The news media make a big deal of whether or not protests are “peaceful.” But they tend to neglect the fact that civil tights protesters themselves are virtually always peaceful (even when engaged in civil disobedience). When there is violence at a protest, it is (with vanishingly rare exceptions) incited by hostile counterprotesters (frequently) or by police (much more frequently).
News outlets also play up “looting” when it happens (and it happens much less often than is implied). It is basically never actual protestors doing the looting, it is other people using the protest as a diversion for vandalism and looting. And occasionally, it is police doing the looting.
I dearly hope elected officials everywhere can get past this ridiculous myth that law enforcement is tainted only by a few “bad apples.” Because it’s abundantly evident cops themselves never will, since it is the essential lie they depend upon for their livelihoods and personal validation. And as long as the profession itself exists, we’ll never get beyond the thoroughly rotten-to-the-core concept of police forces.
“I’m color blind so I couldn’t tell if he was pushed or stumbled” – A quote from a Republican Congressman running away from a reporter and couldn’t be identified from the back.
If these protests show us anything — and they ought to show us many gaping wounds in US society — it is that the police as currently constituted is not working FOR THE PEOPLE. Police have an adversarial relationship with the citizenry when they should in fact be advocates. They aim to control and dominate rather than protect and serve. I believe it was Camden, NJ that several years ago dissolved the police force altogether because it was so violent and corrupt (like so many we have witnessed this week). They then revisioned police and started from scratch. All new cops (not I think old ones could re-apply for their old jobs). Not a perfect system, but a much healthier relationship between people and cops now. That’s what people mean when they say, “Defund the Police.”
The only documented case of the sort of fraud der Fooey is raving about is the one that invalidated an election in 2018 in North Carolina – committed by a Republican operative who was also defrauding Social Security at the same time.
For YEARS now there have been multiple police chiefs who have worked at calling attention to the problem of being forced to rehire dirty and violent cops they had fired for abuses. Those chiefs want to protect both the public and the good cops from the violence that bad cops inevitably bring upon all.
Camden hit on a solution for other reasons but it also tackled that problem (though Camden still badly needs to increase some other types of community services such as ambulance squads):
If more communities looked seriously at such approaches then perhaps it would become easier to have people who are fired for abuses stay fired. Ditto if legislation and courts better supported those firings, and prosecutions of such abusers.
Or tackle the problem from the start by requiring more training for police. There are a great many other industrialized nations which have much longer and involved training than happens in the U.S., with some even requiring that applicants to study policing first have degrees in psychology, sociology, or anthropology.
Finally, definitely outlaw certain practices by police. Some will still happen and then they must FINALLY be able to be successfully prosecuted and jailed. The Minneapolis Murderer used a restraint that is not taught in any state and illegal in Minnesota from what I have read.
Kurtass Premium Member almost 4 years ago
You must respect my authority.
ncorgbl almost 4 years ago
That Old Man is patient, and understanding, but just wait until he gets up.
VT8/VF84 almost 4 years ago
Look up Thomas Nast’s cartoon “Uncle Sam’s Thanksgiving Dinner” 1869 Immigrants are Welcome Here? https:// thereconstitutionera.com/a-close-look-at
ferddo almost 4 years ago
Bullies don’t like to pick on anybody their own size…
brwydave Premium Member almost 4 years ago
This toon is proof positive that the geezer wasn’t pushed – don’t believe your lying eyes.
charliekane almost 4 years ago
Obviously, the cop is reaching for the old dude to keep him from falling.
(;^D
GaryCooper almost 4 years ago
The news media make a big deal of whether or not protests are “peaceful.” But they tend to neglect the fact that civil tights protesters themselves are virtually always peaceful (even when engaged in civil disobedience). When there is violence at a protest, it is (with vanishingly rare exceptions) incited by hostile counterprotesters (frequently) or by police (much more frequently).
News outlets also play up “looting” when it happens (and it happens much less often than is implied). It is basically never actual protestors doing the looting, it is other people using the protest as a diversion for vandalism and looting. And occasionally, it is police doing the looting.
Andrew Sleeth almost 4 years ago
I dearly hope elected officials everywhere can get past this ridiculous myth that law enforcement is tainted only by a few “bad apples.” Because it’s abundantly evident cops themselves never will, since it is the essential lie they depend upon for their livelihoods and personal validation. And as long as the profession itself exists, we’ll never get beyond the thoroughly rotten-to-the-core concept of police forces.
The Love of Money is . . . almost 4 years ago
“I’m color blind so I couldn’t tell if he was pushed or stumbled” – A quote from a Republican Congressman running away from a reporter and couldn’t be identified from the back.
Not the Smartest Man On the Planet -- Maybe Close Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Excellent.
Radish the wordsmith almost 4 years ago
Demilitarize the police.
moosemin almost 4 years ago
Do they make MAGA helmets?
cdward almost 4 years ago
If these protests show us anything — and they ought to show us many gaping wounds in US society — it is that the police as currently constituted is not working FOR THE PEOPLE. Police have an adversarial relationship with the citizenry when they should in fact be advocates. They aim to control and dominate rather than protect and serve. I believe it was Camden, NJ that several years ago dissolved the police force altogether because it was so violent and corrupt (like so many we have witnessed this week). They then revisioned police and started from scratch. All new cops (not I think old ones could re-apply for their old jobs). Not a perfect system, but a much healthier relationship between people and cops now. That’s what people mean when they say, “Defund the Police.”
SHIVA almost 4 years ago
Of course the Orange Man doesn’t want mail in ballots. They can be counted by hand, and harder for Putin and his boyz to manipulate the count!!
fairportfan almost 4 years ago
The only documented case of the sort of fraud der Fooey is raving about is the one that invalidated an election in 2018 in North Carolina – committed by a Republican operative who was also defrauding Social Security at the same time.
FrankErnesto almost 4 years ago
They were told to clear the area. Their first choice was armoured cars cars, but they didn’t have enough. That’s why they appear put out.
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 4 years ago
For YEARS now there have been multiple police chiefs who have worked at calling attention to the problem of being forced to rehire dirty and violent cops they had fired for abuses. Those chiefs want to protect both the public and the good cops from the violence that bad cops inevitably bring upon all.
Camden hit on a solution for other reasons but it also tackled that problem (though Camden still badly needs to increase some other types of community services such as ambulance squads):
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-04/how-camden-new-jersey-reformed-its-police-department
If more communities looked seriously at such approaches then perhaps it would become easier to have people who are fired for abuses stay fired. Ditto if legislation and courts better supported those firings, and prosecutions of such abusers.
Or tackle the problem from the start by requiring more training for police. There are a great many other industrialized nations which have much longer and involved training than happens in the U.S., with some even requiring that applicants to study policing first have degrees in psychology, sociology, or anthropology.
Finally, definitely outlaw certain practices by police. Some will still happen and then they must FINALLY be able to be successfully prosecuted and jailed. The Minneapolis Murderer used a restraint that is not taught in any state and illegal in Minnesota from what I have read.
AndrewSihler almost 4 years ago
Have you seen el Presidente’s tweet about this incident? Retweet I guess. It includes the sagacious observation that “He fell harder than was pushed”.