a Congressional hearing to receive testimony by a general who is conducting an unjust occupation of a foreign country on behalf of an illegitimate president and his oil corporation cronies--perhaps the chair of this meeting should have taken seriously the public's message that the testimony is bullshit, should have honored the members of the public who took the trouble to be there (especially since they--unlike Congress--represent the vast majority--70%--of the American people), and should have instigated discussions between the true representatives of the people--the public audience--and the general.

Wouldn't it have been interesting, for instance, if the Congressclowns had stepped aside, had turned the general around to face the people, and had permitted the people to question the general? Or had broken the audience into discussion groups, each with a Congressclown to grill--and to dialog with--with the general visiting each group, over the course of the day? Cameras on. Microphones on. So that all of the American people--especially that unrepresented 70%--could vicariously participate. Or...maybe private sessions, in which everyone could speak their hearts--without lights, without cameras--and then report to the larger American community? Or some combination of public/private discussion?

Har-har, you say. Never happen. This is a pompous, public-screwing CONGRESSIONAL hearing, at which only the pompous and the public-screwing generals and congressclowns get to speak, and the "audience" must shut up and behave. And people who wear "I love the Iraqi people" buttons, especially if they're black, get their bones broken.

But you see, the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. is a far, far, FAR better representative of the American people than anybody at the dais, or privileged with a microphone, in that Congressional hearing room. He is us.

So now do you see how upside down this is? WE have been surrounded with pumped up cops, and our ankle broken, just trying to hear what these assclowns have to say. And yet WE are the ones who should be speaking, and who should be listened to.

It is not at all an outrageous idea--with 70% of the American people sick to death of this war and this fascist regime and wanting it ended--to abandon normal, pompous, top-down, "traditional" Congressional procedure, and ask the people what their ideas are, why they are so upset, and what they want. The people, as represented by Rev. Yearwood, and others present. Let the general speak, and let the people speak, and let them speak to each other. Let the congressclowns speak, and let the people speak, and let them speak to each other. Instead of all this lying and deception parading in front of backroom decisions to screw the American people and the Iraqi people over yet another time.

--------------------------------

If you want an America in which the people are consulted, throw Diebold, ES&S and all election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW!

It is not so unthinkable and impossible that democracy can happen here. It's up to us. And the first thing we must do is un-rig our election system, which is now controlled by rightwing Bushite corporations, using 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code in all the shiny new, crapass, and exremely insecure and insider hackable, electronic voting systems, that were fast-tracked into place, during the 2002 to 2004 period, along with the Iraq War.

Get rid of those hackable voting systems, and we can start electing true representatives of the people. It's not the only thing we have to do, but it's the first and most crucial step back to democracy. Congress will not do it. They are the ones who took our right to vote away. But it can still be accomplished at the state/local level, by pressuring local election officials to count the votes in a way that everyone can see and understand. Ordinary people still have some influence at the state/local level, unlike the federal level, where they bust your head and break your legs if you even look at them crosswise (and even if you don't).

[ProudDad]

164. It's not enough to get rid of rigged voting machines

when we're "participating" in rigged elections -- bought and paid for by the highest corporate bidders...

We need Public Financing of all Elections and to TAKE BACK OUR Airwaves for substantive political messages and debates.

The we can see if we can create a democracy untainted by the corporate capitalist masters...

[Peace Patriot]

183. I said it was "step one." Without transparent elections, there can be no

campaign contribution reform, no effective public financing, no take-back of our public airwaves, no control of corporate predators, and no other reforms. It has to START WITH electing TRUE representatives of the people, and, as we do so, those representatives will help us further restore and protect the transparency of our elections, and make further gains in government transparency in general and in implementing the will of the people.

"Trade secret" vote counting is not the only thing wrong with our election system, by any means--but it is the democracy-killer. It means that NO CHANGE is possible.

