The Occupy Wall Street movement [a.k.a "American Fall"]

[Cilogy]

It's funny (not really at all) how so many of these stories are coming out regarding the supposed police brutality. I remember for black friday, there were all sorts of articles and headlines about a police officer pepper spraying an unarmed woman, tons of people posted links to it on fb, etc. Turned out she ran up to an employee that said to stay back and was physically attempting to grab the items out of the employees hands, he said he was a police officer and he'd use force if necessary to stop her, she refused, so he pepper sprayed her.

I don't think you can compare the two, since one is consumer madness out of control and the other is real police brutality against peaceful demonstrations.

[Vader182]

It's funny (not really at all) how so many of these stories are coming out regarding the supposed police brutality. I remember for black friday, there were all sorts of articles and headlines about a police officer pepper spraying an unarmed woman, tons of people posted links to it on fb, etc. Turned out she ran up to an employee that said to stay back and was physically attempting to grab the items out of the employees hands, he said he was a police officer and he'd use force if necessary to stop her, she refused, so he pepper sprayed her.

I don't think you can compare the two, since one is consumer madness out of control and the other is real police brutality against peaceful demonstrations.

Eh, in both there's a police officer attacked by the media when he was correctly maiming a civilian acting improperly. Dude, those 'peaceful' demonstrations were being anything but peaceful.

-Vader

[Cilogy]

Eh, in both there's a police officer attacked by the media when he was correctly maiming a civilian acting improperly.

So in one case a woman aggressively grabbed items from an employee, and in the other people are exercising their 1st amendment rights.

EDIT: In a lot of these cases, I'll bet that police departments are bought and paid for by corporations and banks.

Dude, those 'peaceful' demonstrations were being anything but peaceful.

Right ... because of police presuming that they are violent and taking unnecessarily violent action.

[Vader182]

Did you read Crazy's post..? They not only broke several laws, they acted in an inflammatory and obstructive way to police officers who gave warnings before taking action. It's the actual definition of 'asking for it'.

-Vader

[Cilogy]

Did you read Crazy's post..? They not only broke several laws, they acted in an inflammatory and obstructive way to police officers who gave warnings before taking action. It's the actual definition of 'asking for it'.

-Vader

It was unwarranted and their presence on the campus should not have been unlawful. Why were they asked to leave? It makes no sense. The police were justified in showing up with riot gear and pepper spray?

It's a shame.

[Vader182]

Did you read Crazy's post..? They not only broke several laws, they acted in an inflammatory and obstructive way to police officers who gave warnings before taking action. It's the actual definition of 'asking for it'.

-Vader

It was unwarranted and their presence on the campus should not have been unlawful. Why were they asked to leave? It makes no sense. The police were justified in showing up with riot gear and pepper spray?

It's a shame.

Trespassing shouldn't be unlawful? Especially if its a sizable group of people? I'm sure the campus felt they were disrupting the campus, if a bunch of protestors showed up on my front lawn and wouldn't leave when asked, I'd call the police, wouldn't you? The police asked them to leave, they didn't go up to the protestors and start spraying.

-Vader

[Cilogy]

It was unwarranted and their presence on the campus should not have been unlawful. Why were they asked to leave? It makes no sense. The police were justified in showing up with riot gear and pepper spray?

It's a shame.

Trespassing shouldn't be unlawful? Especially if its a sizable group of people? I'm sure the campus felt they were disrupting the campus, if a bunch of protestors showed up on my front lawn and wouldn't leave when asked, I'd call the police, wouldn't you?

Is your front lawn public property?

You're making it sound like "oh these poor cops with riot gear and batons and guns and pepper spray had to resort to very nonchalantly pepper spraying some students."

You also have to consider the way this happened. The students affected were knelt down with arms linked and the cop comes by spraying them like he's swatting flies. The cops were not aggressively attacked by the protesters. Using hands to pick up the students and separate them should come well before using pepper spray.

[Vader182]

Actually, universities are private property. Technically, they could have harmed them significantly more if they tried pushing or dragging them out of the way, and that has graver legal ramifications than pepper spraying someone. They broke the law, then egged on police officers trying to trap them, what did they think would happen after being asked repeatedly to leave and obstructing them?

-Vader

[Cilogy]

Actually, universities are private property. Technically, they could have harmed them significantly more if they tried pushing or dragging them out of the way, and that has graver legal ramifications than pepper spraying someone. They broke the law, then egged on police officers trying to trap them, what did they think would happen after being asked repeatedly to leave and obstructing them?

Look at photos of this thing at UC Davis, it looks like we're in a fucking police state. The cops were in zero danger and the students posed no threat. Just because the police warned the students they would spray them doesn't justify it. I can warn you that I'll shoot you in the face with gun, you can disobey, and I'll shoot, but that does not make it okay. Though I agree that the police are not the only ones at fault here (the students did disobey to some degree, that's the point of resisting/protesting) you make it sound as if we should lay more blame on the students or both sides are equally wrong. What I find hilarious is that the cops were very comfortable stepping over the students to pepper spray them point blank in the face, but oh, they were "blocked and had no other option".

This whole thing is bullshit.

EDIT: In the long run, for this whole movement, I would go as far to say that with the current state of our economy and government, it was inevitable that it would come to this. Either mass protests or the careful removal of people in power through the democratic process. Corruption and such has shown that the latter is virtually impossible considering who is in power in the US and considering the current state of the democratic process. It's a shame, but it's almost obvious that it would come a massive movement like the Occupy protests. In fact, it's about fucking time.

[RIFA]

I personally don't give a fuck about police in these cases when I know they are bought and they are a shame to their uniform and badge. I just hope things turn more violent so I could kick some fucking cop's ass who's a total tool and paid slave. They disgust me. They are mercenaries in my eyes.