Occupy Oakland Raid: Cops Just Following Orders

[stlsaxman]

Run time: 03:41 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NJXEsXlw7Q   Posted on YouTube: October 25, 2011 By YouTube Member: AbbyMediaRoots Views on YouTube: 301   Posted on DU: October 26, 2011 By DU Member: stlsaxman Views on DU: 1549

 
Incredible footage of Oakland police being "peppered" with questions by American Citizens...

their silence speaks volumes.

[Lint Head]

1. Lets see. Who said that once before in history?

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the first stage of life the mind is frivolous and easily distracted, it misses progress by failing in consecutiveness and persistence. This is the condition of children and barbarians, in which instinct has learned nothing from experience."
George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905
US (Spanish-born) philosopher (1863 - 1952)

[stlsaxman]

2. Thank you for posting the complete quote!

I'd never read it in its context- it's brilliant.

:hi:

[seabeyond]

3. very powerful. very brave citizens. excellent. nt

[WingDinger]

4. There is a revulsion coming.Viva La Revulsion.

That makes a snappy meme.

[EnviroBat]

5. I thought about becoming a cop once.

But I couldn't get past my own human dignity and self respect to willing want to be a fascist little prick to the rest of the world.

[WingDinger]

6. Had a HS friend that tried. He grew up throwing wrenches at cats.

They shortstopped him at psych tests. Became the most hated fireman in OC.

[provis99]

15. he sounds like a prime candidate for being a cop.

[ooglymoogly]

7. Oakland California, where fascism is a choice. nt

[HowHasItComeToThis]

9. DARTH VADER WOULD BE SOPROUD OF OAKLAND POLICE

[xchrom]

8. recommend

[kooljerk666]

10. Ever since OWS started I get no cops begging on the phone........

These guys used to call a few times a week for money FOP, PCA, police survivors etc...........

I have been looking forward to telling then to drop dead & don't call again, yet the phone has been strangly quiet.

Anyone notice cop solicition dropping off?

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. "Just following orders" like the Notsee Stormtroopers. Think about what you are doing, cops!

[Lars77]

12. Its the Nuremberg defense.

[FiveGoodMen]

13. Which was officially sanctioned by Obama a few years ago.

He said those involved in torture under Dubya's admin need not fear prosecution because they were following orders.

[guilxeg]

14. Here's something I think the protesters should consider....

In other cities, where there hasn't been violent police outbursts, my understanding is the protestors contacted the authorities, told them where they were going march, what their plans were, etc. They have cleaned up parks & public areas, they got porta-potties, etc.

This is supposed to be a peaceful movement. The protestors need to police themselves. Turn in the idiots that take dumps on cop cars, destroy property, shoot heroine, smoke meth, & start physical confrontations. It makes them look bad & feeds the right wing propaganda machine.

I think all the protestors in different cities need to consider getting a rep to communicate with police & local officials. Most cops are outnumbered & scared to death of 100's or more loud & angry people coming at them. Who wouldn't be. I can understand where they're coming from.

The goal is fair, equitable, financial reform that benefits the mass rather the the elite. Not antagonizing cops, getting high, destroying property, or hurting people. Cops aren't the ones that crashed the economy or shipped jobs overseas. They aren't the problem. Protesters need to remember that & keep their eye on the prize.

Yes, a lot of cops are angry, miserable meatheads that like to hurt people. A lot are just guys chugging along, trying to support their families, going through the same financial bullshit as everyone else. And some probably even support the movement.

Keep in mind, it's local government that calls the shots. My understanding his they have plans in place to deal with these types of situations. The cops don't just show up in riot gear. Decisions are made by officials, cops get their orders & go from there. Hence, there needs to be open communication with local authorities.

Now, after all that, if the cops still get out of hand, then to hell with it. You've got a right to defend yourself & fight back. If you can document that you (the protestors) did everything in their power to create a peaceful environment, & you still get attacked by police, than you are within your right to defend yourself by any means necessary.

Oakland's kind of a weird case, though. Lots of racial tension & shit that's been brewing for years. The officials there are lucky the protesters weren't packing like the Teabaggers were. Things would've have gotten ugly for everyone.

Each group of protestors need to take these circumstances into consideration & deal with them in an intelligent, effective manner to get the message across.

Just my 2 cents.