So it has to be the place we start. Transparent vote counting is absolutely fundamental to democracy. YOU CAN'T HAVE RIGHTWING BUSHITE CORPORATIONS 'COUNTING' ALL OUR VOTES WITH 'TRADE SECRET' CODE. We can NEVER get traction in such a system. We can NEVER elect a truly representative Congress. We can't get to square one on reform. We MUST change this, and the only place that it is possible to do so is at the state/local level, and, frankly, that "window of opportunity" may not last very long. This so-called 'Democratic' Congress has ALREADY moved to curtail the power of the states over elections, thus to prevent grass roots-driven election reform--by including "poison pills" in proposed election reform legislation--HR 811--for instance, that will give the President of the United States sole control over the "trade secret" code through a small crony "commission." Election reform will likely be a long term, difficult, messy (multi-jurisdictional) struggle. It is nevertheless a must-do. We cannot get our country back without transparent elections. But election reform is also showing some signs of snowballing--for instance, recent developments in California (with our new reforming Sec of State Debra Bowen). It's such a no-brainer, that we should have vote counting that everyone can see and understand, that, once it's starts rolling, the people, the voters, are very enthusiastic. So there is that hope--that it will just catch on, and suddenly be obvious. But we can't count on it. We have to keep plugging away. And we may have to endure some bad shit, for the next half decade or so, before we get it done.

I DON'T think the global corporate predator plan is nazification--even though some things point that way. It's just too difficult here--too big a country, with too much of a democratic tradition. Look how unsuccessful their war propaganda has been! 70% opposed to the war! That is an epochal anti-war majority. The American people have proven to be amazingly resistant to relentless, 24/7 warmongering and fascist brainwashing. And you don't see anybody in the streets seig heiling to Bush! People despise him. No, the think the plan is subtler. They have dragged the country way, way over the right, in order to bounce it back to obedient Clintonesque corporatism. (No more Seattle '99s!). The oppression will seem like liberation. Hillary won't spy on so many of us. She won't torture so many prisoners. She might not even directly attack Iran. Her aim--as has been the entire aim of our party leadership, from what I can see--will be to put the country back to sleep again--with a few sops to the poor and the middle class, a military Draft masked as universal public service, and a lot of superficial policies that seem kind of liberal, but actually consolidate the vast corporate predator gains under Bush, and aim to prevent people from understanding just how badly we have been looted and disempowered. Possibly she will fail, and the country will come apart at the seams, and THEN we might see Hitler II arise. And that could well be the long term plan of certain fascist pigs who have been conspiring against us, for a nazi state. But I think the more dominant plan is aimed at quietude.

But whatever we are in for, there is one thing we MUST DO, and that is restore transparent vote counting.

[whathappened]

176. now your reply was worth a read

no truer words have ever been spoken , those of you who are defending these ass clown king shit cops in dc , should have your minds washed of the cool aid you have drank from the bush well , them fuckers in the chambers of washington have forgotten who they are working for , i seen yesterday , just after the meeting started , the ass hat congress critter crying like a baby to the head master of the hearings about getting rid of all the disrubturs in the crowd , so all you so called du fuck ups that don't understand what you are seeing in the vidio , just set back and some one will be right with you to tell you what these ass clown are doing all over this country to stomp us into the ground

[lala_rawraw]

167. Kev, i got you and Rev covered

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/paging-americans-where-_b_63958.html

[Doctor_J]

173. Getting more like the SS/SA every day

Next we'll be hearing how "Iran is too weak, her people too feral, to survive as an independent nation."

[Mythsaje]

175. "Just another uppity black man being taught a lesson."

Bill Maher: "So you don't think there are people out there who want to hurt Americans?"

Mos Def: "Yeah. The Police."

[live love laugh]

177. Shades of MLK. A black man in uniform (religious garb) is frightening to them.

May as well be Halloween on Capitol hill. :scared:

They will not allow the days of MLK to be repeated. Period.

[Name removed]

182. Deleted message

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