Did you see snipers?

[one_voice]

“Did you see the snipers?” Is probably one of the more horrifying things I’ve ever heard someone say at a protest.

I was in disbelief when, sure enough, I did see the snipers after one of the General Meetings at Occupy Toledo. Things had just ended and I peeled away from the action, turning the lens on the Rebel towards the top of the parking garage, where two TPB officers were very clearly loading rifle cases. An unmarked white SUV later exited the parking garage, but hung around the block that Occupy Toledo’s protests were occurring at.

One of the protesters asked the police what they were doing with rifles. The police answered, “We’re only here to protect you.”

I apologize for the quality of these photos—I didn’t have the 5DmkII on me, and I only had an 18-55 kit lens, and I definitely was not expecting this.

http://ablipintime.tumblr.com/post/11284343272/did-you-see-the-snipers-is-probably-one-of-the

photos at link.

[DirkGently]

1. Whoa.

[Fumesucker]

2. Nobel Peace Snipers no doubt.. n/t

[tomp]

19. lol!!!! nt

[sabrina 1]

27. Lol, that made me laugh!

But really this is outrageous and how long before the kill someone?

[flamingdem]

3. gak

write a letter to the local papers etc. publicize

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. I saw similar observation posts manned by cops at the encampments I have been to

Not to expect that is foolish. No obvious weapons, but I expect they were cased as they are in the picture here.

That OWS does not have observers up high when it looks like police action is likely is a tactical mistake, but given the lack of structure, not surprising.

[Ilsa]

5. Yeah, but let a protestor pack and the police would probably nuke them. nt

[Kurmudgeon]

6. Ilsa is right. Let one person bring a weapon and it could turn into a massacre.

Beware of right wing provocateurs.

[nxylas]

10. That only applies to OWS protestors of course

Tea Party protestors who bring assault rifles to open meetings are merely exercising their constitutional rights, whereas an Occupier with a gun would be a dangerous turrrrst.

[City Lights]

25. Sadly, that is spot on.

:-(

[kelly1mm]

7. If you see a sniper, they failed at their job. If they are in plain view

like on a rooftop, a better name for them would be sharpshooters.

[mmonk]

12. Correct. Snipers are not supposed to be visible. Thus they failed

or were not snipers.

[iamthebandfanman]

14. depends on their purpose

..

perhaps they wanted to be seen :P

maybe killin' wasnt the plan for the day, just intimidation

[mmonk]

28. A visible sniper is an interesting concept.

:)

[alfredo]

16. Intimidation is their goal.

[Odin2005]

8. SNIPERS? Jesus!

[Blue_In_AK]

9. That's pretty scary

and totally unnecessary. I've been wondering if I should take one of my less valuable cameras to Occupy Anchorage, but so far everything has been peaceful and the battery on the big camera lasts so much longer, so I'm sticking with it for now.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. The next extreme incident might include snipers..or sharpshooter.

I really wouldn't put it past, those in charge of local PD departments. SWAT teams on the roofs with riffles. Not good at all. All it takes is one itchy trigger finger.

[Glyn Dwr]

13. I'm glad that people corrected your arbitrary sniper/sharpshooter conflation

...because that makes things so much better. What we call the men on rooftops with sniper rifles really makes a difference.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

15. Kinda looks like guards with rifles in

a prison.

[tomp]

20. that's what they are. nt

[pinboy3niner]

17. Not surprising after the post-9/11 security build-up

At least they haven't yet begun firing on peaceful protesters as they did in Libya, Syria and Yemen.

[sce56]

18. Yeah sure they were there to protect and serve you! Like the LAPD a few years ago diff Commisoner

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21646789/OccupyLA/POCHO%20LAPD%20to%20the%20Rescue.mp3

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. It's possible snipers are posted to protect

Snipers are present when world leaders are in public, including our President. They are usually not there to threaten or intimidate those leaders.

On another thread on DU there was a discussion about an OWS action where right wing militia members showed up armed saying they were there to protect the protesters. Maybe they did share some common ground, maybe not, but there was a lot of talk about the possibility of a right wing nut opening fire at an OWS. Snipers could be a way to deal with that possibility.

Or not. They could be there to intimidate or threaten OWS actions. It's hard to rule in or out either possible motivation.

[scentopine]

22. We are becoming like 3rd world despotic government. Time to defund the police state

When the economy is bad, government hires mercenaries who are unable to earn a living any other way. Police loyalty lies with their paycheck funded in part by wall street banks like JP Morgan.

Police exist to protect the 1%. They won't think twice about slaughtering anyone who gets in their way.

The irony is the guy who served tours in Iraq to protect the 1% oil investments facing snipers, now has a sniper rifle pointed at him by the local police who are protecting the 1%

[greiner3]

23. I was sent to the link's site;

'I will never be just a blip in time.' However, I can't find the photos mentioned.

Anyone?

[one_voice]

24. the link takes you to the story...

just click on the picture. There are only 2 pictures. I tried to post them here..but couldn't. Sorry.

[greiner3]

26. Thanks, I see them now.